rickerb Loc: utah

true story,,,,,,,

A fellow in Independence Mo. looked out his window and saw a man out in front of his house with the hood up on his car.
Obviously, the man was having car troubles so he went out to offer a hand. After the two of them agreed there was nothing they could do without a mechanic they both meandered inside and made the phone call for a tow.
While waiting, the two men talked about various things until the tow truck came, fairly well enjoying each others company. As the man left, he walked halfway down the side walk and turned and told the fellow thanks and then he added "you know, you really look a lot like that sonofabitch Harry Truman". The man on the porch replied, "Well that might be true because I am that sonabitch Harry Truman"..


from Truman's memoirs

A tough little bastard.

Robert Graybeal Loc: Myrtle Beach

:thumbup:

jsmangis Loc: Peoria, IL

I actually had the opportunity to meet President Truman during the summer of 1970. We were visiting friends in the neighboring town of Carrolton, MO and our friends were friends of the Trumans. When our friends said that they were going to visit Harry and Bess and asked if I wanted to go along, I said yes. As a 21 year old, I was really impressed with how down-to-earth he was in his early eighties. It was the most enjoyable afternoon I have spent in my life. He still is the only politician I have ever respected.

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

Although I'm Republican, I would vote for someone like him regardless of party affiliation. He was a true American patriot who put the county's interest first. I never heard of any situation while in office where he took advantage for his own self interest. I disliked his relieving of Gen. MacArther, but at the time I was too young to understand why.

Great story, by the way. Thanks.

jsmangis Loc: Peoria, IL

One of the things we talked about that afternoon was his treatment of Gen. MacArthur. I grew up in a family so republican that my grandfather was named Ulysses. My father was a junior officer under MacArthur during the war and was quite angry about the way the General was treated. When I asked Mr Truman about this his response was the following: "Son, it was as simple as this. I was his boss. He didn't do what I told him to do, so I fired him."

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

Truman gave the same answer at the Command and General Staff College and received applause. As I have gotten older, I realize that all commanders have their own foibles and MacArthur could grand stand with the best--so could Nimitz if he had to. My uncle flew in the South West Pacific and Macarthur let the Air Forces (Fifth and Fourteenth) have their own culture. Roosevelt could not handle him. Truman had been an artillery captain and dealt from that perspective.

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

Would like to hear about Nimitz; I'm off to Fredericksburg in a month (pilgrimage to Nimitz's home town).