Among other things he had a sign on his desk which read " The Buck stops here", and he meant it!

 
  When the Nation of Israel was declared in May 1948; he was told not to recognize Israel, because it was not popular; his reply was : " I am going to do what is right, let popular catch up later! "

 

 He once punched a newspaper Reporter for talking about his daughter!

 

  During his first 90days as President, during WWII; he had to learn about; then make a decision to use the Atomic Bomb to help end the war with Japan!

 

 

 He authorized the use of US armed forces in Korea to save that country in 1950.

Later after Gen. MacArthur, ignored and defied him as the Commander in Chief,  He had to fire him in the field!

 

 He  survived an assassination attempt,  and was the last US President to not hold a college degree... 


 
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri.  His wife had inherited the house from her mother and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension from serving in WWI as a Captain, reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

In 1953, after President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There were no Secret Service following them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

As the President he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale.

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference."