Obama's Speech—Where's Truman?

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Mind you that Truman began the integration of the Armed Forces via executive order in 1948. This is relevant especially in light of all that is being made about Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech anniversary (1968).
But clearly anyone who has dared to comment here has little or no knowledge of history aside from the major topics. So omitting Harry Truman was probably a smart move.

of LA 8:34PM August 29, 2008

You guys just reinforced my belief why you don't need the presidency.
I hope that if Obama does win, he would do his best to stay as far away from your guy's ilk as possible.

Chris of AZ 10:13AM August 29, 2008

Excellent speech by Obama and cogent remarks from Bob Schlesinger who should know. His book "Ghost Writers of the White House," presidential speech writers," chronicles the history of that craft since FDR's days.
Hopefully this great closing effort by Obama should give him the added bounce that he needs. Hopefully the public will understand the six words about McCain; Too old, too sick, and too dumb!
Patriotism aside, McCain was 5th from the bottom of his Class of 900 or so at the Naval Academy, was a dangerous flier who crashed 5 planes, and was an affirmative action selection who got in because of the fact that his father and grandfather were Admirals. He ditched his first wife, who was injured in a car crash for a beer baroness, and is now standing for issues as a presidential candidate that he opposed as a Senator.
RJ Garfunkel
New York

Richard J. Garfunkel of NY 9:04AM August 29, 2008

You are too professional. You are also a citizen that lives in a country that is in deep Kim-chee. The robber barons have made off with all the loot, the polar ice caps are gone, and all you can think of to say is Where's Truman? Did you not hear Kucinich's wake up call?

Billy Bardo of VA 8:11AM August 29, 2008

I was an anti-nuclear activist in the 80s, and I did at least as much to win the cold war as Ronnie Reagan, you putz.
The Soviet Union collapsed because it didn't work very well, not because of anything the US did.

Josh of IL 4:05AM August 29, 2008

Truman? Mr. Hiroshima/Nagasaki? You have to be kidding me.
"...the Japanese were ready to surrender and it wasn't necessary to hit them with that awful thing."
- Ike on Ike, Newsweek, 11/11/63 "
"It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender because of the effective sea blockade and the successful bombing with conventional weapons."
- Admiral William Leahy
"If we were to go ahead with the plans for a conventional invasion with ground and naval forces, I believe the Japanese thought that they could inflict very heavy casualties on us and possibly as a result get better surrender terms. On the other hand if they knew or were told that no invasion would take place [and] that bombing would continue until the surrender, why I think the surrender would have taken place just about the same time."
- Herbert Feis Papers, Box 103, N.B.C. Interviews, Carl Spaatz interview by Len Giovannitti, Library of Congress.
Truman Democrats scare the heck out of me.

Ed of CA 2:38AM August 29, 2008

Quit your whining and do America a favor -- stop parroting Republican talking points and fluffing McCain.

X of NY 12:33AM August 29, 2008

You look like and ass, and you sound like an ass. What qualifications as a writer do you have? You are as clever as a middle-schooler.
Talk about what was said, not what wasn't said.

Maldoror of MN 12:19AM August 29, 2008

Thank you.
I love Barack Obama, have donated more than I could really afford and have volunteered more hours than I had free to his campaign, but I have to say that forgetting Harry Truman in this area is, to me, a big mistake.
I also think you for your very lucid, correct discussion of Truman's important role played in the Cold War. Reagan gets the credit, but he would have been nowhere near the position he was in to "win" the Cold War if it were not for Harry Truman.
And, as to the atomic bomb - sir, until you are in his position, with the potential for hundreds of thousands of American's blood on your hands, you are in no position to judge. You can disagree, as many people reasonably do, but to say the things you said about a fundamentally good man who did the absolute best he could (in a situation full of pressure none of us could EVER imagine) says more about your character and insight than it does about Harry Truman's judgment.

Ed of NE 12:17AM August 29, 2008

Thankfully, Harry Truman is still dead. Sure, he did some good stuff. In case you've forgotten, he ordered the dropping of some atomic bombs, opened up Pandora's Box. Most Americans tend to forget this because they all want to feel good about themselves and their country. Is that why you forgot? Have you ever met someone who survived Hiroshima or Nagasaki? I have - and I will never forgive Harry Truman or my country for that horrible act.

Laurence Turner of OR 12:08AM August 29, 2008