Luce...off topic...1776 Was Good But You Gotta Read Truman!

[Carrie]

Hi Luce. I finally finished 1776 by David McCullough. More than anything it gave me a new appreciation of George Washington. He was not perfect by any means but truly was a great leader in the most difficult of times when all seemed bleak (and, indeed, was).

Now I'm reading McCullough's Pulitzer prize-winning Truman and absolutely love it! Here was an "ordinary" (not really) man who did not want to be President (really) and was thrust into the most powerful office in the world. The book begins slowly with his ancestors settling in the west during the great migration. Then it builds in great detail on his schooling (he never went beyond high school), the family farm, World War I where he rose to Captain when most officers were college-educated, and numerous business failures. At age 61, he was considered by many just a political hack and hayseed. He was probably one of the least likely candidates to succeed the charismatic, and Harvard-educated, FDR. Truman told everyone he did not want the job! But through a series of events he was nominated as FDR's Vice President (and everyone knew FDR was dying and they were really nominating the next President).

Luce, you have to read this book! It's long (I'm now on page 696 with another 200 to go) but I wish it were even longer. That's how much I am enjoying it. The "common" man who draws upon all of his life experiences to become one of the greatest presidents of the 20th Century.

Love,
Carrie