Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as
many important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the
other 42 Presidents. 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 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 were 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!
I say dig him up and clone him!!


http://www.snopes.com/quotes/truman/truman.asp

Nice story.
We need to take away the profit of being politicians.

I read his Biography....it's worth the read.

considering that nowdays someone can get a pension of $10,000 for

serving only 3 years in congress, it seems that how it was done in

truman's day deserves a second look.