Buck Stops With Southeast Students
by Gary Leiker
President Harry Truman once said, “To be president of the United States is to be lonely, very lonely at times of great decisions.” As our nation’s 33rd president, Truman faced his share of great decisions. On November 12, a group of juniors and seniors from Southeast High School got to experience presidential decision making when they took part in the White House Decision Center at the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri.
Twenty-eight students were selected to participate in the program where students took on the role of the president and his advisors as they faced a real-life crisis from Truman’s time in the White House. Students met four times before school to learn about the roles of the president and his advisors. They also learned how to read primary source documents, and how to make decisions over complex issues. This year, students role-played President Truman’s decision to send military forces into Korea at the start of the Korean War. Students studied the history of Korea, and its strategic importance to the United States. They also examined the status of the United States military in the post-World War II years, and analyzed the impact of any U.S. involvement in Korea on the emerging Cold War with the Soviet Union.
At the White House Decision Center students, acting in their assigned roles, analyzed and debated what action President Truman should take to deal with the Korean crisis. A press briefing was held where Truman’s press secretary Charlie Ross, played by Ali Blanchard, informed members of the press about the situation in Korea. Blanchard was assisted at the briefing by Travis Bernot, who played Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson, and Andrew Crumpacker in his role as Secretary of State, Dean Acheson. After each President Truman met with his/her cabinets, a final press conference was held where Daniel Rank, as President Truman, outlined what the United States would do in Korea. The students then toured the museum before returning home.
“Top to bottom, this was the best group of students we’ve had participate in the White House Decision Center,” noted co-sponsor Gary Leiker. “Everyone got into it. There were some spirited debates going on, and it was a lot of fun listening to it all.” John Varsolona, who along with Leiker has been involved in the decision center experience since its beginning over six years ago, agreed. Next year, students will participate in the newest experience being offered over Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.
