Who Is Your Pick for Missouri’s Hall of Fame? August 22, 2013

So who do you think should be in Missouri’s Hall of Famous Missourians at the state capitol?
Missouri House Speaker says he’s opening up the nominating process for two of the next three inductees.
Two years ago, the inclusion of conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, a Missouri native, touched on a controversy.
Former House Speaker Steve Tilley made that selection.
There are more than 40 bronze busts of well known Missourians placed in the halls of the Capitol. They include former President Harry Truman, Mark Twain and Walt Disney.
Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones says he wants too know who Missourians want to add to that list.
““During my time as a member of the Missouri House I have heard from citizens from all around this state who have strong opinions about great Missourians that should be included in the Hall,” Jones said in a statement.
Jones says Missourians can nominate someone online at http://www.house.mo.gov from now until September 13.
He says they will develop a Top 10 List for another vote.
The speaker expects to select two of the nominees off that list. The final voting will close on October 13.
He will make a decision on the third inductee.
The Speaker’s news release notes, “To visit the Hall of Famous Missourians inductee nomination page directly, please visit http://www.house.mo.gov/FamousMissourianSuggestions.aspx. Suggestions will be accepted until Friday, September 13. Voting will conclude Sunday, October 13”.

HST on Kennedy Tapes in New Book September 24, 2012

Harry & Bess Truman, Truman Library photo

Post-Dispatch:
Newly released recordings of President John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office reveal moments of historic drama leavened by personal conversations with past presidents.
On tape, Kennedy discusses the Cuban missile, the Cold War space race, and Vietnam. Also included is a very terse conversation with Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett about the chaos surrounding the integration of the University of Mississippi. Audio of the recordings is available in companion with a new book titled “Listening In: The Secret White House Recordings of John F. Kennedy.” The recordings were made by a then secret White House taping system. They were removed from the White House after Kennedy’s assassination and later handed over to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. The library has kept the conversations private until now.
One passage has a Missouri connection. According to the New York Times, Harry Truman, the icon of Missouri politics, makes a brief cameo where he discusses a private matter with Kennedy concerning old age and marital satisfaction.
“Well, you sound in good shape,” Kennedy said.
“All right,” Truman replied. “The only trouble with me is that, the main difficulty I have, is keeping the wife satisfied.”
“Well, that’s all right,” Kennedy said.
“Well, you know how that is,” Truman said. “She’s very much afraid I’m going to hurt myself. Even though I’m not. She’s a tough bird.”
Ted Widmer, the historian who edited the book, told the Times he included the exchange because he “wanted the book to have human moments.”
The book, along with two CDs of audio clips, is available for purchase at book stores on Tuesday.

Romney Quotes Truman in StL NRA Speech April 13, 2012

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney invoked the heritage of Missouri’s Democratic President Harry Truman in his St. Louis speech Friday before the national Rifle Association convention.
Romney noted that Truman once said the US Constitution has to be regarded as current expressions of American beliefs, not just documents of history.
"Truman believed, as we do, that the principles of our Constitution are enduring and universal…that they were not designed to bend to the will of presidents and justices who come and go," Romney said.
The GOP front runner says President Obama does not respect the constitution as the nation’s founders envisioned.

"

Instead of limited government, he is leading us toward limited freedom and limited opportunity," Romney stated.

Romney charged that many of the President’s policies, from his health care reforms to his plans to revive the economy call for too much government regulation. He says those regulations inhibit American freedom.

"Under President Obama, bureaucrats are insinuating themselves into every corner of our economy, undermining economic freedom. They prevent drilling rigs from going to work in the Gulf. They keep coal from being mined. They impede the reliable supply of natural gas. They tell farmers what their children can and can’t do to help on the farm."

Romney told the NRA delegates that the US once led the world in innovation, construction and business. Now he say the US lead the world in lawsuits.

He says if he is elected, along with a Republican majority in the Senate, and a continuing GOP majority in the House, the threat to freedom he fears will be thwarted.

"Instead of expanding the government, I will shrink it.

Instead of raising taxes, I will cut them.

Instead of adding regulations, I will scale them back.

The answer for a weak economy is not more government. It is more freedom!"

Missouri Democrats Want to Change the Rules on Who Gets In Capitol Hall of Famous Missourians March 15, 2012

The fallout from the Rush Limbaugh bust controversy continues.
Today House Democrats in Jefferson City proposed changing the rules for who gets in to the ‘Hall of Famous Missourians’.
This developed because of the controversy over remarks made by Missouri native, conservative broadcaster Rush Limbaugh.
Now, it is up to the Speaker of the Missouri House to determine who gets in. The Democrats describe it as an institution that doesn’t legally exist. The House Speaker decides who is included. traditionally, the Speaker then raises the money to have a bust sculpted and placed in the state capitol.
Noteworthy Missourians with busts in the capitol include Mark Twain, Omar Bradley and former President Harry Truman.
Under the Democrat’s’ plan, the screening panel would be expanded. In order to achieve the honor, a nominee would have to get the votes of three of the four following officials; the Speaker; The Senate president pro tem; House minority leader and Senate minority leader.
Democrats say they’ll try to attach this plan to a bill already making its way the legislature.
Earlier, Democrats asked the state’s Office of Administration to deny providing space for any Limbaugh bust.