So - is it too much to ask that we have someone of that caliber as President and not the next racist dictator trying to ruin our lives + country? Oh yeah - we already have Joe. I just hope he makes it through the next term. And trump burns in hell
Thanks for your response. I thought that's what you meant and I fully agree with you that Trump is Hitler reincarnated (even though I don’t believe in that either…lol). Stay safe my friend. :)
Truman had that plaque on his desk that said “The Buck Stops Here” and when I hear that — all that comes to mind is when Trump said that he was not responsible at all.
When someone tells you exactly who they are— believe them.
I was 8 when Harry and Eleanor had that conversation. This reluctant haberdasher from Missouri surprised everyone, both with his 1948 victory over Dewey, that had been declared prematurely for Dewey and the excellence of his presidency. And that was when a buck was worth a buck. Notwithstanding race relations, the U.S. was a brash, ambitious and innovative country, savior of the world, coming of age in its very own century. {a personal side note: One day, 1960s, I was a nervous flyer en route to Washington, DC from NYC and the plane was all over the sky. I was terrified. I took some solace in the fact that the man next to me was calmly reading his paper as if we were gliding smoothly home. That man was Thomas E. Dewey.} I digress.
So where are we 75 years later? The shockingly corrupt, incompetent, criminal ex-president sees his popularity go up with every idictment. The every-bit-as-effective a president as Truman sees his popularity slide with every benefit he provides to the American people. This does not look good. Rachel Maddow profoundly exclaimed, based on her rigorous study of history, that a Donald Trump only rises in a country that is ready for him, even desires him. So where are we right now and what can be done? People need to be educated and there is not enough time to send them to school. On the one hand they need to be powerfully shown the terrible future a Trump return promises. And, on the other, they need to know what the actions of the recent past and immediate future, in Biden's capable and compassionate hands, mean for the improvement of American life. That is a huge challenge and as JFK so succinctly put it, "First, you have to get elected." So this is a massive communications challenge not yet undertaken. It needs respected and beloved surrogates to carry the message to the appropriate constituencies that are bored by Biden. There is nothing like sticking your finger in a hornet's nest to get people's attention. Trump has ALL the attention, as in, "I don't care what you say about me, just spell my name right." When the automobile is moving along smoothly, without incident, passengers fall asleep. We need to set the alarm for NOW AND WAKE PEOPLE UP! We need to cover his noise with noise of our own. America is really in a very good place right now structurally. She just needs to know it and protect it from the goons. Times a wastin'.
Key West is a beautiful place and my wife and I enjoyed our time there. However, I didn't know the presidential history of the place so I never visited the Southern White House. I will have to put it on my ever growing list of places to visit since I started reading your column. You have introduced me to more wonders of America I have little knowledge of and I am grateful for your travels and writing. All the best to you and your family in the new year
Yes! I never knew it existed, either. I've visited the Hemingway House and loved it. Had I known the Little White House was there, I would have visited it, too. Like you, I've added it to my very long bucket list.
Very good essay and, being from Missouri, we're very proud of Harry Truman. But, when I read your essay I couldn't help but see the privilege of white men. I don't think this was at all intentional but that's also part of the reason that it persists. "It's a tale as old as time," and not nearly enough has changed. It's a large part of MAGA. There were no women or people of color "in the room where it happens", no one who was openly a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and probably no people who were not Christians, and there are still very few. The few that are in those rooms are constantly bombarded with insults, mansplaining and threats, direct and indirect. It would really, really be a good thing if the white Christian men who don't agree with these exclusions would constantly, and consistently, speak up. Had this essay been only about a trip you took I wouldn't have mentioned this, but it's also a political statement.
"in the room where it happens" Patricia, I felt the same way you've described here while reading this, although I'm happy for Steve that he's on vacation doing what he enjoys. There was such an absence of representation of women and minorities in this history that the reality of the struggle for equality, which goes on today, was not easy for some of us to toast.Thanks.
Good article thanks. Truman was a real man, soldier, businessman and diplomat for our nation. Pretty sure he is pissed off at present....what with the Putin wing of the GOP, along with the Bible worshipers.
Thanks for this. Feel like a total dunce having been to Key West a couple of times unaware this place existed. And I consider myself a Truman fan since I read his biography at age 15, ironically on a long overnight train ride to Florida. I will definitely go to this little corner of history the next time I’m down that way.
I love, love, love Harry! He was president when I was born, so I have no memory of his tenure, but have read just about every book about him. We also visited the Little White House when in Key West in 2001. I was like a star-struck kid seeing his poker table and the rest of the original furnishings of that time. Truman doesn't get enough credit for his accomplishments. He should rightfully be called the father of medicare, since he tried to get something like that passed, but was unable to. Thankfully, Johnson had the success. We need more Harry Truman's in the White House.
The band Chicago wrote a song called America Needs You, Harry Truman, and the lyrics are more relevant today than ever. Also, a personal anecdote: I was in the Missouri National Guard when Truman died December 26, 1972. He was laid in state at his library in Independence, MO and the governor activated my unit to stand honor guard on the steps and into the lobby of the library. It was bitter cold and the wind made it even worse. I had the luck of drawing outside duty, and we were ordered to stand at attention for thirty minute spells with five minute breaks at parade rest, for a two-hour shift. Although we'd been issued long underwear to wear under our dress uniforms it was near impossible to stop shivering from the cold. I was on duty when Bess arrived as we were standing at attention. As she made it up the steps and passed us, noticing how cold we were I heard her say, "Either get these young boys inside or send them home, This is ridiculous." We got to go inside. Both of them were class acts. America needs you, Harry, now more than ever.
We seldom hear much of President Truman, especially this kind of peak into his private life. Thanks.....I enjoyed it.
History is infinitely fascinating and enlightening, and it's good that we continue to learn its' lessons. It is such a rich and endless mine to study and glean lessons from. So let's continue our search for its' treasures.
None of us know the future, which tends to make predicting it pretty much of a fools endeavor anyhow. To my way of thinking, that includes what will happen this coming year. With all the possible unexpected situations that could throw us a curve, and land us in a totally unexpected place a year from now, it all is still anyone's guess as to what will actually transpire. Let's not panic, just be diligent, purposeful and positive in our efforts to bring about desired our outcome and trust the Universe to do the rest.
I had no idea of its existence. It looks quite cool, and of course, so do you Steve, sitting in the stetch Limosine. We are so fortunate to have had great leaders like Harry. I will be sure to visit there the next time I'm in Key West - I've never been, but want to go in '24!
Although I was only 3 years old when Truman became president, I lived through his presidency, and I was well aware of newreels about him.. Thus at 8, I associated Harry Truman with a fantastical world of a garden of Eden, and I see more clearly now what we are. That 1945 world is a world that seems completely out of kilter with what it has become. Who WAS that nation Mr. Schmidt is talking about? It has been called the Best Age of America, with enormous tycoons and industrial wealth and power-it was the Golden Age of "our" nation; I use "our", meaning the whites.
Wasn't it also the nation where the wealthy paid 91% taxes and also still was lynching blacks?
The taxes seemed better suited to what a fabulously wealthy nation's obscenely rich ought to still be paying. As for Missouri, they voted to support slavery and secede, and yet no one mentions it in relation to Harry Truman.
To me, Harry Truman's America is a like falsely remembered, sentimentalized happy childhood, blissfully unaware of philosophical questions about who we actually were .
To me, Harry Truman's America was a splendid Ignorance that fits in with MAGA's views; the white man's happiest of times-- unaware of the coming regrets and melancholia. It reminds me of the characters in Oneill's "Long Day's Journey Into Night."
I agree that Harry Truman's America was the best place to make money, and the most lighthearted nation in the world, full of promise and dreams. But, as anywhere else in the world, we whites had to wear blinders and be philosophical. "Porgy and Bess" was not just a Broadway show..
A comparison can be made between O'Neill's dead serious classic play and Truman's America and what it has become,;
The play is based on the Greek notion of fate and the idea of the past controlling the future. That Greek notion of fate and destiny is also true for Truman's America and what has happened to it; We learn over the course of Long Day's Journey into Night how events in each character's past made them into who they are.
The whole nation IS the archtype of Capitalism, and we have never changed ( except in the 1930's when we had a chance to become socialist & almost succeeded,, and except for FDR's New Deal). We are THE bastion of Capitalism---the biggest one, most unrelenting one, the world has ever known.
I can't endorse socialism. There is nothing wrong with seeking to make a profit - that results in improvements and advancements. Socialism tends to stultify that. There was not only the New Deal, but also the War on Poverty and trust-busting - what is needed is honest politicians to control capitalism. Uncontrolled capitalism along with allowing corporations to vote has led us to where we are now.
I agree. No ISM works. Instead, and I would like to hear your thoughts on this- There has to be a continual (daily, using TV as a platform) dialectic between the people and its leaders on a forever changing balance of a mix of socialistic concenrs ( humanism) and of what is called Capitalism, and by capitalism I mean that pucuniary system of economiics which allows FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF HUMAN CREATIVITY, COMBINED AUTOMATICALLY WITH HUMAN GREED, VANITY AND REACHES FOR DOMINION AND POWER OVER OTHERS, I.E., the opposite of humanism.
Stalin failed because he did not understand Freud.
Tracy, thanks for your response. I agree that psychological considerations are important to consider in balancing social and economic concerns. Aung San Suu Kyi: It is not power that corrupts but fear of losing power that corrupts those who wield it and the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.
Before I read this issue of The Warning, I had been reflecting on the concept of leadership as it relates to the POTUS. I was thinking about this question- how many good and how many great presidents have we actually had over our history?
I’d submit there’s only been a handful. Most were average, but many were poor, in my estimation. Yes, there’s Lincoln, Washington, Adams, Madison, FDR, Truman, TR, LBJ, and a smattering of others one could argue were good or great.
But, look at all the others. Do we honestly believe Polk, Pierce, Harrison, Cleveland, Hoover, Coolidge and many others were good presidents? And don’t forget Andrew Jackson and what he did to the 5 civilized tribes which was tantamount to war criminality.
We Americans have not have a terrible track record of discerning and understanding what servant leadership looks like and how it should be manifested in our candidates for president. Instead, we are clueless as a nation in understanding what strong, excellent servant based presidential leadership looks like that serves all Americans l, regardless of whether
they voted for him or not. Consequentially, the “cream doesn’t rise to the top” and we elect the mediocre and dull blades (like Bush 2), or the schmuck populist insurrectionist who now wants a second term. We Americans could do much better if we’d been taught that one can actually learn to identify the leadership traits we need to have for us to identify and elect good to great presidents.
We could do much, much better if we’d learn that simple lesson. Just look at the current GOP presidential candidates. Do I need to say more? What a bunch of charlatans, lackeys, and losers who are legends in their own minds. Who do you think they want to serve if elected? Short answer- it’s not us. They’re in it for themselves.
So - is it too much to ask that we have someone of that caliber as President and not the next racist dictator trying to ruin our lives + country? Oh yeah - we already have Joe. I just hope he makes it through the next term. And trump burns in hell
And Trump burns..........for eternity!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Can you give me your background which enables you to arrive at your opinion? Maybe a scriptural basis!
Thank you! I’m afraid many people say they believe things, but have no clue why! 😁
...in a fire stoked by orangutan dung.
I just now re-read your first post again… AH, now I see that it was too early for me to be trying to read accurately. This is my “egg face” ;0
Joe = Harry Truman
Trump is the Nazi fascist dictator who wants to ruin our country.
Sorry if this wasn't apparent in my initial post.
Thanks for your response. I thought that's what you meant and I fully agree with you that Trump is Hitler reincarnated (even though I don’t believe in that either…lol). Stay safe my friend. :)
Truman had that plaque on his desk that said “The Buck Stops Here” and when I hear that — all that comes to mind is when Trump said that he was not responsible at all.
When someone tells you exactly who they are— believe them.
I was 8 when Harry and Eleanor had that conversation. This reluctant haberdasher from Missouri surprised everyone, both with his 1948 victory over Dewey, that had been declared prematurely for Dewey and the excellence of his presidency. And that was when a buck was worth a buck. Notwithstanding race relations, the U.S. was a brash, ambitious and innovative country, savior of the world, coming of age in its very own century. {a personal side note: One day, 1960s, I was a nervous flyer en route to Washington, DC from NYC and the plane was all over the sky. I was terrified. I took some solace in the fact that the man next to me was calmly reading his paper as if we were gliding smoothly home. That man was Thomas E. Dewey.} I digress.
So where are we 75 years later? The shockingly corrupt, incompetent, criminal ex-president sees his popularity go up with every idictment. The every-bit-as-effective a president as Truman sees his popularity slide with every benefit he provides to the American people. This does not look good. Rachel Maddow profoundly exclaimed, based on her rigorous study of history, that a Donald Trump only rises in a country that is ready for him, even desires him. So where are we right now and what can be done? People need to be educated and there is not enough time to send them to school. On the one hand they need to be powerfully shown the terrible future a Trump return promises. And, on the other, they need to know what the actions of the recent past and immediate future, in Biden's capable and compassionate hands, mean for the improvement of American life. That is a huge challenge and as JFK so succinctly put it, "First, you have to get elected." So this is a massive communications challenge not yet undertaken. It needs respected and beloved surrogates to carry the message to the appropriate constituencies that are bored by Biden. There is nothing like sticking your finger in a hornet's nest to get people's attention. Trump has ALL the attention, as in, "I don't care what you say about me, just spell my name right." When the automobile is moving along smoothly, without incident, passengers fall asleep. We need to set the alarm for NOW AND WAKE PEOPLE UP! We need to cover his noise with noise of our own. America is really in a very good place right now structurally. She just needs to know it and protect it from the goons. Times a wastin'.
As a Vietnam Veteran 69/70, we have to get all our friends and family to vote for Democracy nationaly and locally.
Key West is a beautiful place and my wife and I enjoyed our time there. However, I didn't know the presidential history of the place so I never visited the Southern White House. I will have to put it on my ever growing list of places to visit since I started reading your column. You have introduced me to more wonders of America I have little knowledge of and I am grateful for your travels and writing. All the best to you and your family in the new year
Yes! I never knew it existed, either. I've visited the Hemingway House and loved it. Had I known the Little White House was there, I would have visited it, too. Like you, I've added it to my very long bucket list.
It is a wonderful place and I love that it has the original furnishings, which have been carefully preserved.
Very good essay and, being from Missouri, we're very proud of Harry Truman. But, when I read your essay I couldn't help but see the privilege of white men. I don't think this was at all intentional but that's also part of the reason that it persists. "It's a tale as old as time," and not nearly enough has changed. It's a large part of MAGA. There were no women or people of color "in the room where it happens", no one who was openly a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and probably no people who were not Christians, and there are still very few. The few that are in those rooms are constantly bombarded with insults, mansplaining and threats, direct and indirect. It would really, really be a good thing if the white Christian men who don't agree with these exclusions would constantly, and consistently, speak up. Had this essay been only about a trip you took I wouldn't have mentioned this, but it's also a political statement.
"in the room where it happens" Patricia, I felt the same way you've described here while reading this, although I'm happy for Steve that he's on vacation doing what he enjoys. There was such an absence of representation of women and minorities in this history that the reality of the struggle for equality, which goes on today, was not easy for some of us to toast.Thanks.
Seems to me that there is a huge bunch of Christian White Men who are part of the problem.
Yes, and I don’t think Jesus had this crap in mind.
Patricia and Lisa, you anticipated what I just said about MAGA.. Nice to hear fellow travelers' voices..
Good article thanks. Truman was a real man, soldier, businessman and diplomat for our nation. Pretty sure he is pissed off at present....what with the Putin wing of the GOP, along with the Bible worshipers.
Thanks for this. Feel like a total dunce having been to Key West a couple of times unaware this place existed. And I consider myself a Truman fan since I read his biography at age 15, ironically on a long overnight train ride to Florida. I will definitely go to this little corner of history the next time I’m down that way.
I love, love, love Harry! He was president when I was born, so I have no memory of his tenure, but have read just about every book about him. We also visited the Little White House when in Key West in 2001. I was like a star-struck kid seeing his poker table and the rest of the original furnishings of that time. Truman doesn't get enough credit for his accomplishments. He should rightfully be called the father of medicare, since he tried to get something like that passed, but was unable to. Thankfully, Johnson had the success. We need more Harry Truman's in the White House.
The band Chicago wrote a song called America Needs You, Harry Truman, and the lyrics are more relevant today than ever. Also, a personal anecdote: I was in the Missouri National Guard when Truman died December 26, 1972. He was laid in state at his library in Independence, MO and the governor activated my unit to stand honor guard on the steps and into the lobby of the library. It was bitter cold and the wind made it even worse. I had the luck of drawing outside duty, and we were ordered to stand at attention for thirty minute spells with five minute breaks at parade rest, for a two-hour shift. Although we'd been issued long underwear to wear under our dress uniforms it was near impossible to stop shivering from the cold. I was on duty when Bess arrived as we were standing at attention. As she made it up the steps and passed us, noticing how cold we were I heard her say, "Either get these young boys inside or send them home, This is ridiculous." We got to go inside. Both of them were class acts. America needs you, Harry, now more than ever.
Wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Steve
Plain spoken just like her husband. No word salads for the Trumans.
We seldom hear much of President Truman, especially this kind of peak into his private life. Thanks.....I enjoyed it.
History is infinitely fascinating and enlightening, and it's good that we continue to learn its' lessons. It is such a rich and endless mine to study and glean lessons from. So let's continue our search for its' treasures.
None of us know the future, which tends to make predicting it pretty much of a fools endeavor anyhow. To my way of thinking, that includes what will happen this coming year. With all the possible unexpected situations that could throw us a curve, and land us in a totally unexpected place a year from now, it all is still anyone's guess as to what will actually transpire. Let's not panic, just be diligent, purposeful and positive in our efforts to bring about desired our outcome and trust the Universe to do the rest.
.
I had no idea of its existence. It looks quite cool, and of course, so do you Steve, sitting in the stetch Limosine. We are so fortunate to have had great leaders like Harry. I will be sure to visit there the next time I'm in Key West - I've never been, but want to go in '24!
Although I was only 3 years old when Truman became president, I lived through his presidency, and I was well aware of newreels about him.. Thus at 8, I associated Harry Truman with a fantastical world of a garden of Eden, and I see more clearly now what we are. That 1945 world is a world that seems completely out of kilter with what it has become. Who WAS that nation Mr. Schmidt is talking about? It has been called the Best Age of America, with enormous tycoons and industrial wealth and power-it was the Golden Age of "our" nation; I use "our", meaning the whites.
Wasn't it also the nation where the wealthy paid 91% taxes and also still was lynching blacks?
The taxes seemed better suited to what a fabulously wealthy nation's obscenely rich ought to still be paying. As for Missouri, they voted to support slavery and secede, and yet no one mentions it in relation to Harry Truman.
To me, Harry Truman's America is a like falsely remembered, sentimentalized happy childhood, blissfully unaware of philosophical questions about who we actually were .
To me, Harry Truman's America was a splendid Ignorance that fits in with MAGA's views; the white man's happiest of times-- unaware of the coming regrets and melancholia. It reminds me of the characters in Oneill's "Long Day's Journey Into Night."
I agree that Harry Truman's America was the best place to make money, and the most lighthearted nation in the world, full of promise and dreams. But, as anywhere else in the world, we whites had to wear blinders and be philosophical. "Porgy and Bess" was not just a Broadway show..
A comparison can be made between O'Neill's dead serious classic play and Truman's America and what it has become,;
The play is based on the Greek notion of fate and the idea of the past controlling the future. That Greek notion of fate and destiny is also true for Truman's America and what has happened to it; We learn over the course of Long Day's Journey into Night how events in each character's past made them into who they are.
We need a Cemocrat that can give them Hell. The Democrats look like capitalists while Trump pretends he is a populist. That image has got to change.
The whole nation IS the archtype of Capitalism, and we have never changed ( except in the 1930's when we had a chance to become socialist & almost succeeded,, and except for FDR's New Deal). We are THE bastion of Capitalism---the biggest one, most unrelenting one, the world has ever known.
I can't endorse socialism. There is nothing wrong with seeking to make a profit - that results in improvements and advancements. Socialism tends to stultify that. There was not only the New Deal, but also the War on Poverty and trust-busting - what is needed is honest politicians to control capitalism. Uncontrolled capitalism along with allowing corporations to vote has led us to where we are now.
Hello Alan,
I agree. No ISM works. Instead, and I would like to hear your thoughts on this- There has to be a continual (daily, using TV as a platform) dialectic between the people and its leaders on a forever changing balance of a mix of socialistic concenrs ( humanism) and of what is called Capitalism, and by capitalism I mean that pucuniary system of economiics which allows FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF HUMAN CREATIVITY, COMBINED AUTOMATICALLY WITH HUMAN GREED, VANITY AND REACHES FOR DOMINION AND POWER OVER OTHERS, I.E., the opposite of humanism.
Stalin failed because he did not understand Freud.
Tracy, thanks for your response. I agree that psychological considerations are important to consider in balancing social and economic concerns. Aung San Suu Kyi: It is not power that corrupts but fear of losing power that corrupts those who wield it and the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.
Great Vacation! I love Key West! Have never been to this spot there! Next time!! Enjoy!!
I love Karl Hiassen's books on Key West
Before I read this issue of The Warning, I had been reflecting on the concept of leadership as it relates to the POTUS. I was thinking about this question- how many good and how many great presidents have we actually had over our history?
I’d submit there’s only been a handful. Most were average, but many were poor, in my estimation. Yes, there’s Lincoln, Washington, Adams, Madison, FDR, Truman, TR, LBJ, and a smattering of others one could argue were good or great.
But, look at all the others. Do we honestly believe Polk, Pierce, Harrison, Cleveland, Hoover, Coolidge and many others were good presidents? And don’t forget Andrew Jackson and what he did to the 5 civilized tribes which was tantamount to war criminality.
We Americans have not have a terrible track record of discerning and understanding what servant leadership looks like and how it should be manifested in our candidates for president. Instead, we are clueless as a nation in understanding what strong, excellent servant based presidential leadership looks like that serves all Americans l, regardless of whether
they voted for him or not. Consequentially, the “cream doesn’t rise to the top” and we elect the mediocre and dull blades (like Bush 2), or the schmuck populist insurrectionist who now wants a second term. We Americans could do much better if we’d been taught that one can actually learn to identify the leadership traits we need to have for us to identify and elect good to great presidents.
We could do much, much better if we’d learn that simple lesson. Just look at the current GOP presidential candidates. Do I need to say more? What a bunch of charlatans, lackeys, and losers who are legends in their own minds. Who do you think they want to serve if elected? Short answer- it’s not us. They’re in it for themselves.
www.tomthedemocratist.com