Someone we can all learn something from

Harry Truman after the  presidency:

Harry Truman, from  Missouri, was a different kind of President.  He probably  made as many important decisions regarding our nation's history  as any of the other 42 Presidents.  However, a measure of  his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White  House.


Historians have written the only asset he had when  he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence  Missouri .  On top of that, his wife inherited the house  from her Mother.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a  U.S Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year.   Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and  personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later,  a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and  Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves.  There were no  Secret Service following them.  

When offered corporate positions at large salaries,  he declined, stating, 'You don't want me.  You want the  office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me.  It  belongs to the American people and it's not for  sale.'

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was  preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday,  he refused to accept it, writing, 'I don't consider that I have  done anything which should be th e reason for any award,  Congressional or otherwise.'

He never owned his own home  and as president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and  food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of  success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold  wealth.  Today, many in Congress also have found a way to  become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices.   Political offices are now for sale.

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he  observed, 'My choices early in life were either to be a piano  player in a whore house or a politician.  And to tell the  truth, there's hardly any difference.'