As you may recall, Truman was extremely unpopular when he finally left Washington in 1953, thanks largely to the Korean War. Today, however, he is thought to have been a solidly good president, a 'Near Great' even, in the terminology of those surveys of historians they do every now and then.

Summary

This quote highlights the shift in public perception of President Truman over time. Despite being unpopular due to the Korean War during his presidency, he is now regarded as a successful and commendable leader. The mention of historians ranking him as a 'Near Great' president suggests that through retrospective evaluations, Truman's accomplishments and decisions are now seen in a more positive light. This demonstrates the possibility of changing public opinions and the significance of historical context in shaping the perception of political leaders.

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