"Give me a one-armed economist!" demanded President Harry S. Truman.

President Truman was the first president to appoint a council of economic advisers. Unlike some later presidents, he actually liked to liste n to his policy advisers. However, he preferred a clear recommendation, not a long discussion of the advantages a nd disadvantages of a particular course of action.

He quickly grew tired of economist who gave a good recommendation, and then began, "O n the other hand. . ."