Thursday, May 07, 2009

No Teleprompter Needed

David McCullough writes in his book Truman about President Truman making the decision to develop atomic weapons. There was no televised press conference, no teleprompter, just a mimeographed sheet he gave to a staff person to hand out to reporters (then Truman walked over to Blair House for lunch). Here is what it said: "It is part of my responsibility as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to see to it that our country is able to defend itself against any possible aggressor. Accordingly, I have directed the Atomic Energy Commission to continue its work on all forms of atomic weapons, including the so-called hydrogen or superbomb."

Times sure have changed.

2 comments:

mushroom said...

Times have changed. Today was the National Day of Prayer -- Did TOTUS have a statement?

Terri Wagner said...

I love McCollough's books. All of them are terrific. Truman and W were twins. They both believed their first duty was to keep US safe. And they both frankly had more of an idealized way of seeing government as a friend on the domestic side of things. Mostly though they are remembered for keeping us safe.