1948: We remember President Truman and The Marshall Plan

By April 1945, VP Harry Truman had been on the job for a couple of months when he learned that President Roosevelt suddenly died.  

We remember him as a man who faced many challenges and met them well:  the two bombs against Japan that ended the war, economic and military aid to Turkey and Greece, the Berlin airlift (the candy bombers), the creation of NATO to resist Soviet expansion, and the war in Korea that cost over 30,000 U.S. lives.   

Another one of those challenges was the Marshall Plan, announced on this day in 1948.   

There were 17 nations that participated or recieved assistance through the Plan:   The UK, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Sweden, Iceland, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and West Germany.    

To say the least, the plan saved Europe. Most countries were devastated and vulnerable to communist intervention.   The Plan, plus the US's commitment to defend European borders, gave Europe the time to get back on its feet.

Along the way, he surprised the experts by beating Governor Wilkie in 1948. 

By 1952, Preident Truman was so unpopular that he did not seek another term. He left the presidency with low approval ratings but is regarded today as a consequential president by most historians.

You can read more about The Plan in this great book about President Truman.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

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1948: The Louisiana Hayride radio program

In 1954, Elvis Presley made an appearance on The Louisiana Hayride, the radio program that went on the air on this day in 1948.   It introduced Elvis to millions listening all over the South.

The Hayride was about country but it did embrace the electric guitar, the instrument that would turn “hillbilly music” into rock and roll.

The Hayride shut down in 1960 but its legacy lives on.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

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A word about Wally Moon (1930-2018)

Wallace Wade Moon was born on this day in Bay, Arkansas, in 1930.   He died in 2018.

Wally Moon became one of the best hitters of the 1950's.    His story is rather remarkable.  

Wally Moon retired with the LA Dodgers:   .289 average, 1,399 hits, 212 doubles, 142 HR & 661 RBI in 1,457 games.    

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

A word about Leslie Howard (1893-1943)

Leslie Howard was born in London on this day in 1893 and died in a plane crash in 1943.

We remember Mr. Howard for his role as “Ashley Wilkes” in “Gone with the wind”, the movie released in 1939.  

However, there is another side to Mr. Howard’s career or his involvement in the war effort in the early 1940’s.   His plane was shot down in 1943 and many believe that the Germans were shooting at a spy plane.  

We will never know the full story.    It could have been a tragic mistake, such as the case of Glenn Miller in December 1944.    Nevertheless, Leslie Howard was dead and a great actor was gone. 

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

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We remember The Marshall Plan 1948

By April 1945, VP Harry Truman had been on the job for a couple of months when he learned that President Roosevelt suddenly died.   

We remember him as a man who faced many challenges and met them well:  the two bombs against Japan that ended the war, economic and military aid to Turkey and Greece, the Berlin airlift (the candy bombers), the creation of NATO to resist Soviet expansion, and the war in Korea that cost over 30,000 U.S. lives.   

Another one of those challenges was the Marshall Plan, announced on this day in 1948.   

There were 17 nations that participated or received assistance through the Plan:   The UK, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Sweden, Iceland, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and West Germany.    

To say the least, the plan saved Europe. Most countries were devastated and vulnerable to communist intervention.   The Plan, plus the US's commitment to defend European borders, gave Europe the time to get back on its feet.

Along the way, he surprised the experts by beating Governor Wilkie in 1948. 

By 1952, President Truman was so unpopular that he did not seek another term. He left the presidency with low approval ratings but is regarded today as a consequential president by most historians.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.