Be Thankful it was Harry [Truman], Not Henry [Wallace]

townhall.com ^ | November 26, 2011 | David R. Stokes

[statestreet]

In the spirit of the recent holiday, among the many things for which Americans should be thankful is a political decision made more than 67 years ago as the Second World War was beginning to wind down and as the nation’s voters prepared for a presidential election. It was one of Franklin Roosevelt’s finest moments of decision, though admittedly, one he exercised reluctantly.

By 1944, FDR was living on borrowed time. It was a hardly a secret that health issues he had been dealing with were reaching critical mass, though only a few insiders had any idea as to the seriousness of his condition. When he ran for an unprecedented fourth term as President that year, he did so with the valley of the shadow of death looming just beyond the horizon.

This made the issue of the Vice Presidency much more important than usual. Entering that political year, Roosevelt was on his second VP, the first—John Nance Garner—had opted out after two terms. In his stead served a political oddball named Henry Agard Wallace. And if Franklin Roosevelt hadn’t dumped Mr. Wallace from the ticket in favor of Harry S. Truman that year, the post-World War Two world would have been significantly influenced by a pro-Communist lackey for the Soviet Union, who once suggested that “if we could practice eugenics on people. We could turn out a beautiful golden race.” Up to that fateful year, Wallace—who was the poster child for strange—was but a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

This issue has been recently revisited by historian David Pietrusza in his masterful new book, 1948: Harry Truman’s Improbable Victory and the Year that Transformed America. Pietrusza dissects that watershed election cycle with compelling portraits of the people who then occupied the country’s political stage...

[MarkL]

IIRC, he (Truman) was the only pol who actually attended Pendergast's funeral. Against a lot of political opposition from his supporters. Another of his qualities was loyalty.

And he was very much his own man, even more so when he became President. Against a lot of opposition, he integrated the military (which I believe had been segregated by Wilson) and supported the creation of the State of Israel, against the opposition of George Marshall.

As you said, I do believe that he grew into the office as a great President, but all the "raw materials" were there before he ever got into politics. If you ever get a chance, a terrific biography was a made for TV movie, starring Gary Sinese.

When I was little, I remember Truman mowing his own yard in Independence.

Mark

[painter]

"The Senator from Pendergast," a very powerful political boss.

Not many people here would know who he was.I'm in my 50's here in Missouri and a history buff.

He was also a ganster similar to Capone who made most of his money selling bootleg whiskey during prohibition. I new an old guy who had two bootleg joints and he got his whiskey from him.

[painter]

My grandfather voted for Dewy in 48 because of Truman's connection to Pendergast.

[Oatka]

When I was little, I remember Truman mowing his own yard in Independence.

What hit me is that I understand he was the last president to leave office and not get a pension.

[iowamark]

Though Truman had a (well deserved) reputation for honesty and integrity

I hope that you are joking!

The Truman administration was perhaps the most corrupt in US history. He was well aware of this and devoted constant effort to derailing reformers like Estes Kefauver.