Truman was truly honorable. The Clintons simply followed the path blazed by
a prior former president.
The New York Times had this to say when Ronald Wilson Reagan pocketed $2
million in speaking fees in Japan:
"Former Presidents haven't always comported themselves with dignity after
leaving the Oval Office. But none have plunged so blatantly into pure
commercialism."
-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces+johnfredericks=comcast.net@autox.team.net
[mailto:healeys-bounces+johnfredericks=comcast.net@autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of MBran89793@aol.com
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 7:21 AM
To: bighealey@charter.net; healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] Friday Funnies?
Does this qualify as a Friday Funnies?
Subject: FW: Harry S. Truman GREAT President!
When President Truman retired from office in 1952, his income was
substantially a U.S. Army pension 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.
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."
We now see that the Clintons 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. Politicaloffices are now for sale.
Was good old Harry Truman correct when he observed, "My choice early
in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician.
And
to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference. I, for one, believe the
piano
player job to be much more honorable than current politicians".
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