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When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the princes of greed. He said, "look, here's what happened."[Hat tip: John-David.]
And if you owned an experimental TV set in 1929, you would have seen him. And you would have said to yourself, "Who is that guy? What happened to President Hoover?"
From Katie Couric's sit-down with Joe Biden:
Comments to "And if you owned an experimental TV set in 1929, you would have seen him. And you would have said to yourself, "Who is that guy? What happened to President Hoover?"":
Hugh Akston | September 23, 2008, 9:53am | #
Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the princes of greed. He said, "look, here's what happened."...and here's how we're going to make it worse and keep it going for the next decade.
The princess of greed? When did this become Paris Hilton's fault?
Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:02am | #
Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the princes of greed. He said, "look, here's what happened."From previous Sen. Biden history, I would suggest that the whole thing go in quotes and someone look up who he is faling to credit with those words.
Ah yes, I still remember the flickers of the flame in technicolor during those Roosevelt fireside chats back in 1930 when he took over from Hoover. Though I hated it when they interrupted I Love Lucy for them and I had to go on the internets (phone modems back then, believe it or not!) to get an episode summary.
Katie Couric and Joe Biden? Wow, that's like dueling banjos of stupidity.
Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:10am | #
We were poor and had to use wireless radio back then.The Nazis had television at that time. You see, he grew up there - his real name is Josef Beiden.
Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:15am | #
Wasn't Sen. Biden in law school on academic probation in 1929?Abdul | September 23, 2008, 10:20am | #
Biden keeps the hits comin'!Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:26am | #
The Nazis had television at that time. You see, he grew up there - his real name is Josef Beiden.So he knows what it is like living under a totalitarian regime, just like Mrs. Heinz-Kerry?
It's interesting how the existing media narrative affects the way stories are told. If Palin (or, for example, W or Quayle) had given this same interview, the headline would be "Palin thinks we had TV in 1929!" Because it would fit the narrative of "She's really an idiot underneath it all." But I think any one of the other three would get away with this one.
Mo | September 23, 2008, 10:32am | #
Brian,You just figured that out now? Sheesh, every election has a narrative.
2000: Bush dumb*, Gore liar*
2004: Bush dumb, Kerry aloof flip-flopper*
2008: McCain old and angry**, Obama shallow
* In reality, these apply to all politicians
** McCain liar may be the new narrative
Jerry | September 23, 2008, 10:33am | #
When is Biden going to release his medical records?Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:37am | #
All this new stuff is 'doing me head in' (as they say in Sheffield). I am still trying to figure out if Sen. Obama running in 57 States is an advantage or disadvantage over Sen. McCain running in only 50+DC.Is Sen. Obama using the metric system for this election or something?
Sausage Swingin' Libber | September 23, 2008, 10:38am | #
Matt Damon reacts to Joe Biden's recent interview with Katie Couric -"I need to know if he really thinks FDR addressed the nation on television in the 30's, during the Depression . . . that's an important question . . . I wanna know that, I really do."
vanya | September 23, 2008, 10:40am | #
And you would have said to yourself, "Who is that guy?I think anyone connected enough to have an experimental TV in 1929 would have recognized the Governor of New York.
And I assume all you smart guys actually do know that in 1929 the Nazi Party was still a minority right-wing party in Germany, and widely regarded as a party whose popularity had peaked.
Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:40am | #
Jerry,They did not keep medical records when he entered the Senate in the same way they do now. They are still translating the stone tablets, so it might be a while longer.
However, the US Navy was forced by the Congress to keep paper records when Sen. McCain was in, so that was quicker. Plus, there are plenty of folks in his opposing party who can read Vietnamese to cover his time in captivity.
Episiarch | September 23, 2008, 10:43am | #
2008: McCain old and angry**, Obama shallowNo, no no! McCain is a maverick. He's McMaverick!
John-David | September 23, 2008, 10:44am | #
By the way, I should credit where I found this tidbit: The wonderful othercrap.com blog. End plug.Joel | September 23, 2008, 10:45am | #
They do, when they're politicians.Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:45am | #
Epi,Don't forget about the messiah! He is enlightened and visionary! The people we have been waiting for and all that.
Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:47am | #
vanya,I suspect most people here are continuing the joke that Sen. Biden unknowingly created.
BDB | September 23, 2008, 10:52am | #
"Don't forget about the messiah! He is enlightened and visionary! The people we have been waiting for and all that."Is this July?
Sally Coumo | September 23, 2008, 10:52am | #
Oh wow, I did not realize Television sets were that old. they had TVs in 29? Wow, I guess I am getting old!Sally
www.anonymize.us.tc
armchairpunter | September 23, 2008, 10:53am | #
Doesn't the Obama campaign know that the reason McCain is not able to operate a telegraph transmitter is due to injuries suffered as a POW? How insensitive!While he may not be a pioneer of the technology, during his time as a POW, McCain proved more than capable of utilizing Morse code to communicate with other prisoners. (It's a Navy thing.)
Besides, he's always able to get some guy in an armband and visor to encode his messages into morse code for him. Does Obama have an armband and visor?
Where were we?
Abdul | September 23, 2008, 10:54am | #
No, no no! McCain is a maverick. He's McMaverick!That's totally a myth. Someone at Reason should write a book about it. Bet it sells hundreds of copies.
R C Dean | September 23, 2008, 10:54am | #
I think anyone connected enough to have an experimental TV in 1929 would have recognized the Governor of New York.vanya catches the double gaffe. Not only was FDR not on TV in 1929, he wasn't even the President then.
Predicted MSM hand-wringing over Biden's fitness to be President in light of his demonstrated inability to control his yap - zero.
joe | September 23, 2008, 10:54am | #
It must be July, BDB.Republicans have been a-ok with cults of personality since late-August.
Come to think of it, nobody has insisted that I'm panicking for a long time. Maybe it really is July.
Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:56am | #
Sally,Yes, they had TVs and CDs back then. TSs came a bit later.
Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 10:58am | #
While he may not be a pioneer of the technology, during his time as a POW, McCain proved more than capable of utilizing Morse code to communicate with other prisoners. (It's a Navy thing.)I believe you are meaning Tap Code, whis quite destinctively different from Morse.
Jerry | September 23, 2008, 11:02am | #
R C Dean, I think Biden's brain aneurysms are acting up, that's why he needs to release his medical records.joe | September 23, 2008, 11:06am | #
I'm content to blame Vice President Mondale.Nah, it's all Christopher Cox's fault. That bastard.
Let's go egg his house.
Abdul | September 23, 2008, 11:17am | #
Let's go egg his house.You can't. I short-sold egg futures and destroyed the poultry industry.
Mo | September 23, 2008, 11:18am | #
vanya catches the double gaffe. Not only was FDR not on TV in 1929, he wasn't even the President then.Uh, the headline caught the double gaffe, hence the part of the "Who is that guy? What happened to President Hoover?" part of it.
vanya was making fun of the "Who is that guy?" part of it.
rhywun | September 23, 2008, 11:34am | #
McCain liar may be the new narrativeMore like: old, angry AND liar. None of which will harm him in the least. Seems like the dominant narrative never does any harm, 'cept maybe Kerry. And Dukakis.
Tom Walls | September 23, 2008, 11:35am | #
So he knows what it is like living under a totalitarian regime, just like Mrs. Heinz-Kerry?You mean Mozambique, AKA Portuguese East Africa?
I like referring to African countries by their former names. Even the tiny country of Togoland...
J sub D | September 23, 2008, 11:36am | #
And Sarah Palin is the intellectual lightweight.We are fuckin' doomed.
Dagny T. | September 23, 2008, 11:37am | #
I had no idea Biden was a steampunk fan.FTW. I just really do not want to see him in the get-ups they tend to wear. Why must my day begin with yet another unappealing image of The Bidenator?
Episiarch | September 23, 2008, 11:44am | #
Why must my day begin with yet another unappealing image of The Bidenator?Because Obama didn't have the foresight to pick a former beauty queen as his running mate?
economist | September 23, 2008, 11:54am | #
Joe Biden: The Democrats' Dan Quayle?Guy Montag | September 23, 2008, 12:18pm | #
TW,Yes, but I was really referring to Mrs. Kerry's parents being part of the regime that she 'suffered' under. Should have been more obvious.
economist,
I always see Al Gore as the Dems Dan Quale, but the parties treat those types quite differently.
TheDudesBlog | September 23, 2008, 12:19pm | #
What a great line, Jesse. Kudos. That's the funniest thing I've read in a while.rhywun | September 23, 2008, 12:25pm | #
And Gore.Yeah, I dunno if it's the D's inability to nominate teflon candidates (since Clinton) or R voters' lack of concern over their candidates' flaws, but the D's do seem to be suffering the most from the "lefty media"'s attention.
Terry | September 23, 2008, 12:30pm | #
Guys and gals,I've said it before, say it now and will say it again, prepare for civil/revolutionary war.
Right now Sarah is by far and away the most competent among the four.
Restore America, stock up on ammo and guns and canned food and general supplies.
VIVA the Libertarian militia.
Good Old Sam C | September 23, 2008, 12:38pm | #
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.TheDudesBlog | September 23, 2008, 12:46pm | #
Joe Biden: Because every ticket needs an old white guyhttp://thedudesblog.com/2008/09/23/walkers-hilarious-biden-smackdown/
Swansong | September 23, 2008, 1:13pm | #
Sausage Swingin' Libber | September 23, 2008, 10:38am | #Best comment of the day!
Matt Damon reacts to Joe Biden's recent interview with Katie Couric -
"I need to know if he really thinks FDR addressed the nation on television in the 30's, during the Depression . . . that's an important question . . . I wanna know that, I really do."
K T Cat | September 23, 2008, 1:25pm | #
Go ahead and laugh, neocon dorks. We've got pictures from the event to prove it happened!Can you imagine? | September 23, 2008, 1:32pm | #
What if Sarah Palin had said this?Uh Huh | September 23, 2008, 1:36pm | #
but the D's do seem to be suffering the most from the "lefty media"'s attention.Most Democrats spend their whole careers having the press edit out their more embarassing remarks. Then they get into a national campaign and suddenly people notice what they actually say.
I really think the turning point in the civil war was when Lincoln went on Oprah.
Joe Biden | September 23, 2008, 1:40pm | #
So instead of talking about my "taxes are patriotic" gaffe, now everyone is talking about my "Obama's ad was terrible" and "FDR gave a televised speech in 1929" gaffes!My plan is working perfectly!
Heck, the whole plagiarism thing is like 40 gaffes ago now.
Biden is like a really bad Disney Movie | September 23, 2008, 1:53pm | #
This is classic:Sausage Swingin' Libber | September 23, 2008, 10:38am |
Matt Damon reacts to Joe Biden's recent interview with Katie Couric -
"I need to know if he really thinks FDR addressed the nation on television in the 30's, during the Depression . . . that's an important question . . . I wanna know that, I really do."
Salvius | September 23, 2008, 2:00pm | #
Biden's obviously just being himself. As he says earlier in the linked piece:I know the Republicans are going to take anything I say, no matter what it would be or anybody, and take it out of context," Biden said. "They are going to take any piece and if I have to parse through every single thing I'm going to say, then I'm not me."
Stale Prince | September 23, 2008, 2:02pm | #
Was this before or after Biden went to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel Air?T. Coleman | September 23, 2008, 2:06pm | #
Stand up Franklin, let everybody see ya..... JBBiden also went on to talk about how Roosevelt went on TV after the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.
Robert | September 23, 2008, 2:10pm | #
H. Hoover had appeared on TV as Sec'y of Commerce, before he was president.When I was very little I flew beteween NY & Miami once on the same plane as H. Hoover. They wouldn't let us up front to see the pilot because they wouldn't let people thru the section with the Secret Service & former POTUS.
rhywun | September 23, 2008, 2:16pm | #
MostFixed.Democratspoliticians spend their whole careers having the press edit out their more embarassing remarks. Then they get into a national campaign and suddenly people notice what they actually say.
Republicans are perfectly capable of saying crazy shit too. They just have a knack for nominating candidates that can get away with it and/or their constituency just doesn't care.
Scott de B. | September 23, 2008, 2:35pm | #
Cut Joe some slack. He was just repeating the childhood memories McCain told him in the Senate cafeteria.Kolohe | September 23, 2008, 2:37pm | #
Wiki Trivia of the Day:Apparently, Hoover was one of first dudes on TV:
However, Herbert E. Ives of Bell Labs gave the most dramatic demonstration of television yet on April 7, 1927, when he field tested reflected-light television systems using small-scale (2 by 2.5 inches) and large-scale (24 by 30 inches) viewing screens over a wire link from Washington to New York City, and over-the-air broadcast from Whippany, New Jersey. The subjects, who included Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, were illuminated by a flying-spot scanner beam that was scanned by a 50-aperture disk at 16 pictures per minute.
Kolohe | September 23, 2008, 2:39pm | #
Frack, Robert already got there.Well played sir, well played.
SugarFree | September 23, 2008, 2:40pm | #
Kolohe,It's cute how your "wiki" omits that fact that a radioactive Hoover ravaged the East Coast for three days after the experiment and the government completely covered it up. Don't believe everything you read on the Internet, smart guy!
Fireside chats buddy, that's what he's talking about. So he got some of the details wrong - the basic idea still holds true.
*YAWN* Take a guess how many average Americans will give a shit much less be able to spell "anachronism".
George | September 23, 2008, 2:43pm | #
I always see Al Gore as the Dems Dan QualeAre you kidding? Quayle had better grades. And after losing, he went to work in industry instead of declaring himself Savior of Earth and scaring small children with lies about polar bears.
Ben | September 23, 2008, 2:54pm | #
Stand up so they can see you, FDR! Oops, what am I talking about...Kolohe | September 23, 2008, 3:08pm | #
SF-Point taken.
Especially after seeing a pic of television pioneer Philo Farnsworth taken sometime later in his life.
frenchpea | September 23, 2008, 3:25pm | #
- Biden reacting to a question about Palin and the up coming debates..."Look, all kidding aside," Biden said. "So maybe it's a generational thing but I don't start this thing thinking 'Oh my God, this is a woman, I had better treat her differently.'"
...he finished by saying "I'll still slug her if she gets out of line"
TruthTeller | September 23, 2008, 4:30pm | #
Vanya: Actually, the NAZIs (or National Socialist party) were NEVER a right wing party of any sort. They were hard left - just like their name would suggest. Hitler's disagreement with the communists in pre-war Germany was that they were basically both working the same side of the street.Conspiracy Theorist | September 23, 2008, 4:35pm | #
There are rumors circulating that Obama wants to replace Biden and the way he'll do it is by having Biden go out and make such bad gaffes that he will be "forced" to replace him.Looks like it's starting already. Add this to the quotes from Biden bashing Obama's ads and there just might be something to these rumors.
Yeagermeister | September 23, 2008, 4:43pm | #
"Stand up Franklin, let everybody see ya..... JB"Brilliant! Well played, T Coleman!
Tap, tap, "Is this thing on?" | September 23, 2008, 4:59pm | #
This is the 1st time I've been to this site. Imagine my surprise when I read the comments and found such good natured ribbing. I'll be around from now on. Sure, Joe has a rambling manner, oh, did I tell anyone about the time Johnny Mac and I invented the blackberry? I have a clip of the roll out. It aired right after FDR's televised victory speech when we finally beat back those Martians who had the balls to attack us at Grovers Mill, NJ! Oh, those were the days.Anthony Look | September 23, 2008, 6:27pm | #
Funny stuff.Uh, Jesse... | September 23, 2008, 6:36pm | #
"Fireside chats buddy, that's what he's talking about. So he got some of the details wrong - the basic idea still holds true."So the basic premise that then President Roosevelt addressed the nation in 1929 RE: the stock market crash holds true?
Franklin Harris | September 23, 2008, 8:01pm | #
Clearly, I should have forced the issue when some Obama Kool-Aid drinker was trying to bet me McCain would drop Palin from the ticket and I said it was more likely Obama would drop Biden.Umnn, I was born in 1934, the first time I became aware of the marvels of Televison was in the mid 50's my friends and I used to walk to a small store in the small town where we lived to watch the "snow" and to catch an occasional glimpse of an image!
josephdietrich | September 24, 2008, 6:05am | #
Come now, I thought FDR's awesome ability to travel through time to give economic speeches was well known. Don't you all remember the famous FDR "Ook ik ben een burger van Amsterdam" speech following the Tulip Mania of 1637?Also, for all those who think that Obama will drop Biden due to this... well, at least he hasn't confused Sunnis with Shias. That's a positive.
LnGrrrR | September 24, 2008, 11:17am | #
Hm, first comment didn't post. Anyways, was just replying back to Uh, Jesse that, technically, the quote didn't say "President Roosevelt" or even that he addressed the nation. From what I've read, it does seem that FDR did go on radio (yes, not on TV) as governor of NY to explain the issue.I am only 26 though. A bit past my time.
Norski | September 24, 2008, 2:02pm | #
Katie Couric's exclusive interview with Mr. Biden is interesting in a couple of ways.There's the obvious one: where Mr. Biden reveals an alternative history in which television was in wide use in the late Twenties, and FDR was president when the Stock Market crashed.
Then there's the CBS News online video of Katie Couric's piece on Mr. Biden.
That embarrassing little error about FDR, television, and the Stock Market crash has been edited out.
(Shameless self-promotion: I put a clip of Mr. Biden's 'FDR' remarks, and CBS News' sanitized version, on a post today.)
Bronwyn | September 24, 2008, 2:15pm | #
Holy shit, guys, did you see how he set himself up for that epic fail?"Part of what being a leader does is to instill confidence is to demonstrate what he or she knows what they are talking about and to communicating to people ... this is how we can fix this," Biden said. "When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the princes of greed. He said, 'look, here's what happened.'"
I mean... I mean... how fucking perfect is that? Beautiful!
I can't stop laughing.
matt in cincy | September 24, 2008, 7:01pm | #
For the love of Pete... how in the HELL can CBS edit that out in it's online posting and STILL try to claim to be a news organization?Mark Bahner | September 24, 2008, 10:47pm | #
I didn't see it. So I missed the important thing: how did his hair look? Was it OK?Did he look...presidential? Or at least vice-presidential?
Cool and forceful...like this?
http://druglaw.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/19/senator_joseph_biden.jpg
Ryan | October 2, 2008, 11:13am | #
Stock market didnt bottom until 1933.FDR - 32nd President of the United States
In office
March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945
Video of first inaugural address:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oblTN1ojsAA&feature=related
Neil B | October 2, 2008, 7:47pm | #
Whatever Biden meant: As many noted, Biden said "Franklin Roosevelt" (Governor of NY at the time) not "President Roosevelt" (unless there's more to that point outside the quotes.) And FDR was using radio around 1929, see Poliblogger. Also, re Roosevelt's filmed inaugural address: He talks about the recent crash and the depression. So, film, television, not the same tech but the idea isn't so far off.But the bottom line: Most speakers make mistakes from time to time, like so many switching Iran and Iraq. Biden does it more often, but he has so much other material for them to be buried in. Palin just hasn't said that much at all recently that we can hear, or writings to look at. If she'd sounded good 90% of the time, those odd gaffes wouldn't matter. Also, Palin just didn't know what to say, but Biden flubbed it - emptiness is worse than a mistake.
BTW, as scary as Obama-Biden may be to lots of libertarians here, you don't really think your rights (especially personal ones) are going to be protected under McCain-Palin, do you?
Neil B | October 2, 2008, 7:52pm | #
Also, from Wikipedia "Fireside chats":According to Roosevelt’s principal speechwriter Judge Samuel Rosenman, he first used "fireside chats" in 1929 during his first term as Governor of New York. Roosevelt faced a conservative Republican legislature so during each legislative session he would occasionally address the citizens of New York directly in the camelback room. He appealed to them for help getting his agenda passed. Letters would pour in following each of these "chats," which helped pressure legislators to pass measures Roosevelt had proposed. He began making the informal addresses as President on March 12, 1933, during the Great Depression.[1]
Scott Booth | October 5, 2008, 2:41pm | #
And they claim Palin is dumb. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!