The Things I Wish Barack Obama Would Learn From Harry Truman

[OmahaBlueDog]

I've been on something of a Harry Truman kick recently. Truman was unlike Barack Obama in so many ways; he was an "accidental" President (coming to the office after FDS's death), and was not known as a great speaker. Barack Obama is one of the most brilliant speakers of his generation, and came to the White House in an electoral landslide. At the outset of 1948, Harry Truman was wildly unpopular with the American people. The economy had gone to Hell, unemployment was high, and it was an article of faith that he had no chance of re-election. Like Obama, Truman had to make many unpopular decisions that put him at odds with factions of both parties. And yet somehow, on Election Night, he stood posing famously with his "Dewey Defeats Truman" copy of the Chicago Tribune in hand, and served another four years in office.

If I could give some advice our President, it would be to read some of the words of wisdom of his predecessor Harry Truman, and to try to put them to good use. I didn't put the quotes in any particular order, but the last quote really struck me when I watched "Capitalism: A Love Story." President Obama needs to reconnect with Candidate Obama.

Anyway, here they are, as transcribed by "BrainyQuote"


"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand."

"Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything."

"Experience has shown how deeply the seeds of war are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice."

"I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount."

"Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better."

"When even one American - who has done nothing wrong - is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth - then all Americans are in peril."

"Whenever a fellow tells me he's bipartisan, I know he's going to vote against me."

"You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don't believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can't possibly foresee now."

"You know that being an American is more than a matter of where your parents came from. It is a belief that all men are created free and equal and that everyone deserves an even break."

"Washington is a very easy city for you to forget where you came from and why you got there in the first place."


Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/harry_s_truman_4.html#ixzz1JBqKXD7D

[wtmusic]

1. Don't leave out the best of all:

“I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell.”

Great post. Wish I could multi-rec it. :thumbsup:

[rpannier]

2. I'd add one of my faves

Suppose you're an idiot. Suppose you're a Republican. But I repeat myself.

[napoleon_in_rags]

3. I've been on an anti-Truman kick since 4pm PST.

When I finished a documentary on him. Sorry, but the guy was no FDR.

edit: The guy had a good heart, I really believe that. I just don't think he had the political genius of FDR to navigate the political landscape post WWII, and he lost some fights that really hurt the country long term because of it.

[Sherman A1]

4. Yes, he lost some fights

but, at least he fought them.

[napoleon_in_rags]

11. True words there. nt

[Obamanaut]

5. Don't forget Viet Nam. Truman sent some advisors and a few

million dollars to assist the French. That didn't turn out well.

Twenty years, 50,000+ deaths, and many millions of dollars later the US left Saigon.

This might well be the time to depart the various -stan suffixed countries, Iraq, Libya, et al and bring the troops/supplies/money home.

[Scuba]

7. Already? n/t

[OmahaBlueDog]

9. His biggest undeclared war, aside from Korea, was Greece

We had a fair number of "advisors" leading the fight against Communist Greek guerillas and armed Albanians.

He did assist the French and sent advisors to Indochina, but untim Dien Bien Phu, it's pretty much a French affair. Where you can lay more blame is on Truman's SOS Dean Acheson, who probably wished he hadn't made the Press Club speech putting Korea outside the "defense perimiter." Stalin interpreted this as an open invitation to invade.

[Scuba]

6. Thanks for posting. My favorite - hard to pick - but this one is good...

"You know that being an American is more than a matter of where your parents came from. It is a belief that all men are created free and equal and that everyone deserves an even break."

[liberal N proud]

8. Great post

[Bake]

10. I regret that I have but one rec to give this post.

I too have been thinking about Harry Truman a lot lately.

Sigh.

Bake