Harry & Bess.. (This seems unreal.) Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation’s history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.
The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.
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 was 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 the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.”
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 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!”
I say dig him up and clone him!
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That great piece was Dan Wicklund
I so agree with Dan, we need more Harry Trumans! Our politicians should make Harry as their example. Unfortunately I don’t ever see that happening!
Bridging Home by Do Ho Suh.
On the rise of DIY genetic engineering.
| Popular Science | May 2012
Alfred Hitchcock (1943) — Gjon Mili
Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother,
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive.
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’,
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive.
In “News I Totally Missed Yesterday”: Romney’s app misspelled America.
Again: Where is my Rick Perry “OOPS” gif? How did I not save one???
GOD
BLESS
AMERCIA
In reference to THIS, if you haven’t already seen
(via stfuconservatives)
Quality photo reply from staghunts
Dissected - Dali, Van Gogh and Picasso
by DDB Brazil for the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) Art School
(via benlol)
[In 1994] Romney was preparing to leave the [homeless shelter for veterans], so he pulled Smith aside, in front of the media, to ask him his biggest problem at the shelter.
Smith replied “milk.”
Smith explained that the State of Massachusetts allocated $2.37 per day twice a day for each homeless veteran’s meal. Since the amount was so meager, the shelter had trouble providing each veteran with a carton of milk at each meal.
Romney responded “well Ken, maybe you can teach the vets to milk cows.” Romney then walked out the door.
— (via paxamericana)
Miller House, Columbus, Indiana, 1957 — Eero Saarinen
