Truman Often Praised, But With Inaccurate Hindsight

By: Dean Reynolds
Topics: Campaign '08

(CBS)

From CBS News' Dean Reynolds:

(INDEPENDENCE, MO.) - Standing near the grave of Harry Truman as I watch John McCain pay tribute to the former president, I am reminded of one of the current myths about the man.

In recent years, Truman seems to have become the Republicans favorite Democratic president. They talk of his guts, his common sense, his straight-arrow politics and his ability to take on the awesome burdens of the presidency.

Democrats do the same. What sets the Republican praise apart, though, is their recollection of Harry as a man who always put "his country before party and self interest."

Undeniably true, but he was an energetic partisan. He gave no quarter to Republicans and he won election in 1948 by running against the "do-nothing" Republican Congress. The Republicans of that day returned the enmity, which was like feeding raw meat to Harry.

As he said memorably in the peroration of his acceptance speech at the '48 Democratic National Convention:

"Sen. [Alben] Barkley (his running mate) and I will win this election, and make these Republicans like it. Don't you forget that!"

He went on to win the greatest upset in American political history. And the Republicans would sure like to forget THAT if nothing else.

Dean Reynolds
Dean Reynolds is a CBS News National Correspondent based in Chicago.

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by pastdue1 October 2, 2008 10:15 PM EDT: Truman was never silent about his opponents and maligned them in no uncertain terms. He hated the journalist Eric Severeid and refused to get on an elevator once when he saw Severeid was on it. If the media, or news, as it was then called uttered an unkind word about his daughter, Margaret, they were scathingly denounced. He did not think twice about firing McCarther for disobeying orders-McCarther intended to cross the 38th parallel at the end of the Korean War and that was not part of the UN mission. But, despite all this, Truman initiated the greatest rebuilding plan ever in the Marshall Plan, effective in rebuilding Europe after WWII.; Reply to this comment


by wahali333 October 1, 2008 6:33 PM EDT: 3 to 5 years ago Alan Greenspan warned congress in his reports to them about the housing bubble was due to burst! He reported this to congress at least 3 times during the last 5 years. Why did congress ignore this part of his report but continue business as usual! When CountryWide Home loans fail, no one paid much attention to it as a warning of more to come. When Fanny Mae was in financial trouble 2 years ago, no one done anything.Fat cats in Washington & Wall Street are tuned in to the wrong channels. We better hit the delete buttons on those channels to put them on notice that WE, the people are not getting our money''s worth from our so called reps in washington. We are upset & want value for our money so get busy OR WE the people will vote for more change then just the president''s position!!! Jerry B.; Reply to this comment