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<TITLE>RE: [Vision2020] Fw: FW: Harry & Bess</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Hi Roger,<BR>
<BR>
Yes, Truman was one of a kind and he was an FDR Democrat. Too bad he could not get national health care passed.<BR>
<BR>
Nick<BR>
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<BR>
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.<BR>
<BR>
-Greek proverb<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
-----Original Message-----<BR>
From: vision2020-bounces@moscow.com on behalf of lfalen<BR>
Sent: Tue 6/26/2012 10:54 PM<BR>
To: vision2020@moscow.com<BR>
Subject: [Vision2020] Fw: FW: Harry & Bess<BR>
<BR>
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-----Original message-----<BR>
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Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 11:10 AM<BR>
<BR>
Subject: FW: Harry & Bess<BR>
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<BR>
I usually do not send anything political, but this was sent to me by a<BR>
good friend Louise Nelson, and it is too good to not pass along!<BR>
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________________________________<BR>
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Will we ever see this again?<BR>
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Thought you'd enjoy this!<BR>
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Harry & Bess<BR>
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Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as<BR>
many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any<BR>
of the other 32 Presidents preceding him or the 11 who followed.<BR>
However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he<BR>
left the White House.<BR>
<BR>
The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was<BR>
in Independence Missouri .. His wife had inherited the house from her<BR>
mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they<BR>
lived their entire lives there.<BR>
<BR>
When he retired from office in 1952 his income was a U.S. Army pension<BR>
reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was<BR>
paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an<BR>
'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.<BR>
<BR>
After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to<BR>
Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.<BR>
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When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined,<BR>
stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and<BR>
that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's<BR>
not for sale."<BR>
<BR>
Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the<BR>
Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing,<BR>
"I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason<BR>
for any award, Congressional or otherwise."<BR>
<BR>
As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.<BR>
<BR>
Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on<BR>
the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also<BR>
have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of<BR>
their offices. Political offices are now for sale (cf. Illinois ).<BR>
<BR>
Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life<BR>
were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And<BR>
to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!"<BR>
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I say dig him up and clone him!<BR>
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No virus found in this message.<BR>
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com<BR>
Version: 2012.0.2177 / Virus Database: 2433/5072 - Release Date:<BR>
06/15/12<BR>
Internal Virus Database is out of date.<BR>
<BR>
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