Rummy pays tribute to Truman

Donald Rumsfeld recently visited the Truman library and paid homage to our 33th president, Mr. Harry S. Truman (no, not the one from Twin Peaks).

Mr Rumsfeld had nothing but praise for Truman, calling him a man that took "truly historic steps that have had a lasting effect on the nation and the world." Rumsfeld visited Trumans grave and talked about the low popularity Truman experienced during his tenure, namely due to the controversial decisions he was forced to make.

I respect Rumsfeld for paying tribute to the man. Truman was president when the world was at an impasse. Was democracy going to work in Europe and Japan? How far was the Soviet Union going to expand? Truman will always be remembered for "losing China" and firing Douglas MacArthur. Along with the "forgotten" Korean War, I consider these the biggest blunders of the Truman era (along with giving any power to Dean Acheson).

However, as we look back in history, we'll find that Truman was one of our bravest and most important presidents. Yes, he helped end World War 2, but without the Marshall Plan afterwards, it's uncertain how democracy would have worked in Europe (and MP was pivotal in rebuilding London). I'm not a big fan of subsidizing countries with government programs, I'm sure most of the money was squandered by blowhard bureaucrats. But it was something that had to be done.

Truman ended WW2, lowered FDRs ultra high taxes, supported Korea, Japan, and Greece against Russia (though I wonder what kind of health care the Soviet Union would have provided). But then he was the same man that essentially handed Poland over to Stalin. I'm not sure he understood the full ambition of the Soviet Union, which is why he practiced containment.

So for every good thing about Truman, you can find a major mistake he made. But the thing I admire about the man is he wasn't afraid to take a stand. Take the MacArthur firing. MacArthur was popular with the American people but Truman felt the man was being insubordinate and had to go. Not a good move but it's what Truman felt was the right thing.

The bottom line is that Truman always tried to do what was in the best interest of the US. Dropping the bomb is still debated today but Truman felt it was necessary to end the war. And unfortunately, we must deal with some of his mistakes today (namely, China).

Yet, unlike the modern left, he wasn't afraid of using military strength and was a proponent of democracy. Japan wouldn't be a world class nation were in not for Truman and MacArthur. I don't know what kinds of decisions the man would be making today in the fight against terror. My guess is that he wouldn't be taking advice from Jimmy Carter.