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Post by helios on Jun 2, 2008 23:33:22 GMT
I know that many of America's founding fathers and early presidents were masons. What i just recently discovered is that there was also a large amount of 20th century mason presidents including Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Gerald Ford. Do you think that their status as a mason had any effect on policies implemented or decisions made? If so, how? thanks
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Post by leonardo on Jun 3, 2008 7:53:11 GMT
Helios wrote:
Do you think that their status as a mason had any effect on policies implemented or decisions made? If so, how?
I personally do not believe their involvement with Freemasonry had any effect on the decisions they made while in office.
Do you?
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Post by billmcelligott on Jun 3, 2008 10:26:14 GMT
They also all played Golf,
QED, Golfers are trying to dominate the world.
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Post by droche on Jun 3, 2008 12:09:28 GMT
I cannot point to specific things that he did as President, but from reading history and his book "Plain Speaking," I believe that Harry Truman was very much influenced by being a Mason in every aspect of his life. He was active even when he was President, attending Lodge regularly, and he once said that being elected Grand Master of Missouri was the greatest honor he ever had, even more so than becoming President of the United States.
On the other hand, I personally believe that Warren Harding was an embarrassment to the Fraternity. His administration was scandal ridden, and it was well known that he was not the most faithful of husbands.
I think this subject shows the great diversity of Masons; there are liberal and conservative, pious and not so pious. It shows that all are human, and that being a Mason can help one become a better person, but does not automatically mean that one will be a good person.
Not related directly to the US Presidency, but I like to note that US Senators Hubert Humphrey and Barry Goldwater were Masons. These two could not have been further apart on the political spectrum, but they too held Masonic principles close to their hearts and how I wish there were more like them today.
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Post by leonardo on Jun 3, 2008 17:58:01 GMT
I believe the question was on whether the fact they were Masons influenced their decision making, specifically in relation to the offices they held; did they appoint Supreme Justices on the grounds they were fellow members of the Craft, etc.. and not in respect to daily life.
I would imagine they appointed the most suitable candidate and not just a fellow brother. But a fellow brother should not be deliberately excluded because he's a Mason! IMHO.
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Post by leonardo on Jun 3, 2008 18:07:41 GMT
They also all played Golf, QED, Golfers are trying to dominate the world. But that is true Bill. In fact, there's something about this on youtube so, it must be true!
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Post by droche on Jun 3, 2008 21:40:16 GMT
I believe the question was on whether the fact they were Masons influenced their decision making, specifically in relation to the offices they held; did they appoint Supreme Justices on the grounds they were fellow members of the Craft, etc.. and not in respect to daily life. I would imagine they appointed the most suitable candidate and not just a fellow brother. But a fellow brother should not be deliberately excluded because he's a Mason! IMHO. The following US Presidents were Masons: George Washington James Monroe Andrew Jackson James Polk James Buchanan Andrew Johnson James Garfield William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt Howard Taft Warren Harding Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Gerald Ford Lyndon Johnson (EA only) I am sorry if my post seemed to evade the question. What I was trying to say in my post is that I could not point directly to specific decisions or policies of any of them that would be influenced by them being a Mason, but there were some (e.g. Truman) who was heavily influenced by being a Mason in every aspect of his life and this would presumably include the Presidency. There were others (e.g. Harding) where many would agree that their actions and decisions would not reflect favorably on the Fraternity. I do not believe any one of them would have said, "I am a Mason, therefore, I am going to do this or that," so I think it is impossible to know whether their membership directly influenced their policies and decisions. I am by no means an historic scholar, but I do know US History better than the average person, and from the above list, the ones I think would have a higher Masonic influence than others would be Washington, Monroe, T. Roosevelt, Truman and Ford.
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Post by maat on Jun 3, 2008 22:20:26 GMT
I would be most surprised if a sentance or phrase or word from masonic rituals did not spring to mind without bidding when some decisions were being made.
Repetitiveness is training the subconscious. No different to the Lions Code of Ethics, the Catholic Catechism etc etc. ... TV.. newspapers!
Maat
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Post by bluebeard on Jun 5, 2008 1:05:02 GMT
I've heard that Bill Clinton was a Demolay
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Post by droche on Jun 5, 2008 1:11:18 GMT
Yes, he was Master Councilor for the State of Arkansas. In his biography, which I read, he states that if it hadn't been for his busy political schedules, he would like to have become a Mason. He speaks highly of the Craft in his book.
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Post by ingo on Jun 6, 2008 11:18:48 GMT
Well he still can become one. Maybe someone should send him an invitation.....
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Post by gasturb on Jun 6, 2008 20:49:37 GMT
ok ill do it
;D
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Post by JohnD on Jul 14, 2008 18:10:05 GMT
I would say Truman definitely was influenced by his Masonic involvement and background. You get out of it what you put into it and so much depends on the spirit of the individual involved. I think it is all up to the individual regardless of career.
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Post by marcopolo on Jul 22, 2008 17:30:31 GMT
Well he still can become one. Maybe someone should send him an invitation..... That would be the first time for me to actually use the black ball instead of the white one.
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Post by lauderdale on Jul 22, 2008 23:06:39 GMT
Is Mc Cain a Mason? (Not that I would vote for him in any event, had I a vote in the USA). Come to that is Obama, for whom I would vote
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ruffashlar
Member
Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
Posts: 2,184
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Post by ruffashlar on Jul 29, 2008 15:23:22 GMT
Is Mc Cain a Mason?If he were, I can imagine what his nickname would be
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Post by maat on Jul 29, 2008 23:09:08 GMT
;D Good one ruff
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Post by darkwolf57 on Aug 25, 2009 21:26:01 GMT
Nope... he isn't. His Dad was.
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