Looking for Harry Truman A Humanities Aerticle |
I am sure it comes as no surprise that in these troubled times we all question what it will take to solve the incredibly complex difficulties facing the world today. America, being the most powerful nation on earth, is often looked to for leadership. After all, we are the republic that produced such towering political figures as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, men who overcame problems that for their day were equally complicated. Surely there is a wealth of inspiration to be had by investigating how these men dealt with the kinds of things that seem to overwhelm us today, though in different formats. And then there is Harry. Of course, I heard about him for years, read a little when I was in high school, and been told some things by my parents that he was a most amazing man. It occurred to me last week to do a little research on the fellow to educate myself more about why he is considered by so many to have been exceptional. I asked Sandra to go to the library and pick me up a comprehensive biography. In the meantime, in checking google, I found that there are literally thousands of books and articles about the man and his achievements. Sandra found me a soft-cover version of Truman by David McCullough, published in 1992 by Touchstone, a subsidiary of Simon and Schuster, 1,000 pages. I have to tell you that after reading this weighty tome for the last three days, I found myself wanting to cheer for the man, shout praises like I never have before for anyone, and alternately cry over the way things have changed so dramatically in the last 50 plus years. Harry has made me realize for the first time that we human beings as a species have created a technology far in advance of our mental capabilities to match the physical and ethical realities of our own innovations. His administration clearly shows me that our Industrial Revolution has set us on a path of utter self-disintegration, moral decay, and relative hopelessness, that unless we can somehow resurrect the man, we can kiss our communal backsides goodbye. I mean, sure, Moses had his problems, but he had G-d. All Harry had was faith. The man was a dirt-poor, Missouri farmer, no education beyond high school, debts up the yingyam, bad eyesight, and compelled to participate in World War I where, because he joined something like an ROTC outfit near Kansas City, was made responsible for a 200 man artillery outfit and sent into the trenches. Once there, he discovered how to command men and overcome obstacles, to get the job done. So did lots of others, but few lived to come home and talk about it like he did. In fact, most of the men in his Battery D command survived with him. Married Bess when he came home, scratched by farming, tried banking, several failed businesses, and took a shot at politics by becoming a District Judge. He did rather well there and established a reputation as a reliable Democrat, coming to the attention of a political boss, Pendergast, who happened to run a large machine. Harry admitted in his memoirs that he did have to make one decision, allowing one crook to get away with ten grand in order to save a city some millions in graft. Pendergast's influence and his Battery D friends-for-life later helped Harry win a seat in the Senate in a tough race, where he learned how to campaign. In the Senate, Harry developed rare talents. He got everybody to like him personally, demonstrated enormous competence working on several committees, developed a reputation as being extremely capable as a problem solver on some critical issues, especially rooting out graft, and came to the attention of President Roosevelt in 1943. No one wanted to be Roosevelt's running mate for his fourth term because he was in such ill health, but when the choice was proposed to Harry, he accepted out of respect for the office. It was in the middle of the crisis of World War II, just after the Tehran conference between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin to decide the fate of Europe and Asia. FDR won election to a fourth term with Harry as VP. 3 months later he died, leaving Harry in probably the worst spot any man in history has ever had to face. His decisions over the next seven years changed the world forever. There is no doubt in my mind that he saved the world using his natural integrity, honesty, and decisiveness. The list is awesome, a resume that will probably never be duplicated. 1. At Potsdam, he sized up Stalin and Churchill, realizing that Communism was incompatible with Democracy, that it was nothing less than totalitarianism. He strengthens the military and fosters the new Pentagon, having learned the Communists respect nothing but strength in arms and could not be trusted to keep their word. 2. Made some brilliant appointments, like Dean Acheson as Secretary of State, General George Marshall as Secretary of War and many others. 3. Hitler commits suicide, victory over Europe, but the Russians close in and threaten every country; Harry authorizes the use of the atomic bomb against Japan and orders some American troops in Europe to stay put. 4. Victory over Japan; at least 200,000 American lives saved from having to assault Japan directly. 5. Mao Tse Tung and Chiang Kai Shek fight for supremacy of China; Chiang retreats to Formosa. 6. Stalin orders the blockade of Berlin, Harry orders the Berlin Airlift to supply food and coal to the city for a year. 7. The Marshall Plan was implemented to provide economic aid to sustain the democracies of France, Italy and Germany. 8. As Russia threatens to overtake Greece and Turkey, as they did Poland and Czechoslovakia, Harry conceives the Truman Doctrine, pushing it though Congress to salvage those countries financially. 9. As Russian troop strength swells, Harry puts bills through Congress to increase American military capability, vastly compensating the huge dichotomy existing. 10. Simultaneously, steelworkers, rail-workers and coal-miners threaten to strike, vital interests of the military effort. Harry broke all strikes by threatening government takeovers, forcing the greedy owners to settle. 11. The Berlin Airlift succeeds; Russia backs down; Harry conceives NATO and implements the United Nations in a San Francisco world conference with congressional approval. For the first time, aggression can be opposed by a coordinated International front. 12. At great personal political risk, Harry forces the recognition of the new state of Israel/Palestine. so that the Jewish refugees of Europe have a homeland. He introduces the first civil rights legislation and orders full integration of the armed services. 13. Stalin dies. Russia imposes Communism on Mao and arms Manchuria with a million troops. Harry creates the CIA and the NSA; he authorizes the development of the advanced Super A bomb after Russia demonstrates they have stolen the H bomb. He also establishes the Atomic Energy Commission, making certain that such weapons are always under civilian control, not the military. This decision is not seen until much later as having saved the world from certain incineration. 14. Harry campaigns by whistle stop for another term, gathering contributions to pay for the train as he goes; every poll predicts his defeat, but he beats Republican Dewey, along with Strom Thurmond's Dixie conspiracy and their multi-million dollar war-chests by more than 2 million votes. 15. Communist rumors and spy scandals in government abound; Harry institutes the House Un-American Activities bill and the Loyalty Act; he repudiates McCarthyism and assured the public it is nothing more than fabricated lies for political advantage. 16. North Korea, prompted by Communist Mao and his Russian enforcers, invade South Korea; Harry assigns Douglas MacArthur to the task of holding the line at the 38th parallel. With a brilliant maneuver, MacArthur fakes out the Communists and retakes everything lost, then conceives a plan to conquer the North that Harry gets approved. 17. China threatens to invade if America crosses the 38th parallel. MacArthur advises it is a bluff and separates his army as they proceed North. Harry expressly forbids MacArthur to speak to the press or even think of using Formosan troops or H bombs against China. The Chinese cross the Yalu River with more than a million men. MacArthur folds as General Ridgeway pushes back the Communists. MacArthur complains to the newspapers that Truman is wrong, that atomic bombs should be used. 18. Harry fires MacArthur, the most popular war hero, and is vilified nationwide, only to be exonerated by Congressional investigation after they learn he was backed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff because of MacArthur's insubordination. 19. Harry's insistence on not using atomic weapons ever again establishes the Cold War, which after Russia collapses in the 90s, is then seen as the right decision and another world saver. 20. Harry tries to get Eisenhower to succeed him as President, but is told he would never run. 5 days later, Eisenhower betrays him and switches to the Republican party, where he joins with Nixon. His philosophy was always, rise early, work hard at whatever you do, be honest and never look back. Doing the right thing according to one's values meant more to him than anything else, no matter the pressure. He believed that men who betrayed their wives, like most Presidents, or those who lie or are willing to be manipulated, can never be trusted. He believed in Mark Twain's maxim: "Always do right. This will satisfy some and astonish the rest." There is no record of Harry S. Truman ever having issued a false statement while in public office. Every one of his political detractors, and there have been many thousands, have been proven to be deceptive. The encouragement I get from reading about his life is just this: we may be beset by terrible times, ruled by men who betray every day the lofty ideals they are supposed to represent, crushed by the unconcerned attitudes of those who believe wealth is everything, but there is a man out there, maybe a simple, relatively uneducated farmer, or a coal worker, ditch digger, lumberjack or policeman, who has what it takes to turn it all around. Maybe the system is set up now so that a poor man cannot be lifted into high office, a sort of protection against honesty and integrity. But you know, they just might be fooling themselves. Harry did it, perhaps by accident, but against similar odds. Maybe it can happen again. I just missed seeing him the last time. I hope I don't miss his return. W. A. Rieser |
