It was on April 12, 1944 when the radio announcer alerted us to an upcoming and important news bulletin we paused and listened. Yes, Franklin Roosevelt had just died and the new man taking his place was a guy named Harry Truman. Who? We worshiped FDR and this Truman, a nondescript Senator from Missouri, did not look like a president.

First looks, as we were to find out can be deceiving. Harry Truman was just what you saw. Yes, he was a common man. But Truman went on and presided over the ending of WWII. Used the “A-Bomb” on the Japs. Harry dealt with a post-war America with common sense and a high degree of intelligence. While the world wrung their hands over a destroyed and starving Europe, Truman devised the Marshall Plan that spent billions restoring and feeding a starving Europe. When North Korea attacked our client state, South Korea, Harry Truman knew what to do and preserved this important nation’s independence. Somewhere along the way, he won many of us over.

The main thing that remains in my memory about Harry Truman was that he was a common ordinary man. Harry could be very presidential and decisive and turn right around and do things that denoted a common ordinary man. His daughter Margaret (his only child) was a young singer with operatic ambitions. When a Washington newsman wrote a very harsh review of his daughter’s performance in a local venue, Truman was enraged. He grabbed his coat and headed out of the White House. “I’m going to go down to that newspaper and scrub his noggin,” he said as he reached the door.

He would have too, if his security detail, and others of note had not physically restrained him long enough for them to explain to Mr. Truman that he, the president, could not storm into a major newspaper and punch any reporter in the nose just because he wrote a negative report on Margaret’s ability to sing. But he did make world headlines on his efforts to punch out this reporter. And regardless of whether Margaret could sing well or not, Harry had won America’s heart. He loved his “little girl.” So, did we.

Harry had purchased two new Chryslers in 1940 after he was re-elected to the Senate. He got a little 2-door coup for himself and a 4-door sedan for his wife Bess. Total cost was $2,703.00. Harry was brand loyal and always bought Chryslers. He preferred driving himself around. Thought most of the ado about Presidents was unwarranted and just wanted to be a common man. Exactly how he managed it is unknown to me. When Harry exited the Presidency in 1953 one magazine did a story on him driving himself and Bess along back to Missouri. Alone. Another said he rode a train home. Secret Service protection ended when Eisenhower was sworn in. For going home Harry had ordered a 1953 Chrysler New Yorker for his driving pleasure.

In 1955 Harry bought himself another new Chrysler, a 250hp New Yorker. He loved this car and promptly loaded wife Bess up and drove up to New York City to visit his singing daughter, Margaret. While driving around in New York he was pulled over by a cop who warned him to be more careful in his “lane changes.” The nation was becoming more aware of Harry being footloose and independent. Still.

Harry not only liked to drive himself around (remember he had no secret service protection) but did admit that he had tired of tourist coming up and looking in his windows while he tried to eat breakfast. A new fence and police guards took care of that. Harry also read and answered his own mail. He bought and licked his own postage stamps which drew the growing attention of a worried America. Harry’s only source of income was his Army pension. So, Congress voted him a postal allowance and eventually a monthly pension for being a former President. Harry needed the money and also the eventual return of secret service protection.

Harry never owned a home but lived in his mother-in-law’s house. Harry still enjoyed his “quiet” morning walks. And Harry liked to be able to drive his car. Alone. In 1972 Harry bought another new car. His last. Harry died that December 26, 1972 but Bess kept the 1972 purchase and drove it another 10 years. It is still parked in his mother-in-law’s garage there in Missouri. It has 19,000 miles on it in case you are thinking of buying it. However, the Truman Library owns the car and if you do not like it you can look at the previous cars Harry owned. Do not know if any of them are for sale but you can look at them on your next visit to Independence, Missouri. They are displayed in his mother-in-law’s basement.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have another president like Harry Truman? A common man with a load of good common sense. A man who was so full of himself that he was proudly able to forego the monetary perks of his office. A person who could drive himself (drivers need not apply) and did not require a big government jet for travel? A public servant who after a lifetime of modest senatorial wages and presidential wages of $25,000 a year did not mysteriously turn into a multimillionaire? Amazing!

I want to again wish you all a happy new year and, like you, I hope we are soon free of this Covid curse. Be sure and continue to support your church.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com