If I had to choose one, I'd pick Harry S. Truman.I've been to his museum and home, and was amazed at all this man accomplished. The Social Security Act passed in 1935, but didn't include Medicare. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed a bill activating Medicare, and Truman became the first American to receive a Medicare card.
After only a few months as Vice President, he became President on 4 April, 1945, after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He inherited an ongoing war, and made the critical and historical decision to use atomic bombs in Japan. That country wouldn't agree to ending their part in WWII, so Truman ordered bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What a difficult decision it had to be, and I applaud his strength and conviction in doing so.
His term in office was troublesome, both at home and concerning our relationships with other countries. The war had ended, but not the infighting within our nation. Coupled with the beginning of the "cold war", Truman had opponents on all sides.
His re-election campaign seemed all but lost in 1948...until his historical train ride, a "Whistle Stop Tour", through the Midwest. A special railroad car named the Ferdinand Magellan, was a custom built car for Presidential trips. He'd walk out to the car's rear platform and speak to people every time the train stopped.
The Ferdinand Magellan was used a few more times after that, and then retired to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami, FL. In October, 1984, President Reagan used it for one day (October 12) as he revived Truman's historic railroad trip. Reagan traveled in Ohio to campaign. My husband worked at the White House at this time as a trip officer. The train ride was one of his trip responsibilities, and he was aboard during Reagan's ride.
Remember to honor our Presidents, whether you agreed with their political views or not. Enjoy the three-day weekend and time off but think about the men who've held office and the hard work they did while running our country.
Photos: Flickr: Nobueno's
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I would choose to meet Abraham Lincoln. I did a semester long research project on him and was fascinated with what I learned!
ReplyDeleteHappy President's Day
I would love to talk with Thomas Jefferson. After having read The Hemingses of Monticello recently, I would love to discuss how he could justify slavery with democracy. He kind of slipped through that one!
ReplyDeleteTruman is notable for a couple of other interesting facts. He will most likely be the last American President to NOT graduate from college. When he left office to return to Missouri, he and Bess Truman rode the train home alone without any kind of secret service security and carried their own bags. That will never happen again.
ReplyDeleteI would most want to meet George Washington. He seems like a very complicated and determined visionary. My husband and he share a birthday-February 22.
XXOO Kat
One deceased president? George Washington, maybe. Jefferson. JFK for sure. It might be very interesting to meet Richard Nixon. Frost Nixon was a fascinating movie.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. Seems like there's a variety of former Presidents on our lists!
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say George Washington too. Though Truman would be interesting. JFK is a definite..it's so hard to chose. I'd like to meet so many! LOL
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