Word: trumanism
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...five years Clifford was a close Truman aide of one kind or another, casting his discerning eye almost hourly over this extraordinary leader at work and play, or at least what Truman called play, like eight-handed poker where he mostly talked politics and people - and tended to be too optimistic about the strength of his cards...
...Truman never changed. He had virtually no affectations, Clifford noted, and no inferiority complex. He viewed his days as a farmer as a blessing, a source of strength. In Truman's mind that put him on a par with his Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, the aristocratic product of Groton, Yale and Harvard; not above, but certainly not below. They loved each other...
...when Clifford, then an unknown St. Louis lawyer, first met Truman, then an undistinguished Missouri Senator. Truman's open face struck Clifford, who described the moment last week. "Some people's faces mask their character. Truman's face revealed his character: frank, open, considerate, strong, candid, and with what John Kennedy used to describe as 'vigah...
...next meeting was in 1945, when Truman, three months after becoming President, was preparing for the Potsdam conference and Clifford, a Navy lieutenant, was going to run the naval aide's office during the President's absence. Truman, from his desk in the Oval Office, looked up at the 6-ft. 2-in. Clifford and said, "Big fellow, isn't he?" There was the rock-bottom Truman again - unadorned, direct, kindly, humorous...
...Truman's loyalty to his people, good and bad, was unwavering, and so was theirs toward him. They would have died for him. Still would. Truman probably got the trait from his Army days, the greatest experience in his young life. He stood like a captain of artillery all his life. He walked 120 drill steps a minute until he no longer could...