A POLITICIAN WHO SPOKE A TRUTH
He is probably unknown by the majority of voters today, but he said it like it was. Alben W. Barkley was Vice President of the United States under President Harry Truman.
Born in a log cabin, yes he was, in Kentucky he was named Willie Alben but later changed his named to Alben William.
He served in Congress and in the Senate, where he was
was majority leader from 37 to 47.
He coined the phrase "give 'em hell, Harry" as Truman was
about to begin his famous "whistle stop" campaign by taking
a train across the country and speaking from a platform
at the rear of the train.
Barkley ushered a new age of presidential campaigning when he initiated a series of "prop stop" appearances-flying
to several locations in a day. It is hard to imagine
a campaign that doesn't involve air travel.
Barkley was a great campaigner, being called
an "iron man" for giving as many as 16 speeches a day.
So in that context here's something he said
that we'd never hear one of the modern politicians say
"THE BEST AUDIENCE IS INTELLIGENT, WELL
EDUCATED AND A LITTLE DRUNK."
Wouldn't it be fun to hear a candidate
with that kind of spunk and humor.
It seems the modern strain of politicus candidatus
is a bit anemic by comparison.
DAY BOOK
See you down the trail
