Words Of Wisdom From Harry Truman

* It is believed in good faith that the following content can be found in the October 2008 (Number 378) edition of The Crestwood Adviser and is for general reference and/or research purposes only.  For further information regarding the information listed here, please contact The Village of Crestwood in Crestwood, Illinois. *

From the wisdom of President Harry S. Truman:

" It doesn't matter how big a ranch ya' own or how many cows ya' brand, the size of your funeral is still gonna' depend on the weather."

When President Truman retired from office in 1952, his income was substantially a U.S. Army pension, reportedly $13,507 a year.

Congress, noting he was paying for his postage stamps and licking them himself, granted him an allowance and later a retroactive pension of $25,000 a year.

When offered corporate positions at high salaries, he declined, saying "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."

In May 1971 Congress was preparing to award him with the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday.  He refused to accept it, writing "I don't consider I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

We now see that other past presidents 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.