October 5 ~  Making Opportunities Mornings on Horseback

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." ~ Harry S Truman

Harry Truman

On this day in 1947, Harry Truman (1884-1972), the 33rd president of the United States, delivered the first televised White House address. The telecast, a plea for food for Europe, was relayed to New York and Pennsylvania.

Truman liked the media and trusted photographers.  During the tough 1948 campaign, he admitted to friends that his photographers were "thinking with their hearts."

According to White House photographer George Tames, "President Truman relaxed easily, smiled easily, lived easily in front of a camera."

Always ready to make opportunities out of difficulties, Truman kept a television in the Oval Office and understood the power of the medium.

"With TV," he said, "A politician can be a guest in every living room in the world."

More Harry S TRUMAN Quotations

Make opportunities.