I doubt the US produced many greater than ol’ Harry Truman. A more genuine made in America product you never did see. Raised in Missouri, he grew up absorbing the best and worst characteristics of one of this country’s bloodiest Civil War frontiers. While he failed to rise fully above the ugly bigotry ensconced in his upbringing, he held himself to the highest character standards. Faith, virtue, an incredible work ethic, humility, fairness, unabashed patriotism and fidelity guided him from youth. And while it is surely true and readily apparent he shared what was conventional racism of white rural Missourians at the turn of the 20th century, as a legislator and POTUS he championed civil rights initiatives he perceived as common sense fairness. But, if nobody is perfect, surely Truman’s racial bias was chief among his frailties.
Yet and still, in the pantheon of US Presidents, it is very hard to find a more industrious, better read, or grounded soul than Harry Truman. Whether working dawn to dark in fields he was forced to cultivate after his father lost everything speculating on grain, or vowing with his high school friend to read every one of 2000 volumes stocked by his local library, Truman was self-made from start to finish.
A beloved and decorated Captain of WWI, Truman spoke nary a word in public of his service, yet was always there for reunions or funerals. On war, he was clear: sending boys to battle could only ever be a last resort. And while respectful of the experience of military brass, Truman was up to the task of firing the country’s most famous general after he flouted civilian authority.
Thrust into the highest office under the most dire of circumstances at exactly the most pivotal time in US history, Truman called on everything that had shaped him and did not let his country or the world down. Whatever mistakes he made in office he readily owned, whatever successes he achieved were shared with others below him. History paints an exceptional leader with the broadest shoulders imaginable, necessary to accept the burden of momentous decisions.
Yes, on the 4th of July, celebrating the likes of Harry Truman is as pure a show of patriotism as any, I suppose. One last thing… as a Trumanphile, one enrapt by his Presidency and personal story since my college days, I can say with the confidence of a weatherman under clear blue skies; there is nobody HST would have loathed more than Trump. Every action, every tweet, every word this POTUS puts forth would have enraged Harry’s sensibilities. It simply is not possible to create a caricature more at odds with the life and record of Harry Truman than the imposter we are inflicted with for yet another 4th.
Fly your flags and love your country, and harken back to great public servants, who crafted our destiny. Just know that few of them, least of all Harry Truman, pointed their fingers at others and whined “ it’s their fault”. The buck should never stop there. When you get your hot dog, or pop open your 8th cold one, understand this: we have a POTUS incapable of saying anything else! Happy 4th! BC