Harry Truman

Harry Truman was a different kind of President.
He probably made as many, or more important decisions
regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42
Presidents preceding him.
However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did
after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in,
which was in Independence , Missouri . His wife had inherited
the house from her mother and father and other than their years
in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was 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.

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess
drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret
Service following them.
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."

As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.
Modern politicians 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.
Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois )

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed,
"My choices in life were either to be a piano player
in a whore house or a politician.
And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!

Sent by Prakash Bhartia
So different from the existing lot of politicians not only in India but also the UK and USA