It took a half-century for historians to concede that the feisty Truman had solid accomplishments, especially in foreign affairs. Even his vulgarity was eventually appreciated as integral to the image of "Give 'Em Hell" Harry.
Posted on 06/08/2019 1:23:57 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
When Truman took office after Roosevelt's death in April 1945, he knew relatively nothing about the grand strategy of World War II. No one had told him anything about the ongoing atomic bomb project...But for the next seven-plus years, Truman shocked the country.
Over the objections of many in his Cabinet, he ordered the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan.
Over the objections of most of the State Department, he recognized the new state of Israel.
Over the objections of the Roosevelt holdovers, he broke with wartime ally the Soviet Union and crafted the foundations of Cold War communist containment.
Over the objections of many in the Pentagon, he integrated the armed forces.
Over the objections of some of his advisers, he sent troops to the Korean peninsula to save South Korea from North Korean invasion.
Over the objections of civil libertarians, he created the CIA.
Over the objections of most Americans, he relieved controversial five-star general and American hero Douglas MacArthur of his duties.
Naturally, there were widespread calls in the press for Truman to resign...
When a reviewer for the Washington Post trashed Truman's daughter's concert performance, Truman physically threatened him.
"It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful," Truman wrote in a letter to critic Paul Hume. "Someday I hope to meet you. When that happens, you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!"
He reportedly said of MacArthur's firing: "I didn't fire him because he was a dumb son of a bitch although he was, but that's not against the law for generals. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail."
Truman was supposed to be slaughtered in the 1948 election...
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
It took a half-century for historians to concede that the feisty Truman had solid accomplishments, especially in foreign affairs. Even his vulgarity was eventually appreciated as integral to the image of "Give 'Em Hell" Harry.
Truman wasn’t perfect, but thank God FDR replaced Henry Wallace with him.
I always liked Harry Truman. He’s on my short list of Presidents who never cheated on their wives.
And it is a short list.
“If they do not now accept our terms, they can expect a rain of ruin from the air the like never seen on earth” Part of the speech by Harry T. to the Japs following the first atomic bomb drop. They STILL wouldn’t uncle so they got fed bomb number 2! That did the trick!
Harry Truman - Chicago
America needs you
Harry Truman
Harry could you please come home
Things are looking bad
I know you would be mad
To see what kind of men
Prevail upon the land you love
America’s wondering
How we got here
Harry all we get is lies
We’re gettin’ safer cars
Rocket ships to mars
From men who’d sell us out
To get themselves a piece of power
We’d love to hear you speak your mind
In plain and simple ways
Call a spade a spade
Like you did back in the day
You would play piano
Each morning walk a mile
Speak of what was going down
Each honesty and style
America’s calling
Harry Truman
Harry you know what to do
The world is turnin’ round and losin’ lots of ground
Oh Harry is there something we can do to save the land we love
Oh woah woah woah
America’s calling
Harry Truman
Harry you know what to do
The world is turnin’ round
And losin’ lots of ground
So Harry is there something we can do to save the land we love
Oh
Harry is there something we can do to save the land we love
Harry
Harry is there something we can do to save the land we love
“I didn’t fire him because he was a dumb son of a bitch although he was, but that’s not against the law for generals. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail.”
C-sucker. Although I will agree that Mac was a self absorbed general. If this c-sucker would have let Mac do what he wanted to do, we wouldnt be in the fix we are in today with the NORKs.
His decision to drop the bombs on Japan were entirely correct. If my two uncles were alive they would attest to that since one had put all his personal belongings into a manila envelope and had instructions on it to send to his Mom and Pop when..and I SAY WHEN he was killed in the invasion of the main island.
The other was on the USS Missouri and would have been in on the attack. He was on the mighty Mo at the surrender.
I guess there was a HELL of a party after they dropped that bomb and the Japanese surrendered.
We celebrated D-Day this week and it kind of sticks in my craw that we never celebrate the most brutal of that war-the fighting in the Pacific. There was just about no quarter in that area of the war.
That is all..
Tojo was planning to kill Hirohito to keep the war going.
I liken to compare Donald Trump to Andy Jackson.
Ya and that didnt work out so well did it?
And almost as mean as Martin Van Buren!
Give them the secret sign while holding the Parmesan!!
How could you possibly know that?
I liken to compare Donald Trump to Andy Jackson.
Hell of a comparison aint it?
But Andrew Jackson knew who the enemy was.
And guess what the hell they accused him of?
BTW, he was first defeated before he was elected. And who elected JQ Adams in that first election? The elites. At that time, they could simply have the state electors place their votes for whoever without deference to the popular vote within that state, there were a few state that actually did that.
I saw a lot of HST in DJT early on.
Thanks for putting it out there in public so well
Bookmark
MacArthur’s relief was probably warranted by his actions, but his treatment of Truman was not much different than the way he treated Roosevelt.
Truman’s relationship with the military went way beyond his beef with MacArthur. Truman’s maternal grandparents were farmers in Jackson Co, MO (county where Kansas City is located) before and during the Civil War. They were Southern sympathizers. Their farm was raided and destroyed by Jayhawkers and their family had to seek refuge in Kansas City. Four border counties in Western Missouri, including Jackson County and Cass County, where Truman later lived, comprised the “Burnt District”. The Union Army burnt almost every farm in those counties, including union supporters, excepting towns with Union Army garrison. Thousands of farms disappeared. Truman tried and failed to get into West Point. In WWI, he served as an Artillery Captain in a National Guard division where he believed they were disrespected by the Regular Army.
After the war, he was a Reserve Colonel, commanding a Reserve Field Artillery Regiment, a paper unit with only an officer cadre. In 1942, he asked to be called to active duty and wanted to command his Regiment. Truman’s request was denied. At that time, he was 58. Moreover, he was not a graduate of the Command and General Staff College. General Marshall wanted Generals and Colonels in combat zones to be under 50 and graduates of the Staff College. Very few exceptions were ever granted. One exception was MacArthur who was already retired when WWII started. Truman had a feud with the Army and specifically with MacArthur whom he considered to be arrogant (Do you think?). Of course, Truman had disagreements with the Navy and Marines as well, with the unions, his own party, the Congress, and music lovers. He was certainly a Trump prototype.
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