Topic: Harry S. Truman

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JFK White House recordings: 8 excerpts from the new book

Excerpts from some of the secret recordings made in the JFK White House are revealed in the new book 'Listening In.'
Harry Truman: 7 quotes on his birthday

May 8, 2012, marks Harry S. Truman's 128th birthday. His folksy sense of humor and political grit are exemplified by a selection of aphorisms in 'Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists' by James Geary.
'The Presidents' Club': 10 stories about relationships between American presidents

From Truman to Obama, 10 stories of friendships and feuds between US presidents.
In Pictures: Presidential transport
Six big achievements of a surprisingly 'do something' Congress

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Why IRS investigation is already Obama's Watergate – and Benghazi, too (+video)

Since Watergate, every two-term president has had a second-term scandal. First-term mistakes and hyperpartisanship make probes – like those into Benghazi and the IRS – almost inevitable.
Cover Story Dow at 15,000: What the stock market is telling us

As Wall Street posts a new record, experts decode its message about the state of the economy – and whether it's too late to invest.
Chapter & Verse 'Prisoners of the White House': how Obama (and other leaders) become isolated

Kenneth Walsh's new book discusses the seclusion of life in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., including some behind-the-scenes looks at the Obamas' daily life.
Van Cliburn: A piano virtuoso who transcended Cold War (+video)

Van Cliburn passed away Wednesday at his Texas home. Van Cliburn, a Grammy award-winning classical pianist, was a star in both the US and Russia.
"The Double V" and "The Slaves' Gamble"

Two recent releases chronicle the contentious history of blacks in the US military.
Stock market has tumbled since Obama reelection. Are investors angry?

The stock market has gone into a bit of a tailspin since the election. Wall Street's disappointment with the outcome will pass quickly, but concern about the 'fiscal cliff' is mounting.
Robert Reich Election 2012: Three lessons for Democrats

Reich offers three takeaways for Democrats as the 2012 presidential election comes to a close.
Opinion: It's almost Nov. 6. Do you know what books Obama and Romney have been reading?

John F. Kennedy, Harry S. Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson – many of America's presidents were avid readers, and that informed their decisions. It gave them critical perspective. Americans should be curious about the reading habits of President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Chapter & Verse Joe Biden vs. Paul Ryan: The evolution of the vice president in America

As the presidential race heats up, vice-presidential expert Joel Goldstein discusses how the role of the nation's No. 2 has changed over the decades.
Rep. Scott Rigell: Maverick GOP freshman in the eye of a political storm

Obama is hitting Virginia Beach, Va., Thursday for a reason: It's one of the hottest political ad markets in the country. Its congressman, Scott Rigell, is out to change Washington's 'toxic mix of partisanship, no facts, weak ideas.'
McCaskill hits Todd Akin with new ad, raises 'legitimate rape' remark

Todd Akin is getting $250,000 in support from the Freedom's Defense Fund. But the Republican National Committee isn't supporting Todd Akin.
JFK White House recordings: 8 excerpts from the new book

Excerpts from some of the secret recordings made in the JFK White House are revealed in the new book 'Listening In.'
Winter of the World

The second book of Ken Follett's 'Century' trilogy is a gift to lovers of popular fiction.
Opinion: Not true, Mitt Romney: History shows business experience doesn't make a good president

Mitt Romney has derided President Obama for lacking the business experience he claimed as 'essential to his task.' That's a popular GOP message, but it's not true. America's best-rated presidents weren't businessmen, and those with the most business success rank among the worst.
Embers of War

'Embers of War' is an essential read on the tragedy of the Vietnam War.
Notable moments in convention history

A look back at US political conventions that have encompassed a wide spectrum of ideologies.
An American's key role as Hiroshima commemorates atomic bombing (+video)

Steven Leeper oversees Hiroshima's commemoration of the Aug. 6, 1945, dropping of the atomic bomb. The US presence at the memorial ceremony has grown, with even President Truman's grandson in attendance this year.
GOP leader offers advice for addressing Mitt Romney's likability problem

House majority whip Kevin McCarthy acknowledges that Mitt Romney trails President Obama when voters are asked whom they like more. He says Romney should visit lots of Staples stores to boost his appeal.
Stir It Up! Spicy grilled pork chops with fruit salsa

Heat up the flavors, not your kitchen, with outdoor grilled chops and mango cilantro salsa.
How Obama 'beat' Romney to Israel ... with a White House signing ceremony

The Romney and Obama campaigns both say their guy is the better friend of Israel, which may explain the White House signing of a security cooperation act just before Romney visits.
Where They Stand

When it comes to picking presidents, voters may do as well as academics.
The Passage of Power

In Volume IV of “The Years of Lyndon Johnson,” biographer Robert A. Caro concentrates on the succession of political triumphs and defeats that accompanied LBJ to the Oval Office.
Decoder Wire Why isn't Flag Day a federal holiday?

Flag Day, June 14, commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes in 1777, and is celebrated by citizens across the nation. But it's not a full-blown federal holiday.
Decoder Wire Why is Israeli President Shimon Peres getting the US Medal of Freedom?

While it doesn't happen every year, it's not exactly rare for a foreign head of state or of government to be awarded the US Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award.
Can Obama recover from his 'horrible, no-good' week?

President Obama's bad week included weak jobs numbers, the Wisconsin recall vote, less-than-helpful comments by Bill Clinton, and his own verbal gaffe. Obama has the edge in most polls, but there could be more bad weeks between now and the presidential election.