Truman
As you well know, my dog is named Hairy Truman and he goes by Truman, because I want to say Harry Truman’s name every day. I’m fixing to tell you why.
On October 13,th, 1948, Harry Truman gave a speech that still moves the soul and defines liberalism for me. You can read the whole thing, or just this part —
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Today the forces of liberalism face a crisis. The people of the United States must make a choice between two ways of living–a decision, which will affect us the rest of our lives and our children and our grandchildren after us.
On the other side, there is the Wall Street way of life and politics. Trust the leader! Let big business take care of prices and profits! Measure all things by money! That is the philosophy of the masters of the Republican Party.
Well, I have been studying the Republican Party for over 12 years at close hand in the Capital of the United States. And by this time, I have discovered where the Republicans stand on most of the major issues.
Since they won’t tell you themselves, I am going to tell you.
They approve of the American farmer-but they are willing to help him go broke.
They stand four-square for the American home–but not for housing.
They are strong for labor–but they are stronger for restricting labor’s rights.
They favor a minimum wage–the smaller the minimum the better.
They indorse educational opportunity for all–but they won’t spend money for teachers or for schools.
They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine–for people who can afford them.
They approve of social security benefits-so much so that they took them away from almost a million people.
They believe in international trade–so much so that they crippled our reciprocal trade program, and killed our International Wheat Agreement.
They favor the admission of displaced persons–but only within shameful racial and religious limitations.
They consider electric power a great blessing-but only when the private power companies get their rake-off.
They say TVA is wonderful–but we ought never to try it again.
They condemn “cruelly high prices”–but fight to the death every effort to bring them down.
They think the American standard of living is a fine thing–so long as it doesn’t spread to all the people.
And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.
Now, my friends, that is the Wall Street Republican way of life. But there is another way–there is another way–the Democratic way, the way of the Democratic Party.
Of course, the Democratic Party is not perfect. Nobody ever said it was. But the Democratic Party believes in the people. It believes in freedom and progress, and it is fighting for its beliefs right now.
In the Democratic Party, you won’t find the kind of unity where everybody thinks what the boss tells him to think, and nothing else.
But you will find an overriding purpose to work for the good of mankind. And you will find a program–a concrete, realistic, and practical program that is worth believing in and fighting for.
That’s even truer today than it was back then. The Republicans have only honed the edge of their game, but it’s the same old game.
1What mystifies me is how half the population cannot see through the smoke and mirrors. Don’t they realize they’re being conned out of their futures?
Thank you for posting this.
2“I don’t give ’em hell. I just tell the truth, and they think it’s hell.”–Harry Truman
3I would like to see President Obama deliver President Truman’s speech this weekend. It would demonstrate that the GOP has only changed for the worse and that the Democrats do not have the cleanest of hands. And yet, would it matter? How many alarm clocks are necessary to wake up the American people? Unnecessary war, job losses, concentration of wealth, financial fraud on the grandest scale, declines in health and education. What is in the headlines? The definition of marriage and the eternal argument of when life begins. What about life post womb?
4Wow. That’s awesome. And so eery how it sounds like it could have been written this morning…and still applies to the Republican Party.
5Said it before, will say it again: you are the greatest! What a wonderful post.
I’d never read or heard about this speech. Wow! Truth is timeless, isn’t it?
6Thank you…timeless, indeed!
7I am seriously being wild about Harry.
8Thank you for this, JJ. That speech is as true today as it was when President Truman made it.
9Quite appropriate to hear that “Sermon on the Hill” at this particular time.
10One of the greats!
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
11Any time the subject comes up, I tell my high school students why Harry Truman is and should always be considered a hero of the Civil Rights Movement: he integrated the military in 1948. Nothing else could be done then, so he did what he could do as Commander in Chief.
12Thanks, JJ. My first presidential vote was cast for Harry and I have never regretted it. How many times since then I have said, “if only Harry was still here” or “they wouldn’t dare do that if Harry was still president.” I miss Harry but fear we will never see another like him.
Did you see that we spend $1.3 million to support Dubya, but Harry drove he and Bess back to Independence in their own Plymouth.
Again? I miss Harry.
13An appropriate listing of Harry’s beliefs in thought and practice. It’s unfortunate the huge blight on his record was the 1951 peace treaty with Japan. My criticism should also include MacArthur and Dulles.
14I add my thanks, Juanita.
15I am reading “Truman” by David McCullough. Must read if you like Harry. He was consistent through his life. There will probably never be another. and they tried to smear him with Pendergast.
Just finished “Angler” about Cheney. What a contrast. If you have the stomach it is important so we don’t do THAT again.
Happy Easter to all. Thanks for this blog.
16MaryKCroft, he he integrated the military against the advice of everyone around him. To a man every one of his advisors told him it would cost him the election. This was not the first time he uttered the phrase, “I’d rather be right than be President.”
Gene, when he drove home he had to buy the Walace house. His mother in law, didn’t have a will so Harry and Bess were obliged to purchase it, this required a loan since Bess and Harry were broke and Harry didn’t believe former Presidents should cash in on their service. In spite of the fact that many of Harry’s friends and neighbors offered to give them the money, Harry wouldn’t have any of it. He paid for the house just as he paid back all of his creditors from his failed business. He was a man of honor.
As to Pendergast, say what you will, many Kansas Citians had work here during the Great Depression as a result of his efforts and much of the concrete he poured is still around. He also gave Harry his start in politics and taught him how to get things done. Truman was always loyal to his friends, no one in Independence was surprised when he came back for Boss Tom’s funeral, like I said, Harry always paid his debts.
17Brilliant, JJ! You remind me why I am Damned Proud to be a Liberal, Democrat, Texican, and just plain ole-God LOVING soul from the State of Tejas, the U.S. of A., and this rock called Earth in this Universe….
18Timeless eloquence! 64 years later we are still upholding the same principals. The Republicans and their Tea Party, meanwhile, are just getting worse. And by worse, I mean more un-American than ever.
19Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! I’d never seen this before – it’s just as true now as it was then. I never knew much about Truman, only the part about integrating the military. Will be going to the library Monday to find the biography recommended by Mary Beth.
20Unfortunately, this characterization is almost as true of Steve Israel and Steny Hoyer as it is of today’s Republicans.
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