"Our primary concern is for the little fellow." -- Harry Truman

     In the campaign for the Presidency in 1948 Harry Truman came out swinging.  Initially given little chance of being elected in his own right after succeeding to the Presidency upon the death of Franklin Roosevelt, Truman hit the trail hard in three rail trips across the countryside of America.  Crowds were unexpectedly large for a man whom the pundits said could not win.  His style was folksy without being smarmy, down-to-earth, yet responsible.  And his words were pitch-perfect and often eloquent.  If nothing else they were crystal clear.  Whatever Truman's faults in letting loose the atom bombs over Japan, his campaign of '48 has stood the test of time.  Let him be an inspiration, and may his words serve as a call to action to us today.        Here he is on the campaign trail in Bonham, Texas:

    Some things are worth fighting for....We must fight isolationists and reactionaries, the profiteers and the privileged class....Our primary concern is for the little fellow. We think the big boys have always done very well, taking care of themselves....It is the business of government to see that the little fellow gets a square deal....Ask Sam Rayburn [Democratic leader in the House from Texas] how many of the big money boys helped when he was sweating blood to get electricity for farmers and the people in small towns....

Amen!