Everything Old Is New Again
The book of Ecclesiastes asserts that there is nothing new under the sun. This (actually, that whole ninth verse) is one of my two principles for interpreting history and current events. The other is John Ford's dictum from Liberty Valance, "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Keep those two ideas in mind and you'll soon have history by the tail.
The media and blogosphere perpetual-motion machine surrounding Cindy Sheehan (which, believe it or not, is less than two weeks old) reminded me of something I read about Harry Truman years ago, and tonight I finally found the reference for which I was looking. As I said the other day, I do not believe that the way to win an argument is to get the most sad people on your side. But, I thought the following was interesting.
In David McCullough's epic biography of Harry S Truman he tells the story of first daughter Margaret's critically panned opera debut, after which Mr. Truman wrote a strongly worded letter to music critic Paul Hume of the Washington Post.
This letter became public, and, given the fact that the Korean War was in full swing, certain citizens took the Commander-in-Chief to task. From pages 830-831 of Truman: (0-671-45654-7) (Caps on third quote intact from book; Bolding on Banning letter mine)
McCullough: "White House letters and telegrams ran nearly two to one against him and many, from mothers and fathers for whom the incident could only be seen in the context of the tragedy in Korea, voiced a deep-seated outrage that had to have touched Truman more than he ever let on."
Letter #1: In times such as the present when the entire country is under abnormal duress and strain, your undue "concern" over your daughter's musical career is completely ridiculous.
Letter #2: Why don't you apologize to Mr. Hume, and then persuade your daughter to give up singing and take up some kind of war work where the public will appreciate her efforts.
Letter #3: HOW CAN YOU PUT YOUR TRIVIAL PERSONAL AFFAIRS BEFORE THOSE OF ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY MILLION PEOPLE. OUR BOYS DIED WHILE YOUR INFANTILE MIND WAS ON YOUR DAUGHTER'S REVIEW. INADVERTENTLY YOU SHOWED THE WHOLE WORLD WHAT YOU ARE. NOTHING BUT A LITTLE SELFISH PIPSQUEAK.
McCullough: "How many of these Truman actually saw is not known. But one letter from a Mr. and Mrs. William Banning of New Canaan, Connecticut, he both saw and held on to. It had been mailed with a Purple Heart enclosed."
Banning Letter:
Mr. Truman:
As you have been directly responsible for the loss of our son's life in Korea, you might just as well keep this emblem on display in your trophy room, as a memory of one of your historic deeds.
One major regret at this time is that your daughter was not there to receive the same treatment as our son received in Korea.
McCullough: "Truman put the letter in his desk drawer, keeping it at hand for several years."
Obviously the analogy is not perfect - we don't know if the younger Banning enlisted of his own will or was drafted; the elder Banning didn't camp out in Independence; G.W. didn't throw a public hissyfit over the Twins' Maxim cover appearance (as far as I know). But the principle is still the same. So, for those who want it to seem that Sheehan's reaction to her son's death is something new and unprecedented, it isn't.
The media and blogosphere perpetual-motion machine surrounding Cindy Sheehan (which, believe it or not, is less than two weeks old) reminded me of something I read about Harry Truman years ago, and tonight I finally found the reference for which I was looking. As I said the other day, I do not believe that the way to win an argument is to get the most sad people on your side. But, I thought the following was interesting.
In David McCullough's epic biography of Harry S Truman he tells the story of first daughter Margaret's critically panned opera debut, after which Mr. Truman wrote a strongly worded letter to music critic Paul Hume of the Washington Post.
This letter became public, and, given the fact that the Korean War was in full swing, certain citizens took the Commander-in-Chief to task. From pages 830-831 of Truman: (0-671-45654-7) (Caps on third quote intact from book; Bolding on Banning letter mine)
McCullough: "White House letters and telegrams ran nearly two to one against him and many, from mothers and fathers for whom the incident could only be seen in the context of the tragedy in Korea, voiced a deep-seated outrage that had to have touched Truman more than he ever let on."
Letter #1: In times such as the present when the entire country is under abnormal duress and strain, your undue "concern" over your daughter's musical career is completely ridiculous.
Letter #2: Why don't you apologize to Mr. Hume, and then persuade your daughter to give up singing and take up some kind of war work where the public will appreciate her efforts.
Letter #3: HOW CAN YOU PUT YOUR TRIVIAL PERSONAL AFFAIRS BEFORE THOSE OF ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY MILLION PEOPLE. OUR BOYS DIED WHILE YOUR INFANTILE MIND WAS ON YOUR DAUGHTER'S REVIEW. INADVERTENTLY YOU SHOWED THE WHOLE WORLD WHAT YOU ARE. NOTHING BUT A LITTLE SELFISH PIPSQUEAK.
McCullough: "How many of these Truman actually saw is not known. But one letter from a Mr. and Mrs. William Banning of New Canaan, Connecticut, he both saw and held on to. It had been mailed with a Purple Heart enclosed."
Banning Letter:
Mr. Truman:
As you have been directly responsible for the loss of our son's life in Korea, you might just as well keep this emblem on display in your trophy room, as a memory of one of your historic deeds.
One major regret at this time is that your daughter was not there to receive the same treatment as our son received in Korea.
McCullough: "Truman put the letter in his desk drawer, keeping it at hand for several years."
Obviously the analogy is not perfect - we don't know if the younger Banning enlisted of his own will or was drafted; the elder Banning didn't camp out in Independence; G.W. didn't throw a public hissyfit over the Twins' Maxim cover appearance (as far as I know). But the principle is still the same. So, for those who want it to seem that Sheehan's reaction to her son's death is something new and unprecedented, it isn't.
posted by KaneCitizen at 9:39 PM
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