Examiner - Jan. 27, 2007
Local heroes are in good company
Ten eminent historians were asked to list the 100 most influential figures in American history who, for better or worse, have most significantly contributed to the destiny of our country.
Two former Independence residents made the A-list: 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman and the founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith Jr.
The results were printed in the December issue of The Atlantic.
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Truman, coming in at number 21, was defined as "an accidental president (and) machine politician" who "ushered in the Atomic Age and then the Cold War." As vice president, Truman assumed office upon President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death. He ordered the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, a decision that remains controversial to this day. Proponents say it ended the war earlier than expected and saved lives, while opponents say it caused unnecessary civilian deaths.
Michael Devine, director of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, expressed surprise upon learning about Truman's placement on the list.
"It's nice he's 21st out of the top 100 but I'm ... surprised that he's not in the top 10 given the significance of what took place during his years in office," he said. "If people don't believe me, they can come to the Truman Presidential Library and Museum and go through all of the exhibits and judge for themselves."
Devine said he was incredulous that other U.S. presidents placed higher than Truman on the list.
"This piece lists several presidents who never appear ahead of Truman in polls of our most significant chief executives," he said.
Presidents Abraham Lincoln (1), George Washington (2), Thomas Jefferson (3), Franklin D. Roosevelt (4), Alexander Hamilton (5), Woodrow Wilson (10), Ulysses S. Grant (12), James Madison (13), Theodore Roosevelt (15), Ronald Reagan (17), and Andrew Jackson (18) all placed ahead of Truman.
Devine said the international order that has existed for more than half a century came about during Truman's presidency.
"Truman played a key role in the creation of the United Nations, which recently was acknowledged by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan visiting here last month," he said. "NATO, the World Bank and the international monetary fund all came to fruition during Truman's administration. In addition, Truman set in place the policy of containment that led to the ultimate peaceful conclusion of the Cold War. And just about every domestic political issue that our leaders debate today was on the agenda that Truman placed before Congress in 1948. For example, Truman saw the need for universal health coverage at that time, and every administration since, including the present administration, has been wrestling with implementing something approaching Truman's goal."
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Smith, listed at number 52, was defined in The Atlantic as "The founder of Mormonism, America's most famous homegrown faith."
According to church literature, Smith founded this denomination, initially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1830 while living in New York. Members often were called Mormons because of the religious text Smith wrote, at the direction of an angel, called The Book of Mormon.
Smith had a vision that Missouri land, in what is now Independence, was the "city of Zion" and moved here in 1830 with some of his followers.
In the rough frontier town of Independence, Smith was declared a heretic, and he was beaten, tarred and feathered. In 1833, Smith and his followers were run out of the county. Many relocated to Clay County but conflicts continued between believers and non-believers. In 1838, the governor of Missouri ordered all Mormons be exterminated or leave the state.
Smith and his followers settled in Illinois, in the Mississippi River town of Nauvoo. Smith was later jailed and, while in jail, was murdered.
After his assassination, some members chose to follow Brigham Young to Utah, while others chose to follow Smith's son, Joseph Smith III, who was only 11. His followers waited until he was old enough to lead the church.
Young's followers became known as Mormons while Smith's followers became the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or RLDS. While theologies of the two churches differ, both still claim Smith as their founder.
RLDS members would later return to Independence and build an auditorium and temple on 63 acres west of the Square that the church purchased in 1831.
In 2001, the church changed its name to the Community of Christ to better reflect the church's beliefs and mission. Today, the Community of Christ International Headquarters, 1001 W. Walnut St., remains a striking visual on the local landscape boasting a temple with a golden, spiral steeple.
Kendra Friend, with church headquarters public relations, said they were unaware that Smith had been named to the Atlantic's Top 100 list.
She released this statement: "The faith founded by Joseph Smith Jr. in the 1800s still finds expression through the Community of Christ. ... The church continues Smith's emphasis on community building through its mission to 'proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love and peace.'
The Community of Christ has a worldwide membership of about 250,000 in more than 50 nations.
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Other former Missourians also made the Top 100 list.
Mark Twain (16), "author of our national epic, he was the most unsentimental observer of our national life."
Walt Disney (26), "the quintessential entertainer-entrepreneur, he wielded unmatched influence over our childhood."
Ernest Hemingway (85), "his spare style defined American modernism, and his life made machismo a cliché."
To access the complete list, go to www.theatlantic.com/doc/200612/influentials.
Reach Rhiannon Ross at rhiannon.ross@examiner.net or 816-350-6322.