The Truman Legacy

Accuracy in Academia ^ | July 24, 2006 | Katherine Duncan

[JSedreporter]

Though it has been a long 53 years since former President Harry S. Truman was in office, he was the hot topic of conversation at The Hudson Institute on Monday, July 17, where a panel discussed his legacy and influence on current policies.

Truman’s defense-laden foreign policy has recently been compared to President George W. Bush’s tactics for the War on Terror; an association that was a major point of discussion for the three members of the panel. While the speakers all had their own specific opinions of the Bush-Truman comparison, they all praised Truman’s policies while he was in office despite the tough circumstances of the times, namely the Cold War.

Making up the distinguished panel were Elizabeth Spalding, professor at Claremont McKenna College in California and author of The First Cold Warrior: Harry Truman, Containment and the Remaking of Liberal Internationalism; Peter Beinart, Editor at Large of The New Republic and author of Why Liberals—and Only Liberals—Can Win the War on Terror and Make America Great Again; and John Hulsman, Contributing Editor for The National Interest and co-author of upcoming book Ethical Realism: A Vision for America’s Role in the World.

Spalding hailed Truman for breaking out of the “realism versus idealism” debate and providing a complete alternative: prudential statesmanship. “New liberal internationalism,” which is the topic of Spalding’s new book, was birthed from Truman’s conception, she said. “The nature of the Cold War drew something out of Truman,” Spalding said of the former President who was “always a man of principle and of action.”

Pointing out that President Bush is also driven by faith and is in office during a similarly difficult wartime, Spalding highlighted the parallels between Truman and Bush, though she said that it is “too soon for any definitive answer” on the “substantive comparison.”

Beinart, however, who spoke immediately after Spalding, disagreed with her Bush-Truman comparison. “The Bush administration contrasts very strongly with the Truman administration,” Beinart said. Citing a litany of disparities between the two Presidents, Beinart emphasized that “Truman did not take the Bush administration’s view of executive power” that “strips power from the legislative and judicial branches.”

International affairs commentator Hulsman echoed more so Beinart’s views on the Bush-Truman association than Spalding’s. “Truman didn’t believe in preventive war. He never would have fought a war of choice,” said Hulsman, referring to Bush’s decision to invade Iraq. “Democracy isn’t one size fits all, other countries have histories too.”

Resolute in her belief that Bush and Truman were both multilateral, she maintained that a link between the two Presidents exists, noting the controversial and often unpopular decisions that they both have made. “Statesmen have to make decisions, while the rest of us have the luxury of hindsight,” Spalding said of the difficulties that surround being a sitting President and the inevitable criticism that stems from their policies.

“His practical policies were always in sync with his principles,” Spalding said of Truman, whose foreign policy she labeled as American, rather than partisan. Continuing to sing Truman’s praises, Spalding said that he “had a great respect for the founders, but was also a man of the twentieth century.”

She stressed, however, that Truman’s most important legacy is his prudential approach to politics, a trait that continues to be debated in President Bush.

Katherine Duncan is an intern with Accuracy in Media, Accuracy in Academia’s parent group.

[ncountylee]

The Truman Legacy is celebrated every August 6th - Hiroshima Day. Thanks Harry for saving perhaps a million lives, including 2 of my uncles.

[nyc1]

Beinart emphasized that “Truman did not take the Bush administration’s view of executive power” that “strips power from the legislative and judicial branches.”


Beinart, like most liberals, is full of crap. Harry Truman claimed that the UN gave him the authority to fight the Korean War, regardless of the opinion of Congress. After all, Korea wasn't a war, it was a "police action under the authority of the United Nations.

Roosevelt and Truman both had a view of executive power that makes Bush's look modest.

It's pure revisionism to argue otherwise.

[RedWireNut]

We Need another True Man

Harry Truman, with all his faults, and he had several, was a man who had the fear of Almighty God within him.

His roots ran deep in the fertile soil of middle America where this fear and reverence were as much a way of life as apple pie and the Fourth of July. His inner strength of conviction throughout his life was nurtured by these roots.

This nation and the world were well served by Harry Truman's ability to make the tough calls.

When the time came for the restoration of Israel, as promised by God, Harry Truman was at the helm of the one nation whose yea or nay might heavily affect the outcome.

Against all odds and every pollster, Harry S. Truman defeated Thomas E. Dewey for the presidency.

I suspect that only two people were sure of this outcome; GOD, for His own reasons (unknown to Harry), and old "Give 'em Hell Harry" because of his confidence he was doing the right thing.

Once again, history hinges on a yea or nay from the one nation that can affect the future of peace on earth and the continued health of Israel.

Who will the next "true man" be? Think long, think hard, think prayerfully, before you enter the voting booth the next two elections!

[HawaiianGecko]

I'll comment later when I've stopped laughing at this article.

 

[ncountylee]

Recent disclosures indicate the "Give 'em Hell Harry" may have been antisemitic but he put aside his personal bias to do what was right in supporting Israel.

[Liberty Valance]

Truman had a sympathetic, America loving press and Congress.

[Mo1]

If Harry Truman ran for President today ... the Dems would never vote for him

[mjolnir]

Well said!

Who represented the pro-Bush position at this gathering? I'm not saying that's the only legitimate position, but it certainly is one of them and it must at least be represented to be refuted, i.e. to have so much as a pretense of a forum as opposed to an echo chamber. I expect this kind of smarmy one-sidedness from NPR (not to mention TNR under Beinart) not the Hudson Institute.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

Yay, for your post! I share the same birthday as Mr. Truman, and I also agree that he had many faults. Most assuredly, he did not lack the guts necessary to get things done. Many would be well-advised to check their own status in this department before conducting the aerial assaults...

[spinestein]

[Peter Beinart, Editor at Large of The New Republic and author of Why Liberals—and Only Liberals—Can Win the War on Terror and Make America Great Again]


I just lost my appetite. And it's too bad because I was making tacos for lunch.

[Old Professer]

FDR could have died at home, in bed of old age, had he been willing to drop the bombs on Japan.

[meandog]

Recent disclosures indicate the "Give 'em Hell Harry" may have been antisemitic but he put aside his personal bias to do what was right in supporting Israel.

Not so antisemitic that he opted for a Jewish partner in his haberdashery...

[spinestein]

[If Harry Truman ran for President today ... the Dems would never vote for him]




If Bill Clinton ran for president today the Democrats would not vote for him because he's way too conservative for them on both fiscal and foreign policy. I'm being totally serious, and if you doubt this consider that the Democrat in congress closest to President Clinton on the issues is Joe Lieberman, and he's in the process of being drummed out of the party even though he's scandal free and squeaky clean.

[meandog]

Truman had a sympathetic, America loving press and Congress.

The Washington press corps couldn't stand him...there was an old saying during HST's administration: "Let's go down to the White House and shoot the $hit!". Decisive, divisive to his base for doing what was right, and principled, Truman was one of the great ones even though he was a Dem!

[meandog]

If Bill Clinton ran for president today the Democrats would not vote for him because he's way too conservative for them on both fiscal and foreign policy. I'm being totally serious, and if you doubt this consider that the Democrat in congress closest to President Clinton on the issues is Joe Lieberman, and he's in the process of being drummed out of the party even though he's scandal free and squeaky clean.

LOL! You've gotta be kidding me! Bill Clinton had no foreign policy! Somalia, Haiti, Mexico, Yeman and USS Cole, Cuba (do you recall Mad Madalyn Half-bright and Janet Lesbo Reno?)...

[JonH]

Anyone who suggests that Truman did not expand Executive Powers needs to take a look at his decisions regarding the steel seizure plus the rail and mine strikes. While these are domestic issues, in concert with the Korean War ("police action"), I would argue Truman did more to strengthen the Executive Branch than anyone oter than FDR.

[ncountylee]

Not so antisemitic that he opted for a Jewish partner in his haberdashery...

but never visited his home or entertained his partner at his.

Truman was a great President IMO and, if he had prejudices, he should be respected for putting them aside when making decisions.

[HawaiianGecko]

“Truman did not take the Bush administration’s view of executive power” that “strips power from the legislative and judicial branches.”

Good grief, what a bunch of bull. Just a few uses of executive power that I can think of:

Woodrow Wilson jailed Socialist Eugene V. Debs, who had run against him for president, for protesting the entry into World War I.  Hmmm... has President Bush jailed Howard Dean or John Murtha yet?  It does explain Kerry voting for the war before against it though, lol.

Franklin D. Roosevelt sent Japanese Americans to internment camps during World War II.  Has the prez done this?

FDR also attempted to stack the Supreme Court by adding 6 liberals increasing the number of justices to 15.  I wish President Bush tried this one on for size.

President Truman sought to take over and nationalize the steel industry trying to prevent a strike with Executive Order 10340. Nationalizing anything just isn't in the GOP thought-stream.

Andrew Jackson refused to recognize a decision by the United States Supreme Court that exempted the Cherokee nation from Georgia state law and recognized that they had a right to self-government. The Judicial branch was powerless to force Jackson to enforce their opinion. This looks like a pretty good precedent to ignore Roe v Wade.

Thomas Jefferson voided 25 of the 42 judicial commissions approved by the Senate, that were nominated by the previous Adams Administration resulting in the Marbury v Madison case.  Can one imagine President Bush simply firing all of Clinton's appointees?

Teddy Roosevelt contended that the president, by virtue of his election by the nation as a whole, possessed a unique claim to be the representative of the entire American people. He said the president, “was a steward of the people bound actively and affirmatively to do all he could for the people.” He could, therefore, “do anything that the needs of the nation demanded” unless expressly prohibited in the Constitution. “Under this interpretation of executive power,” TR later reflected, “I did and caused to be done many things not previously done. … I did not usurp power, but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power.”

 

 

[RobbyS]

Beinart is too young to have a proper view of Truman. Everything he knows about the time and place is through books. He has never know such a person as Truman, a political hack and by the standards of the eastern establishment, unschooled and vulgar, but a man of great spirit. I mean how can such a guy get inside a man who rose to colonel in the National Guard and who when war approached sought to resign his place in the Senate and go to war? Truman had more in common with the western generals who fought the civil war than with Beinart's crowd.