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Post by xray on Jun 9, 2013 2:16:28 GMT 8
I'm not sure if it has changed, I'm not in the loop to know ! They always yack about the VP being 1 heartbeat away from the presidency, it would stand to reason that this man must have the required knowledge and info to do just that on a moments notice. The office always has been and is, however, bereft of any actual responsibility, I suppose that must be by design. I personally don't think that the acting CinC or VP are remotely qualified for the position, but of course thats just my personal opinion. All heads of state have been and are, to one degree or another, just shills standing in for powerful interests. I don't think that has ever been more true than the current crop of "leaders", it really is embarrassing to have such weaklings at the helm.
Back to Truman, I remember reading, once again from Churchill, that he was taken far aback at how far out of the loop the VP was. He knew almost nothing of our mutual top secret plans and commitments, and had to rely almost totally on Marshall and other long standing heavyweights to guide him through the conduct of war. Churchill himself was soon replaced, and his successor, Anthony Eden, had no such handicap, and was ready and able to take the reigns of power.
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Post by okla on Jun 9, 2013 5:03:21 GMT 8
Hey X....Didn't Clement Atlee take the British helm in the summer of 1945. I was just a kid, just turning 13, at the time, but thought it odd that the British people would turn Winston Churchill out of office so soon after he had led them to victory over Germany/Italy. Of course, Japan was on the run by that time and I suppose having the Labor Party leader calling the shots for the Brits in the final run down to the scene on the deck of the USS Missouri made little difference. Cheers.
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Post by xray on Jun 10, 2013 11:57:17 GMT 8
Probably right Ok, he [Eden] was Sec of State for foreign affairs for most if not all of WW2, but didn't achieve PM status until the early 50's. He was widely regarded as a great behind the scenes player, but didn't pan out too well in charge. No one was more surprised than Churchill - He was right in the middle of the Potsdam conference when the results came in, he could hardly conceive of being tossed out at such a crucial time, but thats just what happened. Atlee is also more or less a footnote, I guess when you are a contemporary of a titan like Churchill, its tough to get out of his shadow.
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