Honourable mention, with several runner-up nominations, Herbert Hoover
Teddy Roosevelt (1)
John F Kennedy (1)
Richard M Nixon (1)
Ronald Reagan (1)
Harry S Truman (1)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (2)
Jimmy Carter (2)
And our runaway winner is…
Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge (4)
It’s impossible not to approve such well-deserved if belated recognition for such a great man. But, impressive as Cal’s score is, I’m afraid I am not dissuaded from my own view. For me there can only be one winner in this category. Step forward Harry S Truman – loyal, incorruptible in a deeply corrupt system, a failure most of his life who only became a Senator at 50, dropped the A-Bomb on Japan, and saved Europe (and so America too) with the Marshall Plan. Few more ordinary and decent men have ever achieved such high office, nor done so much good with it. God bless you, Harry!
Harry S Truman, yesterday. We shall not see his like again…
6 comments:
Harry Truman used to say of Tricky Dick, "he's nothing but a shifty-eyed Goddamned liar." At least he knew people.
--Des.
It is said that President Truman's desk boasted two signs. One quoted Mark Twain: "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." The other read: "The buck stops here."
But whose buck was it? Truman was once asked by a young student how he might get started in politics. "You've already started," Truman replied. "You're spending somebody else's money, aren't you?"
--Des.
Yup. Harry certainly knew his politicians. And his students.
I would've voted for him, but I'm from Missouri, and thought that would be bad form.
Cheers.
Spare your blushes, old chap - nothing wrong with rooting for the home team :)
The Marshall Plan. Good work.
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