Coast to Coast: Day Five

We swung into Fort Hays (or what's left of it) this morning on the way out because the kids wanted to see the buffalo herd. We weren't really interested in taking the tour of the fort, particularly after the museum worker told me that Matt Dillion never really delivered any prisoners there. The Officer's Quarters (virtually all that's left of the fort's structures) caught our attention. They almost looked more inhabitable than the one's we just left at our last assignment!

The buffalo "herd" (as it was advertized) looked pretty thin at five. Tetunka has seen better days. Sorry for the rear shot, but apparently these guys aren't real impressed with tourists.


We passed the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abeliene, and if we had more time we would have stopped. We like Ike. Ironically, road crews were reconstructing I-70 along that stretch of highway with some of the most elaborate machinery and materials I've ever seen in road construction. Perhaps it was a nod to the President who concieved of the interstate system 50 years ago.

We rest tonight in Independence, Missouri, home of the 33rd POTUS, Harry Truman. We'll drop into his presidential library and home in the morning, Lord willing. I've gotta admit I'd much rather see Eisenhower's crib, but Truman intrigues me. One of our most unlikely of presidents, he was a failed businessman who never graduated college. He was the last choice to replace an unpopular VP under Roosevelt, who apparently rarely if ever met with him. HE FIRED GEN MACARTHUR (that's a foul), and he had an approval rating of 22% the last year of his presidency (and the press sounded the death knell when Pres Bush's rating hit 31% in May?!). Through all that and numerous scandals caused by his political appointees, ole Harry still rates as one of our best presidents. Maybe it is because he honestly spoke his mind. Or maybe he didn't have a pollster on staff. And maybe we'll get enlightened tomorrow.

After that, its off to St Loius to see our old pals from the McGuire AFB Chapel. I love reuinions.

SDG--AT