"T" is For "Truman"
Lissa, on my post about Joan of Arc, made the comment that, finally, it was someone she had heard of. While the whole point of my theme for this year's challenge is to highlight those from history who may not be as well known, I decided to go with someone a little more familiar (than the "S" guy). So, this one's for you, Lissa.
Harry S Truman was the 34th vice-president of the United States until April 12, 1945 when Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. Then he became the 33rd president.
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| "I think it's just gas." "Motherfu..." |
Now, mind you, some vice-presidents turned out to be great presidents.
Some, not so much...
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| In my opinion, Truman falls in the former category. |
Harry Truman was born in Lamar Missouri on May 8, 1884.
FUN FACT: The “S” in Truman’s name is not an
abbreviation for anything. Rather, it is
an homage to both of his grandfathers.
So, it’s not improper to omit the period altogether, something Truman
himself did.
Anyway, Truman was
selected as FDR’s running mate in 1944 because many of the poohbahs in the
Democratic party felt that POTUS would not live for the entire term. The present VP, Wallace, was deemed too
extreme so Truman would sit better with the establishment.
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| So, it's been a concern in the past |
Unfortunately, FDR had little over a year in office before he crapped out and Truman was sworn in.
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| "Winston, new guy. New guy, Winston. New Guy only has letter for middle name. Is frikkin' crazy or what?" |
Of course, the war in Europe was just about over, so that was good for Harry. However, the Japanese remained a formidable foe. After the Allies mapped out a strategy during the Potsdam Conference which declared the final defeat of the Empire the priority
Truman authorized dropping two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
NOTE: Yes, he kept the existence of nukes a secret. Didn’t you pay attention in school?
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| People debate whether this was the right call to this day. Not here, though. Another post for another day. |
Japan surrendered, Godzilla was born, and the United States built a few bases.
Truman is known
for his bulldog determination and martialing of the Marshall Plan (see what I
did there?) and creation of what’s known as the Truman Doctrine, which
essentially set the foundation of the forming of NATO.
He won reelection as president in his own right in 1948 over Republican Thomas Dewey.
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| "Psych!" |
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| "FAKE NEWS!!!" |
It was during this term in office that the Korean Conflict started seeing the initial deployment of NATO troops and giving Alan Alda a great idea for a TV series.
It was during this “police action” that Truman fired noted narcissist
and loudmouth, General Douglas MacArthur, thus reinforcing the concept of civilian
control over the military.
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| "Old soldiers never die. They also never shut their pieholes." |
In the 1952 election, Harry Truman returned to Missouri with his wife Bess (who he married June 28, 1919, after serving on active duty with the Army).
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| Bess was no Jackie O, that's for sure. |
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| "That's more than a little cruel, don'tcha think?" |
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| But she was no Eleanor, either. |
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| "Thank you for that." |
He left with little fanfare.
In other words, to paraphrase Doug, “Truman didn’t die. He
just faded away.”
Until he did die on December 26, 1972, in Kansas City.
Missouri.
Because Kansas City, Kansas. Sucks.
Oh boy, here comes the hate mail.
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| "Dear Penwasser bastard, You suck. Screw you, Mayor Kansas City, Kansas." |
I didn’t know that about the S!
ReplyDeleteWhile a lot of what I write is nonsense, that bit is true.
DeleteI don't know what to say to that. I mostly forget names if I can't pronounce them. Joan of Arc is quite easy to pronounce.
ReplyDeleteDo they count vice-presidents? I thought the number would match the president, like if a president is the 34th president, the vice president would be the 34th vice president, but whatever.
I don't know if I care to know about Truman or any president. Let's just say recent events makes me dislike them like never before.
Have a lovely day.
lissa@postcards from the bookstore
You would think they would but there have been a number of two-term presidents who had different vice-presidents. I could look at each administration but...math.
DeleteThere have been good men who were good presidents. Washington was an example. Possibly Coolidge. There have also been good men who were lousy presidents. Carter is another. As far as more recent ones? Not even going to get into that debate. I'll just say that modern politicians disgust me (and, I would dare say, more than our a few from our past).
DeleteJamie (jannghi.blogpot.com): I did know about the S. Apparently his parents couldn't decide which of his grandfathers to middle-name him after. A lot of the early presidents did not have middle names at all. And two have middle names that are also the last name of two other presidents.
ReplyDeleteAll true. Yeah, that "S" thing. Many times I have reminded people that Truman had no middle name. Only the initial. In fact, though, the carrier which bears his name has a period after the S; a fact which I deride. I'm usually asked to leave when I pull my "smartest nerd in the room" act.
DeleteRelated: It's NOT "Smokey THE Bear." It's just "Smokey Bear."
DeleteAnd that's why I'm rarely invited back.
This is someone that I knew of. But I think you did a fantastic job of highlighting people that we didn't know this month.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Most people were pretty much unknown. 'W' and 'Y' will be relatively well-known, though.
DeleteHe's a fascinating character. Isn't he why former presidents have a sort of retirement fund? He never really had money, and after leaving the presidency he ended up quite broke. There's a great movie about him.
ReplyDeleteHe’s the reason. Seemed like a good man to me.
DeleteNice transition to modern times with Truman. I often wonder what might have happened if FDR had not died right when he dead, dropping the "bomb" in Truman's lap to deal with. Would everything have ended the same way, would FDR had nuked Hiroshima? One of history's great mysteries, I guess.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a great “what if?” poser. I suspect he would have, but who knows?
Deletethere's a Kansas City in Missouri? that doesn't make any geographical sense.
ReplyDeleteI know, right? Although most of what I write can't be trusted, that much is true. In fact, there's been some talk that the Chiefs will be moving to Kansas City, Kansas. I doubt it will happen.
DeleteFun Fact: there is an Indiana University in Pennsylvania.