How the World Has Changed

In October 1946, Harry Truman used the first (ever) televised Presidential Address to appeal to Americans to eat less so that post-war Europe could be fed. (See the NPR story here.)

The nations of Western Europe will soon be scraping the bottom of the food barrel. They cannot get through the coming winter and spring without help, generous help from the United States and from other countries which have food to spare.

According to the NPR story, he proposed a few rules: "One, no meat on Tuesdays. Two, no poultry or eggs on Thursdays and Three, save a slice of bread every day. Four, public eating places will serve bread and butter only on request."

Now, I wonder: How would it go down if a President made such a proposal today?