Thomas F. (hardtack) -
I already knew about the "Truman" Committee of World War II and how it gave Harry Truman---the junior senator from Missouri---national recognition. However, I never really knew any of the details. This book rectifies that. It is an interesting and easy read.
Unlike many politicians today, Truman often gave the people or organizations he was investigating advance notice so they could correct their problems without undue publicity. At the same time he would come down hard with both feet on anyone who decided making money was more important than providing the government with good products. When you read about civilians, and even military officers, who were willing to ship out sub-standard products which often resulted in the death service men and women, you wonder why they weren't tried, convicted and then executed!
This committee lifted Truman from basically an unknown to an extremely respected politician. It resulted in Roosevelt selecting him as his vice-presidential candidate for the 1944 election. After 80 some days in office as a vice-president with little power, as almost all vice-presidents experience, Truman became the President of the United States. While not mentioned in this book, Truman's leadership in the Cold War served as a model of a president with guts. It was he who put a stop to communist expansion in Europe and other areas. I've always had a high opinion of him.
Unlike many politicians today, Truman often gave the people or organizations he was investigating advance notice so they could correct their problems without undue publicity. At the same time he would come down hard with both feet on anyone who decided making money was more important than providing the government with good products. When you read about civilians, and even military officers, who were willing to ship out sub-standard products which often resulted in the death service men and women, you wonder why they weren't tried, convicted and then executed!
This committee lifted Truman from basically an unknown to an extremely respected politician. It resulted in Roosevelt selecting him as his vice-presidential candidate for the 1944 election. After 80 some days in office as a vice-president with little power, as almost all vice-presidents experience, Truman became the President of the United States. While not mentioned in this book, Truman's leadership in the Cold War served as a model of a president with guts. It was he who put a stop to communist expansion in Europe and other areas. I've always had a high opinion of him.
Robin V. reviewed The Watchdog: How the Truman Committee Battled Corruption and Helped Win World War Two on + 17 more book reviews
I had no idea that the Truman Committee investigated military contract fraud waste and corruption for THE ENTIRE DURATION OF WW II! Reading this book you can see how his work elevated Truman to the Vice Presidency. Detail about the charters on the committee, the cases they investigated and how it saved lives and money is fascinating. Truman did this work without grandstanding or leaks to the press forthe most part.
