News Happy Birthday Harry Truman!

**gblowfish** · 05-08-2013, 10:50 AM

Happy Birthday to my favorite president, the Man from Independence.

From Yahoo today:

Harry Truman went from being a county judge to deciding to use atomic warfare at World War II’s end. Here’s a quick look at 10 facts about Truman’s sudden ascendency to the White House—and the deal with his middle name.

Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. He died at the age of 88 in Independence, Missouri in 1972.

Ten things you probably didn't know about Harry:

1. Truman was a war hero who saw action in battle. Truman wanted to go to West Point, but poor eyesight kept him from the academy. He enlisted in the National Guard and was an artillery commander during World War I.

2. He wasn’t a success in private business. Truman worked at several jobs, including running a sewing supply shop, farming, and clerking at a bank, until he became a county judge in Missouri.

3. Truman wasn’t a first-choice candidate for the Senate. Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast was turned down by four other possible candidates in 1934 when he sought a candidate to support for a U.S. Senate election. Truman won office by actively hitting the campaign trail.

4. Truman overcame steep odds to win the 1940 Senate election. When Truman’s political ally, Pendergrast, was convicted for tax evasion in 1939, few people thought Truman stood a chance of getting re-elected in Missouri. Again, Truman hit the campaign trail, spoke about his war record and experience as a common man in the Senate, and pulled off another upset.

5. Truman used a key Senate committee to rise to power. At the age of 57, Truman took over a special committee to monitor wasteful spending at business, labor, and government agencies during the World War II. He quickly became a household name as the head of the “Truman Committee.”

6. Truman wasn’t a top candidate for vice president. In 1944, the current vice president, Henry Wallace, was out of favor with many Democrats. Supreme Court Justice William Douglas was FDR’s preferred candidate, and Alben Barkley and James Byrnes were other strong candidates. Truman was a compromise selection who Roosevelt didn’t know well.

7. Roosevelt kept Truman in the dark about war matters. As vice president, Truman had little contact with the president and was asked to mostly deal with matters in the Senate. After FDR died, Truman had to find out the basic facts about the wars in Europe and Asia, and the nation’s secret atomic program.

8. The 1948 election upset wasn’t really an upset. Truman was expected to lose to Republican Thomas Dewey, at least in the eyes of the media. After trailing in public opinion polls, Truman launched an extensive national media campaign that put him back in contention. Before that point, pollsters stopped conducting polls, and didn’t measure the surge for Truman. The rest is history.

9. Truman survived an assassination attempt. Two Puerto Rico nationalists tried to kill Truman in 1950 when he was staying at Blair House while the White House was under renovation. A White House guard died as he killed one attacker. The other attacker was captured. Truman heard the gun fight from his room.

10. Truman had an unusual middle initial. Truman’s parents gave him a middle name of “S” after they couldn’t agree on a middle name as a tribute to relatives whose names both started with the letter “S.” Officially, the “S” is followed by a period: “Harry S. Truman.” That’s because Truman used a period with the letter “S” in his correspondence.

**Donger** · 05-08-2013, 10:52 AM

War criminal.

Chief_For_Life58 · 05-08-2013, 10:54 AM

Halfcan · 05-08-2013, 10:58 AM

The Truman Library is amazing. So much history there. Truman was a top 5 president for sure.

**Old Dog** · 05-08-2013, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfcan

The Truman Library is amazing. So much history there. Truman was a top 5 president for sure.

Top 10 I would agree with, but not top 5

**Old Dog** · 05-08-2013, 11:20 AM

Lincoln
Washington
F. Roosevelt
Jefferson
Jackson
T. Roosevelt
Wilson

Then John Adams, Truman, Eisenhower, and L. Johnson, would battle for the final three spots in the top 10, but well behind Wilson at #7.

Halfcan · 05-08-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dog

Top 10 I would agree with, but not top 5

1. Washington
2. Lincoln
3. Jefferson
4. Theodore Roosevelt
5. Truman
6. FDR
7. Wilson
8. Andrew Jackson
9. John Adams
10. Alexander Hamilton

Chief_For_Life58 · 05-08-2013, 11:25 AM

1) Bush
2) Bush Sr.
3) Washington
4) Jefferson
5) Truman

**alpha_omega** · 05-08-2013, 11:30 AM

Quote:

9. Truman survived an assassination attempt. Two Puerto Rico nationalists tried to kill Truman in 1950 when he was staying at Blair House while the White House was under renovation. A White House guard died as he killed one attacker. The other attacker was captured. Truman heard the gun fight from his room.

You learn something new every day.

Dayze · 05-08-2013, 11:31 AM

William Henry Harrison. He was badass for about 45 days.

**Donger** · 05-08-2013, 11:40 AM

I'm always amazed when people put FDR anywhere near the top.

Prison Bitch · 05-08-2013, 11:43 AM

Wilson?!?!?!? Lmfao

keg in kc · 05-08-2013, 11:50 AM

Yep, I'm in the midwest.

**Dave Lane** · 05-08-2013, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

I'm always amazed when people put FDR anywhere near the top.

FDR was top 5 without question.

**Donger** · 05-08-2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

FDR was top 5 without question.

Okay.

05-08-2013, 10:50 AM
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17686178 VARSITY	Happy Birthday Harry Truman! Happy Birthday to my favorite president, the Man from Independence. From Yahoo today: Harry Truman went from being a county judge to deciding to use atomic warfare at World War II’s end. Here’s a quick look at 10 facts about Truman’s sudden ascendency to the White House—and the deal with his middle name. Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. He died at the age of 88 in Independence, Missouri in 1972. Ten things you probably didn't know about Harry: 1. Truman was a war hero who saw action in battle. Truman wanted to go to West Point, but poor eyesight kept him from the academy. He enlisted in the National Guard and was an artillery commander during World War I. 2. He wasn’t a success in private business. Truman worked at several jobs, including running a sewing supply shop, farming, and clerking at a bank, until he became a county judge in Missouri. 3. Truman wasn’t a first-choice candidate for the Senate. Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast was turned down by four other possible candidates in 1934 when he sought a candidate to support for a U.S. Senate election. Truman won office by actively hitting the campaign trail. 4. Truman overcame steep odds to win the 1940 Senate election. When Truman’s political ally, Pendergrast, was convicted for tax evasion in 1939, few people thought Truman stood a chance of getting re-elected in Missouri. Again, Truman hit the campaign trail, spoke about his war record and experience as a common man in the Senate, and pulled off another upset. 5. Truman used a key Senate committee to rise to power. At the age of 57, Truman took over a special committee to monitor wasteful spending at business, labor, and government agencies during the World War II. He quickly became a household name as the head of the “Truman Committee.” 6. Truman wasn’t a top candidate for vice president. In 1944, the current vice president, Henry Wallace, was out of favor with many Democrats. Supreme Court Justice William Douglas was FDR’s preferred candidate, and Alben Barkley and James Byrnes were other strong candidates. Truman was a compromise selection who Roosevelt didn’t know well. 7. Roosevelt kept Truman in the dark about war matters. As vice president, Truman had little contact with the president and was asked to mostly deal with matters in the Senate. After FDR died, Truman had to find out the basic facts about the wars in Europe and Asia, and the nation’s secret atomic program. 8. The 1948 election upset wasn’t really an upset. Truman was expected to lose to Republican Thomas Dewey, at least in the eyes of the media. After trailing in public opinion polls, Truman launched an extensive national media campaign that put him back in contention. Before that point, pollsters stopped conducting polls, and didn’t measure the surge for Truman. The rest is history. 9. Truman survived an assassination attempt. Two Puerto Rico nationalists tried to kill Truman in 1950 when he was staying at Blair House while the White House was under renovation. A White House guard died as he killed one attacker. The other attacker was captured. Truman heard the gun fight from his room. 10. Truman had an unusual middle initial. Truman’s parents gave him a middle name of “S” after they couldn’t agree on a middle name as a tribute to relatives whose names both started with the letter “S.” Officially, the “S” is followed by a period: “Harry S. Truman.” That’s because Truman used a period with the letter “S” in his correspondence.
Posts: 40,830

05-08-2013, 10:52 AM	#2
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $10389900 VARSITY	War criminal. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 180,622

05-08-2013, 10:54 AM	#3
Chief_For_Life58 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: KC Casino cash: $9925938
Posts: 3,859

05-08-2013, 10:58 AM	#4
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	The Truman Library is amazing. So much history there. Truman was a top 5 president for sure.
Posts: 43,200

05-08-2013, 11:20 AM	#6
Old Dog Supporter Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Central Kansas Casino cash: $4766131	Lincoln Washington F. Roosevelt Jefferson Jackson T. Roosevelt Wilson Then John Adams, Truman, Eisenhower, and L. Johnson, would battle for the final three spots in the top 10, but well behind Wilson at #7.
Posts: 10,662

05-08-2013, 11:25 AM	#8
Chief_For_Life58 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: KC Casino cash: $9925938	1) Bush 2) Bush Sr. 3) Washington 4) Jefferson 5) Truman
Posts: 3,859

05-08-2013, 11:31 AM	#10
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5209358	William Henry Harrison. He was badass for about 45 days. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,358

05-08-2013, 11:40 AM	#11
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $10389900 VARSITY	I'm always amazed when people put FDR anywhere near the top. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 180,622

05-08-2013, 11:43 AM	#12
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	Wilson?!?!?!? Lmfao
Posts: 87,025

05-08-2013, 11:50 AM	#13
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	Yep, I'm in the midwest.
Posts: 58,682