United States Presidents

Harry S. Truman is my favorite president and not just because he's from Missouri. He was a man who spoke his mind and was honest. One of my most vivid childhood memories was a day when I realized he wasn't going to be president any more. . . I cried. My mom was ironing and we were watching the Democratic convention on TV (at that time it was on all day---every channel) and Mom had just explained to me that we were preparing for a Presidential election. Truman was the only president I'd ever known, it was like a grandparent dying---I felt very insecure about his leaving office.

I never cried over another president until Kennedy's assassination. Although I was too young to have voted for him, I did buy into the whole "Camelot" concept ( I am a King Arthur fan so it doesn't take much). His assassination seemed so senseless. I can recall walking across my college campus when someone passed me and said, "The President's been shot." I remember many of us gathered around the televisions hoping that this was some cruel joke, hoping that he was just injured, but it was no joke and again I felt exposed and vulnerable.

Like my mother before me (click here for her presidential preferences), I lean to Democratic candidates, but voted for several Republican ones---Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush are two that I voted for---both seemed like good, stable men.

A few years ago, I learned that I'm related to the Bushes and that dynamic Harrison duo---mostly through the Maupin side of the family (Benjamin Harrison is below in case you don't recognize him).

And, finally, we come to our current president that so many have so much hope for. Sure, I voted for him---I will always vote for the most centrist, stable candidate regardless of party. As I've aged, I've learned to appreciate the compromiser, the peace-maker.

But, I'll, still, never forget my first presidential love---Harry S. Truman---"Give-'em-Hell-Harry" who was recently named one of the 5 best presidents!