“ THE AUTHOR’S IDEOLOGY AND POLITICAL PERSUASION ”.

                    MY PICKS FOR EVENTFUL HAPPENINGS OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

                    The dastardly attack by Japanese on Pearl Harbor that brought us into WW2.

                    The Momentous decision by President Truman to use our nuclear weapon to
                    End World War Two, thereby saving countless lives, ours and the Japanese

                    The End of the Cold War under Guidance of  President  Ronald Reagan
                    Advanced Aviation Technology and Conquering Space with Moon Landing.
                    The Impeachment of President Clinton by the U.S. House of Representatives.


Having been shaped and molded into a lifestyle and ideology of conservatism, while growing up during the Depression of the 1920‘s and 30‘s. I found my niche in American politics at an early age and at 79 still follow my conservative political instincts. 

As a young man in the United States military beginning in the Army Air Corps in 1939, I knew little about politics other than that of the Democrat party ideology. Of course, having President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) as "Commander in Chief" it seemed everyone at that time in military service were democrats, even if they didn't vote or participate in politics. It was shortly after WW2 that I decided that I was not fulfilled or satisfied supporting the Democrat party, as it's platform did not fit my conservative values.

 I could not find a part of that party that was not basically structured in liberalism and I was not comfortable with it. Thus I found myself gravitated toward the Republican Party and although it too has not always been completely inline on all-important national issues with my thinking, it did satisfy my political needs. I did, however, vote for Harry S. Truman for President and when he squeezed by Thomas Dewey to win in the presidential election in 1948. 

I was very happy and to this day feel the goof by the newspaper media showing the victory picture of Dewey prior to the final election results, were the biggest media mistake of the century. I also felt President Truman was a trustworthy, competent national leader and his momentous decision to use our nuclear weapon to end WW2, was right and the most important decision made in the 20th century.

After I retired, I became actively involved in American politics at the grass roots level here in California. But only as a volunteer. I helped with state and national elections for Ronald Reagan. Later for George Bush in both presidential campaigns and now supporting his son George W. Bush for our next President.

 “ WEAKENED CHARACTER”

 Sadly, a condition I term the anything you can get away with is OK attitude, I firmly believe undermines the quality of our national character and weakens our individual personal responsibility.  This condition has worsened alarmingly this past decade. I shows itself in a lack of national character in much of our television, talk shows, movies and indeed among persons we deal with in our daily lives. We see it while driving our streets and highways, purchasing goods in our shops and dealing with politicians. 

There is a lack of moral role models in government. Indeed, when the president of the United States, a person who holds the highest office in the land and is by any measurement placed in a position of being the role model for all America. Can exercise this attitude and be successful with it, is bound to have tremendous influence in the downward spiral of our national character. I find this one of many examples of amoral character and lack of personal responsibility, proof of the gradual decline in our world leadership and loss of national pride.

We the people must take much of the blame for the slip into this despicable national attitude and I urge everyone to look closely to what each can do to reverse it. God bless the United States of America.

There are many things that shape and enhance a person’s life. Many things to strengthen and improve one’s pathway and help meet the daily struggles necessary to be healthy in mind and body in today’s hectic American lifestyle. Struggles which may seem overpowering to some and inane to others. But the importance of "words to live by" cannot be taken lightly. They can be tremendously important. These are the words I live by in my daily life and have found them vital to my well being! 

IF IT IS TO BE
IT IS UP TO ME

These words do no comprise a simple metaphor. They are special. Not because of their uniqueness, or their pattern that places ten English words composed of two letters each, in a sentence together. But SPECIAL by their meaning in totality, i.e. to be self-reliant, responsible, assured, independent and have faith in God! 

I did not find these words, structured in a format as shown above, in a book, paper or magazine. A WW2 Comrade passed them to me, Leo Emmet Young, who went on to be a lifetime best friend and role model. I picked Leo to be "best man" at my wedding in 1942 and his support was a blessing. In November 2000, my wife Olive and I will celebrate our 58th year together. Leo is no longer with us, but I am positive he will smile down from heaven when he reads this.

              "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRESIDENT REAGAN"

February 6, 2001 will be the 90th birthday of an American President I most admired and respected in my lifetime. A man whom fits a picture of Patriotism and Americanism, far beyond my modest acumen and skill as a writer to capably chronicle.  As a public and political figure, during his career as a movie actor then later as Governor of California and President of the United States. Ronald Reagan remained the least changed from how he was created. A man of principal and honor, unsullied by fame or political grandeur. He is in my opinion, his own man!  A man that proved to deserve the characterization, "what you see is what you get!"  

I am very proud that I campaigned at the grass roots level for Ronald Reagan when he ran for Governor in 1966 and recall a statement from then Democrat Governor Pat Brown as he spoke to some school children, "I am running against an actor and you know who killed Abe Lincoln, don’t you?" I still to this day, consider those few words spoken to schoolchildren by a politician, being the most unconscionable ever!
A later remark by Governor Ronald Reagan, when advised his veto of a budget bill would keep him from being reelected, replied "I didn’t come to Sacramento to get reelected," convinced me he was a man of honor and integrity.

Achievements by President Ronald Reagan are too vast for me to list here and now, but keeping his promise to strengthen or military, end the cold war, cut taxes and downsize the federal government, were his shining accomplishments. I shall always remember his momentous statement "Deficits are not caused by too little taxing; too much spending causes them." To me, that sizes up the man he is!

Now, a devastated disease weakens his mind and he cannot communicate in the magnificent way he once did. Let us keep him in our prayers and never forget what he has done for we Americans and indeed for people around the world!

Texas Pioneer family

The following are Texas Pioneer family relatives on my birth Mother's side of our family,  that I am extremly proud and thankful to share genes with!  i.e. My great Grandmother Veronica Adeline Beddoe, the daughter of Earl Percy and Martha Caroline (Hembree) Beddoe and being a descendant of the famous Beddoe family of Texas,  I am happy to share this brief Personal History page of the Beddoe family with you. Lee Webster


PERSONAL HISTORIES OF THE BEDDOE FAMILY " Taken from the Book, BEDDOE FAMILY TREE. Philip Tolbert Beddoe, the Son of Thomas Beddoe, married Catherine Parr of Moravintown, North Caroline, the Daughter of ~ Thomas Parr of England, a direct relative of Thomas Parr, the Father of Catherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII, King of England. Queen Catherine was a fine woman, but we cannot say much for her husband the King. She had no issue with the King, but her relatives came over to America and are well scattered allover the U. S. Thomas Parr, (Father of Catherine Parr), was captured by the English soldiers during the Revolution War, with nineteen others, and imprisioned in a log pen some four feet high, covered over and weighted down with heavy logs, and left there by the Red Coats to do or die. Things looked bad and disheartening to them, with frozen ground for their bed and cold air for cover, the out- look was dark. But they succeeded in digging a hole under the pen with pocket knives, swords and other side arms, large enough to escape; and after great sufferingt\...walking over frozen ground and "-through wild"-'couritry they rejoined General Washington's Army at Valley Forge. Earl Percy Beddoe, Son of Philip Tolbert Beddoe, after finish- ing his College education took a special course in Civil Engineering which better fitted him for his life work. In 1843 he married Martha Caroline Hembree. In 1845 they moved to Texas and settled in Marshall. He built the first Tan Yard there and started in business, but not being satisfied, he soon moved on down river and settled finally in Sabinetown. Here he built a Tan Yard and established a Saddle and Harness business. Although a prosperous man, he was induced to take charge as School Principal. He was made aware of the fact that it was a dangerous job, as it had become a fad for the young men students to whip the Teacher, duck him in the Pond or run him off. But he changed their program. Seating himself in the Teachers chair with his loaded shot-gun across his knees and with a bundle of Chinkapin switches near by, he assembled the pupils. Firmly calling for order he notified them that there would be no books opened that day. They were first to learn to respect the Teacher and then to proceed with lessons. At once they began their pranks of disorder, and as promptly he began to punish the offenders. The first afternoon he whipped twenty-three young men and larger boys.
This method conquered the wild bunch and good order ruled throughout the entire term.
      Mrs. Martha Beddoe, wife of Earl Percy Beddoe, was of Scotch-Irish descent, the daughter of Obadiah Hembree, her Mother was Patsy Earl of East Tennessee. After her marriage they lived about one year in Tennessee then moved on to Texas with their infant daughter Malvina Parr. Mrs Beddoe was a quiet woman but withal of great firmness of character and executive ability. During the Civil War when the men were engaged in the defense of the country she had a very large family to direct and provide for, which she did with gratifying success. One of the high points in her life was when her Son Lonzo was found and restored to her after having been lost from the family for more than thirty years. Shortly after her prayer was answered she sickened and passed to her Heavenly home. Calling her children around her she ask; "Have I always done my best?" They assured her she had and exceedingly well. Then she replied; "Well then I am ready to go" and peacefully breathed her last. She was the Mother of nine, who grew up to revere her name. -

I do hope you enjoyed this.  Aloha, Lee Webster