and bud tobin was very surprised to see that, in fact, harry truman was parked in his parking lot and he went out and chatted with harry for a while and did not make harry move the car. they went into the diner and it was lunchtime. and a fairly busy time of the year. and nobody noticed them. and they sat down. they ordered fruit plates and iced tea and they did enjoy their meal in complete anonymity. until they got up to pay. and just as they got up to pay an old county judge walked into the diner and recognized harry. not as a former president but as a former jackson county judge. and said, why there's judge truman. and then everybody in the restaurant wanted his autograph and had to shake his hand. and that's pretty much how it went the rest of the trip. just when they thought they were getting by as a big unknown couple, as harry would say, somebody would recognize him and then as he'd like to see the incog was off. he handled all these onslaughts so well. people ask how could a trip like this take place today. you know, i guess it couldn't just in a practical sense but his person

i was curious how harry was to afford this at the truman library, he saved everything. rry never wrote a letter that he didn't save and he has -- they have all the correspondence with the general manager of the waldorf towers and soon after the waldorf heard harry was going to be making a trip and they wrote him a letter you know would you like to stay with us for free and harry

harry s. truman was painted in black letters on the opaque glass door of the suite just like a detective agency in novel. he had two assistants. he paid their salaries out of his own pocket. much of his day was spent answering mail. he received more than 70,000 pieces in the first two weeks after he left the white house. and as many as 1,000 a day thereafter. notes from well wishers, invitations to church services or asking for advice. budding politicians wrote him asking for advice or endorsements. the founder of a new cult tried to recruit him and when he mentioned he was looking for a silver dollar minted in 1924, the year of margaret's birth silver dollars poured in by the dozens. truman estimated that less than one-half of 1% of the letters came from crackpots. a statistic that surprised him. i expected more, he said. i had many chances to make people mad. truman maintained an open door policy and just about anybody who dropped by was likely to get an audience with the former president. many peo

that was president harry truman. a dozen years before, mr. president, president roosevelt made a momentous decision. president roosevelt decided in large part because of his fear of the power of the american medical association to not include health care in the social security legislation, in the bill to create social security, because president roosevelt actual fully believed that social security meant a pension and health care, but he thought the power of the doctors lobby would keep him from being successful, so he moved forward on social security, the creation of social security. who knows if that was the right decision then, but it certainly brought us a program that's mattered in the lives of all of our parents, our grandparents, our great-grandparents. harry truman was not able to accomplish medicare or any other kind of health care reform, significant health care reform in his seven years or so as president. fast forward to july 1965, president johnson passed legislation creating medicare. but leading up to that legislation, again it

let's look at the job of a vice-president -- is heat harry truman, al gore, thomas jefferson? i think not. i think that joe biden needs to think before he speaks. if he needs to run, what he will say through the president's office, but so he does not have to -- so that president obama does not have to say it oh, my gosh, what did joe biden say? he needs to be that if something were to happen to president obama, he needs to step in immediately. whether we like it or not, he needs to be seen as a credible man -- and he is not. he needs to be seen as a person who is helping the white house when he speaks -- and he is not. i know that during the campaign there was a lot of ridicule of governor sarah palin -- well, having this person as vice president, they should be ready to become president. when i compare governor sarah palin to vice president joe biden -- i do not think he is a much better -- he is not harry truman or roosevelt. host: let me get you to respond to what this historian, robert writes. "despite his reputation for occasional gaffes, he has been an effective point ma

and vice president and harry truman who in 1945 president truman said millions of americans to not enjoy good health, millions do not have protection or security against economic effect of sickness. the time has arrived for action to help obtain the lubber to eddy and that protection. it in a dozen years before president truman ordered those words franklin roosevelt made a momentous decision as this conagra's was about to enact social security that he was small when to be able to enact health care reform at the same time in large part because of his fear of the american medical as initiation knowing the doctors oppose including something that later became medicare and beyond that in the social security act. it was only 20 years later after president truman's comments that president johnson pushed through with huge democratic margins in the house and senate over the opposition of the american medical liz's negation again and the opposition of almost all republicans was able to enact medicare in july of 1865 president johnson signed it. we heard accusations than from opponents that it was

however, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1949 when president harry truman signed the national flag day bill. since the beginning of our republic, americans have flown the flag to show their appreciation and pride for this great nation. every day americans pledge their allegiance to the flag and the troops carry their flag as they defend the liberties which they stand and which represent this country, the united states of america. our flag day we remember -- on flag day we remember the importance of our oldest national symbols and reflect the loss of loved ones who have died in defense of this great nation. let us pledge allegiance to this flag to declare patriotism and raise its colors high to express our pride and respect for our way of life. i urge my colleagues to support this resolution and, madam speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the chair recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. lynch: madam speaker, we have no further speakers at this time. i tennessee to reserve the balan

another person she sawed during the candidates seek was harry truman, who she first met add add event in independence, missouri and they were being screamed and yelled at by the ku klux klan who were opposed to al smith running for president. harry truman was also widely believed to be a part of machine politics but he too with someone who she saw greatness then and she became a friend and ally of his as well so even when fdr died she went to work in the civil service commission and did. many things for truman on the review board, including rooting out communists in the federal government and convincing them to quit their jobs before they got into trouble. this is a woman obviously who had, who did many things. at the end of her life, she looked back at her life and the thing she was produce was the creation of social security. and indeed that really is remarkable. 50 million people now get social security. the latest figures that came out on unemployment insurance at a record 5 million people are on unemployment insurance. if we didn't have that 55 million people getting that income

presidents since harry truman recognized the importance of reforming our health care system. but the issues involved are complex and the political realities are really hard and really difficult. this time is different, however. groups and individuals who in the past have lined up in fierce opposition are today sitting side by side, many cases, because they know what we all know, that is the status quo is not only unacceptable, it is unsustainable. some of these same long time opponents of reform have participated in town hall meetings, as i have, and i know many of my colleagues have as well in our respective states for the past number of months. because we know that it is not only through an open and collaborative process that we will be able to succeed, but also imperative to people understand what we're trying to do. this time is also different because this time we simply don't have a choice. the stakes are far too high to accept the status quo or not to meet the challenges that we have been asked to address in this committee as well as in the others and, again, collective

teddy roosevelt, harry truman, jimmy carter, bill clinton, they all called for it. while some reforms have been made, efforts at comprehensive reform that covers everyone in brings down costs have largely failed. part of the reason is because of the different groups involved such as doctors, insurance companies, and others could not agree on the need for reform or the shape it would take. if we are honest, the other part has been opposition that has used fear tactics to take any efforts to achieve reform as an attempt to socialized medicine. despite this long history of failure, i am standing here because i think we are in different times. one sign that things are different, the senate passed a bill that will protect children from the dangers of smoking. [applause] this went nowhere when it was proposed a decade ago. [applause] what makes this moment different is that this time for the first time stakeholders are aligning not against but in favor of reform. they are coming out -- coming together out of a recognition that while reform will take everyone in our health

teddy roosevelt called for it, harry truman called for it, richard nixon called for it, jimmy carter called for it, bill clinton called for it. but while significant individual reforms have been made such as medicare, medicaid and the children's health insurance program, efforts at comprehensive reform that covers everyone and bring down costs, have largely failed. and part of the reason is because different groups involved, doctors, insurance companies, businesses, workers, and others, simply couldn't agree on the need for reform, or what shape it would take. if we are honest, another part of the reason has been fierce opposition field by some interest groups and lobbyists, opposition that has used fear tactics to paint any effort to achieve reform as an attempt to socialized medicine. despite this long history of failure, i am standing here because i think we're in a different time. once thing that different, the senate passed a bill that will protect children from the dangers of smoking, a reform the ama has long championed. [applause] disorganization went nowhere. when it was pro

harry truman was a politician and a -- in a democratic country where it was bound to impact policy decisions as president he was a leader of the democratic party and could not ignore how his actions would affect not only his own political fortune but those of the party and after world war ii as much as politicians or the state department tried to separate in the case of the jewish refugees in the jewish state domestic and foreign policy issues were tied together by very strong sentiments. even so truman felt it was his challenge and responsibility to create, as he said neither the arabs or jewish policy but an american policy surrounded off the struggle to do what he thought was right despite all of the problems he had had times deciding just what that might be. although politics certainly played an important role, there were instances where truman turned down requests by politicians to take actions they thought would help them with their jewish constituents. if truman did not think he was being asked to do was correct, he often declined. to review the charges truman was acting out of politi

harry truman and this and this, it is a once in a generation window and it is open right now. whatever happens sets the tone for arguably the next generation. >> i think that is inappropriate notes to and on, a call to action. if there are some people in the audience left to the press or pessimistic about this, i have a large supply of antidepressants with me. [laughter] >> the other thing among to say is people say oh, you are so cynical. lookit, americans can be informed but they're not stupid. we are in a partial system that works in a country that works. change is possible. i was raised in the 1960's. it being elected is a powerful proof of what this country can accomplish. i never, ever, ever, i get less cynical about this country and its ability to change. >> that is an even better known. [applause] -- that is an even better note. >> thank you all for listening and we might well move on to the next panel. thank you, panelists. [applause] what's ladies and gentlemen, our next session is health care reform for the future. we will focus on the challenges and opportunities.

we have been fully around with this for 60 years since harry truman suggested a universal health-care system. it is a very simple way to finally change things. we are not saying you should choose the system or choose the system. you should decide. stop listening to the people of the right. stop listening to the people on the left. we will give you a system where you make the choice. i think that is the best way to go after 60 years. we cannot keep doing what we're doing today. host: an e-mailer talks about an experience that he had with his father. he said -- guest: that is a very important question. this is not something we have talked about. that is the talk of the end of life care. most seniors do not want to go through what your father went through. he did not have much say because he had alzheimer's. one thing i like to see that nobody is suggesting in washington, if we are going to have a public health insurance option, there have to be some things that the american people are responsible for, not the government or the private sector. one of them is having a living will and powe

some of our greatest presidents of the 20th century, teddy roosevelt, franklin roosevelt, and harry truman, or advocate for health insurance for all americans. president clinton fought hard for the administration proposal. those initiatives may have failed, but the hope that inspired them was never defeated. the time has finally come to redeem that and to deliver true health reform. in my conversations with colleagues, i am getting the sense there is now a willingness to tackle this issue and to resolve the problems and bring forward a much better health care system for all americans. with president obama and the white house, we now have the best opportunity ever to enact health reform. i'm determined that we not let this opportunity slip from our grasp. i look forward to this morning's testimony and continue with urgent, pragmatism, to send help reform legislation to the president for his signature this year. i want to recognize the ranking republican member of the committee. >> thank you. >> we both attended summit this year. in both those summits, i said that the republicans in the hous

we heard in 1948 when harry truman tried to -- tried to push through medicare. we heard it in 1965, when lyndon johnson and the overwhelmingly democratic house and senate passed the medicare law we heard it in 1993, my first term in the house, senator sanders' second term in the house. that's what insurers are claiming today. they're saying government takeover of medicine. that's not true. we want a government option plan. we want the government to provide a medicare plan that people can choose from. you can choose a private plan or public plan. americans deserve no less. our country can afford no less. the president asked us to move on this as quickly as we can and to do it right. this is our chance and i think we're going to do it. mr. sanders: will the senator from ohio yield for a moment? mr. brown: yes. mr. sanders: i want to thank him for his cogent remarks talking about one of the most basic issues facing this country, and that is health care. we're on the veterans committee as well, and i know that you spend a lot of time talking to veterans in ohio. you

harry truman first tried to do this. he tried to make general mark clark the great world war ii hero the first ambassador. there was a change human cry against that that truman drew it back realize politically this would be a mistake. >> it was either jimmy carter or ronald reagan who actually didn't have the political cover to appoint an ambassador to the vatican. so eventually it became a nonissue of. >> so when it breaks down, where did the catholic vote go in 1960? >> it overwhelmingly went to john kennedy. he received a historic vote. interestingly enough he received almost exactly the same protestant vote that edley stevenson's had in 1956. but it was the catholic migration than that provided him a tiny, teeny sliver of a victory that he got in the united states. >> there's another new book out on the 1960 election, what's the fascination with this election? >> i think it's the two characters. arguably kennedy and nixon were two of the brilliant political minds in america produced in the 20th century. and to put th

that president was harry truman, and his words were repeated by various other presidents since then. in 1971, richard nixon proposed a system of universal health care through an employer mandate. icy chairman conyers shaking his head. he remembers that. i was in high school, but i do remember the proposal. [laughter] >> obviously, there have been against most recently in 1994 in other reiterations since then. there is one common thread i hope is running through members of both parties and through both houses. i know it exists in the white house. this time there is going to be a law, not a discussion. and we are going to do our very best to make sure it's a law that works, and obviously that can pass. i think that today's discussions have been very fruitful and constructive in helping us get to that point. as i said to you, chairman, at the outset we hope this is the beginning of our interaction with you, not in. and with that i would like to thank the members and without objection members will have 14 days to submit additional materials or question for the hearing record. without obj

oral history, and even the profession and mainly with the practice of places like the harry truman live braver they interview people who erased all the tapes so nobody would find out anything that was not supposed to be known. that was the division of oral history but oral historians performing the professions in the '60s and '70s were mainly community activists of one kind or another or oddballs who wanted to document a community that was a disappearing under some kind of pressure. so, they made a dent. we made a dent but not such a big dent and we always come up against the formidable problem that the people who are in charge of society aren't all that interested in the lives of ordinary people who are not influential enough. >> you said a couple of times, he mentioned how the book doing well or if the book does well enough, what is well enough and what the needs of this book, what kind of zeitgeist this is tough to catch? >> it is a really good question. as we speak i think probably linda barry's panel has finished up. and if i were there, i would have vast a question i often nuk, th

still is the perfect stopover in the rolling green hills of central missouri and there the man harry truman called the great rural citizen, winston churchill, marked the beginning of the cold war with the words that were heard around the globe. today the speech is regarded as perhaps one of the most important that chump hill ever delivered. the speech contain -- churchill ever delivered. the speech contains certain phrases, which at once entered into general use and which have since survived. however, it's churchill's mention of the iron curtain that attracted immediate international attention and shaped opinions in the united states and western europe. he said, from the balance tack to the -- baltak and the

he received the medal of honor from president harry truman in 1945 in recognition of his heroism during the tide turning battle. he served in korea, vietnam and was a 14-year employee of the v.a. in 2004 congress named the v.a. facility in utah. the v.a. said this in his passing, he truly exemple flies the commitment to service and love of his country. the people of utah, this hospital and the veterans he tirelessly served have lost a remarkable man, end quote. indeed they have, we all have. thank you, madam speaker. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? >> to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. culberson: thank you, madam speaker. you know, congress is operating under some of the lowest approval ratings in history, and clearly the public has lost confidence in its federal government. perhaps that's because the federal government is rapidly moving down a past that shows that the government is losing confidence in the american peop

we have been talking about health care reform since the administration of harry truman. it's time for action. among the everysewnian rights -- everysown yan -- jeffersonian rights the first was right to ly. yet today with health costs spiraling out of control for millions of americans, that right to life becomes more and more difficult to manage. while the need for some level of reform is clear, whatever reform the nation agrees upon must respect the right of individuals to continue to select their own physician. assisting some americans in accessing health care must not come at the expense of restricting health care access for others. we cannot have a government imposed regime. we must respect people's right to maintain control over their current health care access and health care insurance. having said that, america currently has the most expensive health care system in the world. in 2006, we ranked first at 15.3% of our gross domestic product in expenditures for health care. runner up was sweden with a socialized health care system it was at 113st%. on a per capita ba

we heard it in 1949 when president harry truman in his first -- after his first election -- after his election as president. he had been president for four years before he was elected after succeeding president roosevelt. president truman called for health insurance reform and they called it socialized medicine. we heard in the 1930's when franklin roosevelt when creating social security thought about creating health security at the same time, he backed off because of the opposition of the american medical association because he knew they would say socialized medicine. then they said it a decade and a half later when harry truman was president and another decade and a half later, as you know, mr. president, the doctors, insurance companies, conservatives an many in the other -- in the republican party in both houses again said socialized medicine when we were passing medicare. we know medicare's not socialized medicine. you have your choice of doctor, your choice of hospital, your choice of provider. medicare is the payer. that's not socialism. that's just a program that the american