[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 65 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E879]]



              HONORING HARRY S TRUMAN'S BIRTHDAY, MAY 8TH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 1999

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
memory of Harry S Truman, the thirty-third president of the United 
States of America and to celebrate his birthday, which is May 8th. I am 
proud to represent the fifth Congressional district of Missouri, where 
Harry Truman spent most of his life. He grew up in Independence, ran a 
haberdashery in Kansas City, and in his later life helped with the 
family farm in Grandview.
  Harry Truman's first year as President, which he called a ``year of 
decisions,'' dealt with the end of World War II, the beginning of the 
Cold War, and the founding of the United Nations. As part of this 
critical time, Truman spearheaded the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall 
Plan to resist communist threats and revive the ailing economies of 
Europe. In addition, Harry Truman was a major player in the creation of 
NATO--an organization that guaranteed peace in a reunited Europe and 
remains crucial to our efforts to support democracies throughout the 
world.
  These tough decisions were not immediately appreciated by all 
Americans. In 1948, Truman's defeat in his reelection campaign was 
widely assumed, in fact a prominent newspaper printed before the final 
ballots were counted featured the headline, ``Dewey Defeats Truman.'' 
Truman's ``whistle stop campaign'' brought his campaign to the people, 
and his willingness to confront issues and find solutions to the 
questions facing the country at that difficult time provided him the 
margin of victory for a second term as the Chief Executive of the 
United States. Harry Truman is a daily inspiration to me, and as I look 
at his picture hanging in my office, I draw strength from his courage 
and determination to take responsibility for the tough choices he had 
to make and to do the right thing for this country. I hope that our 
leaders today will also be inspired by Harry Truman and refuse to 
continue to be like the historic 1948 ``Do Nothing Congress.'' Let us 
shoulder our responsibility and rise to the challenges before us at 
this difficult time in our nation's and our world's history.
  In my office is a replica of the motto that Truman kept on his desk 
in the Oval Office: ``The Buck Stops Here.'' Truman referred to this 
saying often, noting that ``when the decision is up before you . . . 
the decision has to be made,'' in an address before the National War 
College in December 1952. The motto inspires me and reminds me that I 
cannot shirk my responsibility as a Member of Congress. I must make the 
difficult decisions and cast my votes to do the right thing for this 
country, our allies, and my constituents. Truman carried his favorite 
prayer in his wallet, and this prayer is one that we, as Members of 
Congress, could also find comfort in today, Mr. Speaker.


       Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, because it 
     is right; make me truthful, honest and honorable in all 
     things; make me intellectually honest for the sake of right 
     and honor and without thought of reward to me. Give me the 
     ability to be charitable, forgiving and patient with my 
     fellowmen--help me to understand their motives and their 
     shortcomings, even as Thou understandest mine!



  Happy birthday, President Truman! Thank you for your service to our 
nation and the world.

                          ____________________