--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As you may recall, Truman was extremely…" description: "\"As you may recall, Truman was extremely unpopular when he finally left Washington in 1953, thanks largely to the Korean War. Today, however, he is thou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/thomas-frank-4078_good_as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-u_2594519.png" --- # As you may recall, Truman was extremely unpopular when he… ![“As you may recall, Truman was extremely unpopular when he finally left Washington in 1953, thanks largely to the Korean War. Today, however, he is thought to have been a solidly good president, a 'Near Great' even, in the terminology of those surveys of historians they do every now and then.” quote by Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/thomas-frank-4078_good_as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-u_2594519.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/thomas-frank-4078_good_as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-u_2594519.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/thomas-frank-4078_good_as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-u_2594519.png) > “As you may recall, Truman was extremely unpopular when he finally left Washington in 1953, thanks largely to the Korean War. Today, however, he is thought to have been a solidly good president, a 'Near Great' even, in the terminology of those surveys of historians they do every now and then.” [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical reputations shift; initial unpopularity can evolve into respected legacy over time. **In simple terms:** Views change with hindsight. Key Takeaway Consider long‑term impact over immediate approval. Themes history reputation legacy Mood thoughtful balanced Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political careers - media coverage - academic surveys Key Concepts public opinion policy outcomes historical analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do we assess leaders fairly? - What factors cause reputation swings? A Different Perspective Reevaluation may overlook contemporary consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-president/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Historian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian/) [Korean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean/) [Korean war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean-war/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Now and then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now-and-then/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Recall Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recall-truman-1890562/) [Surveys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveys/) [Thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanks/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truman/) [Truman Extremely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truman-extremely-1890561/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Washington 1953](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-1953-1890563/) ## Related quotes > [Truman fired the popular Gen. Douglas MacArthur because he disobeyed orders in the Korean War. Johnson knew that he had reached the endgame in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/truman-fired-the-popular-gen-douglas-macarthur-because-he-disobeyed/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Harry Truman's decision to fire Douglas MacArthur at the height of the Korean War in April 1951 shocked the American political system and astonished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/harry-truman-s-decision-to-fire-douglas-macarthur-at-the-height-of/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [“The best politics for any president is to be a good president.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-h-white/the-best-politics-for-any-president-is-to-be-a-good-president/) [Theodore H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-h-white/) > [First of all, Bill Clinton was an extremely good president and more importantly, the country was in a very good position when he actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-jones/first-of-all-bill-clinton-was-an-extremely-good-president-and-more/) [Star Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-jones/) > [I don't look to a man to get pride in myself. It's not about having a black president, it's about having a good president,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-don-t-look-to-a-man-to-get-pride-in-myself-it-s-not-about-having-a/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I don't think George Bush is a good president by any imagination, but when he said, 'If you're talking to Al-Quaeda, we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-don-t-think-george-bush-is-a-good-president-by-any-imagination-but/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I have tried to emphasize to people that, hey, just like President Obama was a really good president, and the fact that he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-tried-to-emphasize-to-people-that-hey-just-like-president/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [A number of Donald Trump's supporters told me during the campaign they had faith that he would be a good president because he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/a-number-of-donald-trump-s-supporters-told-me-during-the-campaign/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [He may not have been a good actor, and I personally don't think he was a good president, but I'll tell you this: Ronald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/he-may-not-have-been-a-good-actor-and-i-personally-don-t-think-he-was/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [We speak truth to power, and we've never been fooled into believing Donald Trump 'can be a good president.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-speak-truth-to-power-and-we-ve-never-been-fooled-into-believing/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I think President Barack Obama has been a good president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-a-good-president/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [Nuclear arms is pretty scary because that could end the world. I'm more interested in that stuff than I am Bill Clinton. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/nuclear-arms-is-pretty-scary-because-that-could-end-the-world-i-m/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [President Obama has his faults, but overall, I think, is a good president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/president-obama-has-his-faults-but-overall-i-think-is-a-good-president/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [Barack Obama will go down alongside George W. Bush in that realm as middling presidents because both made too many mistakes to be categorized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/barack-obama-will-go-down-alongside-george-w-bush-in-that-realm-as/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I'm obviously very loyal and very dedicated to Mr. Trump. I think he's going to be not just a good president, I think he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cohen/i-m-obviously-very-loyal-and-very-dedicated-to-mr-trump-i-think-he-s/) [Michael Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cohen/) ## More by Thomas Frank > [I was in a bad mood when I wrote that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/i-was-in-a-bad-mood-when-i-wrote-that/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [“above all, intellectual. Anti-intellectualism is one of the grand unifying themes of the backlash, the mutant strain of class war that underpins so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/above-all-intellectual-anti-intellectualism-is-one-of-the-grand/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [The only truly individualistic health-care choice - where you receive care that is unpolluted by anyone else's funds - is to forgo insurance altogether,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/the-only-truly-individualistic-health-care-choice-where-you-receive/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Conservatism is not a doctrine of contentment. Not a doctrine for the satisfied and the smug. It's a politics that's at war with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/conservatism-is-not-a-doctrine-of-contentment-not-a-doctrine-for-the/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [A president aiming for 'Great' or 'Near Great' status must do more. He must give lots of interviews, make records accessible, and heap the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/a-president-aiming-for-great-or-near-great-status-must-do-more-he/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [“Innovation liberalism is "a liberalism of the rich," to use the straightforward phrase of local labor leader Harris Gruman. This doctrine has no patience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/innovation-liberalism-is-a-liberalism-of-the-rich-to-use-the/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Media bias has been a favorite theme of the Right for decades, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/media-bias-has-been-a-favorite-theme-of-the-right-for-decades-of/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Presidential legacies are valuable things, too valuable to be left up to historians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/presidential-legacies-are-valuable-things-too-valuable-to-be-left-up/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [A lot of populists after populism died just became socialists. At the beginning of the 20th century, socialism looked like it was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/a-lot-of-populists-after-populism-died-just-became-socialists-at-the/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [“And so the catastrophe of 1929–33 did to the certainties of laissez-faire economics what science did to nineteenth-century religion and what the slaughter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/and-so-the-catastrophe-of-1929-33-did-to-the-certainties-of-laissez/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Vibrancy is so universally desirable, so totemic in its powers, that even though we aren't sure what the word means, we know the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/vibrancy-is-so-universally-desirable-so-totemic-in-its-powers-that/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Under the administration of George W. Bush, you will recall, federal spending grew pretty significantly. At the same time, the number of people directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/under-the-administration-of-george-w-bush-you-will-recall-federal/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Massive inequality, we have learned, isn't the best way to run an economy after all. And when you think about it, it's also profoundly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/massive-inequality-we-have-learned-isn-t-the-best-way-to-run-an/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Governing was always difficult for conservatives, but as they return to the opposition, they are rediscovering their skill at blame evasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/governing-was-always-difficult-for-conservatives-but-as-they-return/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Back in the days when the market was a kind of secular god and all the world thrilled to behold the amazing powers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/back-in-the-days-when-the-market-was-a-kind-of-secular-god-and-all/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) [Explore all 116 Thomas Frank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) ## More Good quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [If you want to edit your photos and make yourself look different, go for it. That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Eric Clapton's scales - when he comes off a high note and it's time for a refrain or a little bit of a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/eric-clapton-s-scales-when-he-comes-off-a-high-note-and-it-s-time-for/) [Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) [Browse all 40,882 Good quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As you may recall, Truman was extremely unpopular when he finally left Washington in 1953, thanks largely to the Korean War. Today, however, he is thought to have been a solidly good president, a 'Near Great' even, in the terminology of those surveys of historians they do every now and then.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Frank" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-unpopular-when-he-finally-left/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-unpopular-when-he-finally-left/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/thomas-frank-4078_good_as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-u_2594519.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/thomas-frank-4078_good_as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-u_2594519.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/thomas-frank-4078_good_as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-u_2594519.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As you may recall, Truman was extremely unpopular when he finally left Washington in 1953, thanks largely to…” — Thomas Frank", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Frank", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As you may recall, Truman was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-unpopular-when-he-finally-left/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/as-you-may-recall-truman-was-extremely-unpopular-when-he-finally-left/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```