Historical comparison
Last night during a phone call that inadvisably steered towards the political even though we are diametrically opposed in ideology, the person I was talking to compared George W. Bush to Harry Truman. I started laughing. Not only did I find that a tremendous insult to Truman but I just didn't think the comparison fit. However, not being a history buff at all (and in fact being pretty much the polar opposite--I always hated history as a subject in school much to my former history teacher father's chagrin) and recognizing I was talking to a total history buff, I realized I might need to back up my dismissal of the comparison with something approaching fact.
I think a big part of my issue is that Truman is widely considered to be one of our best presidents, and I feel pretty confident that nobody is going to feel that way about W even in 100 years. But beyond that basic disparity, I'd still like more ammo for my argument if it exists, or to know if those of you with a better grasp of historical accuracy than I think the comparison to be apt, or not.
Come on, help a history-challenged girl out.
4 comments:
After doing a little reading about Truman (I too am a History vacuum) I would say you are right:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ht33.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
Maybe this is what your friend was thinking of upon making the comparison?
At one point in his second term, Truman's public opinion ratings were the lowest on record.
I suspect your debate opponent considers GWB to be a Resolute, Determined Leader Who Is Unafraid to Make Hard Decisions.
That is a fairly accurate description of HST as well.
It is also a fairly accurate description of Kim Jong Il, Robert Mugabe, and Jim Jones.
There are some legitimate comparisons, however. Both are/were firm believers in a strong executive branch, and specifically in a overwhelmingly strong president. Truman kept a sign on his desk reading "The Buck Stops Here."
Both are/were widely unpopular during their terms in office.
Like Bush, Truman believed that the president was the final authority. But unlike Bush, he believed that the president was, in the end, responsible. Truman was unafraid to take the responsibility for the mistakes and miscues of his administration. Again: "The Buck Stops Here."
Here's an article that discusses the topic.
"Yes, like Bush, Truman was embattled, and, yes, his popularity had plummeted at the end of his presidency, and, yes, he governed during an increasingly unpopular war. But the similarities end there."
Thanks Richard. Will use that article as my crib sheet before any further such discussions.
(This is why having a blog is great--I can get other people to do research for me!)
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