Plain, Old Common Sense Leadership

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Harry Truman’s mother-in-law could never quite see the attraction. She’d tell anyone within earshot that her daughter’s husband would never amount to anything (a conviction she shared quite often while living upstairs in the family quarters of the White House). When she died in her White House bedroom in 1952, the 33rd President of the United States wrote in his diary, “She was a grand lady.” No. He was a grand gentleman.

I recently visited the Truman home in Independence, Missouri and was struck by the simplicity of the man and the impact of his leadership.

The most quoted President in American history, Harry Truman was an Everyman in every way.

He paid his dues and was “all in” when it came to family, friends and country.

“In reading the lives of great men I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self-discipline with all of them came first.”

Truman has been referred to as “a most uncommon common man.” Even today historians revere his “common sense,” his plain way of speaking.

"I never gave anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thougt it was hell."

He hailed from an idyllic Midwestern town, and was raised on old fashioned Midwestern values: honesty, courage and perseverance.

When duty called, Harry Truman always answered.

“The reward of suffering is experience.”

His father asked him to forego college because he had lost the family savings in risky investments.

He had to leave a job in the city because he was summoned to work on his mother’s 600-acre family farm.

He served his country as an Army officer during World War I, and later as a public servant and U.S. Senator.

He became the 33rd President of the United States following Franklin Roosevelt’s sudden death, only 82 days after he had been sworn in as Vice President.

His respect and love of duty even extended to his love life.

Above-and-beyond the call of duty was his agreeing to move into his beloved wife Bess’ family home, lorded over by the previously mentioned mother-in-law ("Anything you say, dear…”).

And like most men and women destined for greatness, Harry Truman knew failure and disappointment.

“If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

Not attending college was a huge disappointment for him (by the age of 14, he had already read every book in the Independence Public Library).

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”

He lost his men’s clothing store and investment portfolio during the depression.

“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.”

And not everyone was “Wild about Harry.”

In June 1945, when he was first elected president, his approval rating was 87%. When he left office in February 1952, he held the dubious distinction of having the lowest rating of any U.S. President since Gallup started keeping score: 22%.

“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”

Even in death, Truman was overshadowed by a larger-than-life Texan. He died December 26, 1972. Less than a month later so did Lyndon Johnson (guess who grabbed all the headlines?)

“Conceit is God’s gift to little men.”

But Harry Truman did what leaders do. He made the big decisions, not all of them popular.

…He ended WWII.

…Authorized the use of the atomic bomb to end the war in the Pacific.

…Established the CIA.

…Desegregated the armed forces.

…Committed US forces to the Korean War.

…Fired the most popular man in America (Gen. Douglas MacArthur) for openly criticizing his policies.

“The buck stops here!”

Anita Alvare (bio)/Alvare Associates/610-520-6140

Harry Truman, Truman's Visitor Center,