Harry Truman Shares His Life's Prayer

Pol Light Moment #85 is when Harry Truman shared his life's prayer on August 15, 1950. Harry Truman was the 33rd President of the United States, serving from 1945-1953.

According to President Truman: "The prayer on this page has been said by me--by Harry S. Truman--from high school days, as a window washer, bottle duster, floor scrubber in an Independence, Mo., drugstore, as a timekeeper on a railroad contract gang, as an employee of a newspaper, as a bank clerk, as a farmer riding a gang plow behind four horses and mules, as a fraternity official learning to say nothing at all if good could not be said of a man, as public official judging the weaknesses and shortcomings of constituents, and as President of the United States of America." (8/15/50)

Oh! Almighty and Everlasting God, Creator of Heaven, Earth and the Universe :-

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! Amen, Amen, Amen

(Source: Truman Library Website).

Harry Truman has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Harry Truman posts search with Harry Truman label at Pol Light. Also, Harry Truman's grand son was featured in the Pol Light post Clifton Truman Daniel Visits Japan.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

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Photo: The photo of Harry Truman is in the Public Domain.

Clifton Truman Daniel Visits Japan

Pol Light Moment #30 is when Clifton Truman Daniel visited the Hiroshima Memorial in Japan on August 4, 2012.  Clifton Truman Daniel is the Grandson of the 33rd U.S. President Harry Truman (1884-1972). Harry Truman ordered the nuclear bomb to be unleashed on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, a decision which killed 140,000 people. A subsequent bomb on Nagaski killed 70,000 people.

Clifton Truman Daniel's visit to Hiroshima and Nagaski was the first by a Truman family member. In his visit to Japan, Clifton Truman Daniel laid a wreath at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in memory of the 140,000 that perished there. Clifton Truman Daniel said as he laid the wreath, "I think this centaph says it all -- to honor the dead to not forget and to make sure that we never let this happen again (Source)."

In his quest for reconciliation through this trip, Daniel had the opportunity to visit with surviving relatives of some of the victims.  Masahiro Sasaki is a surviving brother of a 12 year old boy named Sadako who died of Leukemia after the bomb and left a legacy for how he handled his suffering. Sasaki said,

I hope we can bring a true reconciliation to atomic bombing survivors, many of them still caught in animosity toward the United States, as well as other survivors of war and their families, and help instill a strong sense of peace among young people (Source).

For more information on Clifton Daniel Truman's visit to Japan read the Huffington Post article.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Eleanor Roosevelt Offers to Help Harry Truman

Pol Light Moment #28 occurred on April 12, 1945, when Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) offered to help President Harry Truman after she told him that her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, had died. Eleanor Roosevelt was First Lady of the United States from 1933-1945. She served longer than any other First Lady in the history of the United States. Harry Truman was the 33rd President of the United States, serving from 1945-1953.

Harry Truman was asked to come to the White House in the evening of April 12, 1945, after Franklin Roosevelt passed away.  Upon arriving at the White House, Truman was sent to Eleanor Roosevelt's study on the second floor of the White House to receive the news from President Roosevelt's widow.  

Eleanor Roosevelt put her arm across Harry Truman's shoulders and said, "Harry, the President is dead."

Harry then asked Mrs. Roosevelt, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Although she had just lost her husband, Eleanor Roosevelt replied back to Harry Truman, "Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now (New York Times On this Day Obituary)."

Harry Truman has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Harry Truman posts search with Harry Truman label at Pol Light. Also, Harry Truman's grand son was featured in the Pol Light post Clifton Truman Daniel Visits Japan.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Eleanor Roosevelt is in the Public Domain.