Joe Biden

Joe Biden Watch: FDR on Television

Joe Biden talking to CBS’s Katie Couric

Oh really! FDR got on TV did he? After the Stock Market crash of 1929?

Flap seems to recall that FDR got on the radio after he was elected three years later in what are called “Fireside Chats.”

Slow Joe Biden GAFFES again and to think he is the “experienced” pol on the Democrat ticket.


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29 Comments

  • kb

    I guess we can put that up there with McCain wanting to serve dehydrated babies hot water right? Oh wait, that’s the top of your ticket and biden is the vp……..

    Opps, looks like you’ve got yourself a winner chump.

  • Charlie on PA Tpk

    Flap,

    I am willing to give Sen. Biden a pass on the ‘TV’ comment. These guys are on their feet 18-20 hrs a day, and to say TV instead of radio is a minor issue, since the overall point of communicating with the voters by electronic media remains.

    But mistaking President Roosevelt for Hoover is beyond a pass.

    And can anyone seriously claim this gaff isn’t 100x worse than misspelling ‘potato’? Obviously, Sen. Biden lacks the confidence of a real leader.

    Charlie on PA Tpks last blog post..I’ll drink to that!

  • Flap

    Charlie,

    Biden was sitting down on the train with Katie Couric for the interview. He was just bellowing hot air as usual.

    My God, is his brain capacity that diminished?

  • RyAN

    Too bad TV didn’t come along until the 1930’s and Hoover was president during the Depression! Had Palin made a comment like this it would be ALL over the news, but I have hardly even heard anything about this screw up.

  • Sy Sman

    Some information to consider: The stock market crash of 1929 is the 4th biggest in history. Two more crashes occurred in the 1930’s that are considered worse. FDR was president during the crash occurring between March of 1937 and March of 1938. The was the second worse crash. TV was around at this time. The Great Depression lasted from 1929 to 1939. Both Hoover and Roosevelt were presidents during this time. All political sides had a part in it.

  • Flap

    Joe Biden was referring to the crash of 1929 and got the history wrong – hence the GAFFE. TV was present in 1929 and maybe a few hundred folks had the experimental medium.

  • cwest

    What is historical fact is that 1) FDR was the first president to appear on television; 2) FDR was not president during the worst stock market crash in US history, but was for the 2nd worst in history (1937) and the 8th worst in history (1939).

    I am curious as to why everyone assumes Biden was talking about the 1929 crash when that is never mentioned by Biden – he just says “when the stock market crashed”. Maybe Flap has some video the rest of us have not seen where Biden says “when the stock market crashed in 1929”.

    Even if he was mixing up his history this seems on par with McCain’s historical screw-up regarding Eisenhower’s “resignation” letter. The interesting thing about McCain’s historical misunderstanding is that the true story actually undermines the point he was trying to make (McCain was trying to say govt. officials like SEC chairmans should resign when they mess up just like Eisenhower was willing to do – problem is Eisenhower was not going to resign).

  • Flap

    @7

    Joe Biden is a moron and made a major GAFFE in history. He was probably copying another one of his fellow students papers instead of reading his textbooks when he was in high school.

    Spin how you like but the reference is obvious and he BLEW it. And, 30 years in the United States Senate – and he still does not know basic history FACTS.

  • cwest

    @Flap: Maybe he is a moron and maybe not. The question is why make the assumption that he was referring to the 1929 crash. If I said “president Clinton addressed the nation to explain the stock market crash” with a little research you could easily determine that I was referring to the 82 percent drop in the Nasdaq that occurred in 2000. The statement itself provides the evidence that can be used to identify the historical event. By cross referencing Clinton’s presidential term with Nasdaq crashes you can determine I would be referring to the one in 2000.

    Biden references a stock market crash and FDR. Therefore there is evidence within his own statement is that he was referring to either the crash in 1937 or the one in 1939.

    So, if you make the assumption that he was referring to the 1929 crash what evidence within what he said leads you to that assumption? Don’t avoid the question – I have pointed to evidence that he was referring to either the 1937 or the 1939 crashes – what evidence do you have that he was referring to the 1929 crash? Your assumptions are not evidence.

  • Flap

    @9

    Oh please! Stop with the phony analogies and “strawman arguments” that make no sense of reality of history.

    Biden Gaffed plain and simple.

  • cwest

    @Flap: I get the “phony analogies” statement but don’t agree. But for the “strawman arguments” statement I think you need to look that up.

    You are the one making the assumption that Biden was referring to the 1929 stock market crash that led to the Great Depression, even though the 1937 crash that led to the Recession was worse (at least in terms of the percentage drop and quickness of the drop). You have refused, now twice, to state a rational basis for that assumption.

    There was a major stock crash during FDR’s presidency which he did address in fireside chats on the radio, he called a special session of congress, and gave speeches about what should be done. He did use television to address the American public – just go to Amazon.com and you can buy hours of newsreel, now on DVD, of FDR speaking from the 1930s to the 1940s (I can’t say that FDR spoke about the Recession on any of that newsreel because I don’t own it, but considering the seriousness of the 1937 Recession I am pretty confident that he did).

    Again, what is the rational basis for your assumption that Biden was referring to the 1929 crash when Hoover was president? Hmmmm . . .. is it based on the fact that you didn’t realize there was a stock market crash in 1937, during FDR’s presidency, that resulted in a major Recession, and you are therefore projecting YOUR lack of knowledge of 1937 onto Biden? If you have some other explanation for your assumption please provide it.

  • Flap

    This discussion is a waste of my and my reader’s time.

    But, I ask you a factual question: When was FDR’s first fireside chat?

    Uhhhhh March 1932, five years before any crash in 1937.

    Everyone except for you comprehend the Biden reference to theWall Street Crash of 1929 and you are simply trying to cover Biden’s his ass – and not very well.

  • cwest

    @12 Maybe the fourth time will be the charm since you avoid answering questions better than a presidential candidate — What is the rational basis for your assumption that he was referencing the 1929 crash?

    Attacking me (“covering Biden’s ass”) and making conclusory statements (“everyone except for you comprehend”) does not answer the question.

    My basis for assuming he was referencing the 1937 crash is that: 1) the ’37 crash is consistent with Biden’s reference to FDR; 2) FDR did make numerous television addresses from the 1930s to 1940s (as well as radio addresses); 3) the 1937 crash/Recession has much more in common with the current economic situation than does the 1929 crash/Depression; 4) Biden said nothing to contradict the conclusion that he was referring to the 1937 Recession since he didn’t specify a date.

  • cwest

    @12: To answer your factual inquiry the first fireside chat was March 1933, not 1932, regarding banking. Also, I don’t understand your point about it being 4 years before the Recession. I certainly agree that 1933 is 4 years before the Recession/crash but don’t see how that supports your point.

  • Flap

    Now, you are starting to be annoying and very much a troll. You know the answer to your rhetorical questions but yet wish to argue the same idiotic point over and over.

    Please read my terms of use and consider this a warning.

  • cwest

    @15: I don’t see how you come to the “troll” conclusion based on the above, but I will leave it alone with this: I don’t think it is a rhetorical question and you have not answered it. “Stock market crash” does not necessarily equal “1929 and Great Depression” because there have been many stock market crashes, depressions, and recessions in US history.

  • Flap

    @16

    Very troll-like due to the fact you post and post and ignore the discussion and questions sent your way.

    I have another comment coming but could not get one in before you sent another.

  • Flap

    @14

    Sorry I made a mistake it was March 1933 when FDR made his first fireside chat. Four years before the 1937 portion of the Great Depression.

    Why would I or anyone assume a 1937 stock market crash and the reference to FDR when it is commonly understood the Great Depression started with the stock market crash of 1929, the resulting hundreds of bank failures when Herbert Hoover was President?

    Again, for the 4th time the answer to your question has been answered.

  • JamesBrown

    Come to think about it I watched FDR give his “fireside chat” on TV and I’ll bet you did too. I know you have the picture in you mind of FDR giving that talk. How did you watch it? At the movies? Nope – TV.

  • cwest

    @18: Since you asked me a question I guess it is ok for me to respond.

    You could assume he was referencing the 1937 crash because FDR was president at that time and Biden specifically mentioned FDR. Biden did not mention the Great Depression – that is an assumption you have read into his words based on your preconceived notions of what “stock market crash” must mean in all circumstances.

    “Stock market crash” does not equal 1929 nor does it equal Great Depression. Those are your assumptions not Biden’s words.

    It appears you assume he is talking about 1929 because you think he is such a moron that he couldn’t possibly know there were stock market crashes other than the one most commonly known which is the 1929 crash that was arguably the precursor, or arguably a symptom, of the Great Depression. You are putting words in his mouth (“1929” and “Great Depression”) based on your assumptions not based on what he actually said. You could be right since that particular comment by Biden is not the poster child for clarity. But you act like your conclusion is the ONLY possible one and that just isn’t accurate.

  • Flap

    But, my assumption is the conventional wisdom and you still have not successfully answered the television statement.

    There were very few televisions until after the end of World War 2 in 1945.

    FDR’s fireside chats were recorded on film and broadcast on the radio which were widely and commercially available and played in movie theaters.

    The stock market crash of 1929 is what Biden was referring. The 1929 crash is what is considered the start of the Great Depression for which FDR was elected to correct from his predecessor Herbert Hoover. This is the conventional wisdom and historical fact.

    Has Biden issued a correction or clarification of what he said? Said anything about 1937? Any other crash?

    Nope

  • gaffer

    Biden is speaking freely to illustrate his point which focusing on this gaffe ignores. In his mind, he has the mental image of Franklin addressing the nation and he referenced this to prove his point. Undoubtedly, he got the medium mixed up, but I’m betting that this image in his mind (which is at most basic level is true) is of Franklin addressing the nation after a late thirties crash. The medium through which FDR addressed the nation is irrelevant to his point–he did address the nation and talk about a way forward, and that is what Biden is getting at, no?

    Maybe little gaffes like this are the danger of speaking off-the-cuff instead of reciting prepared lines like the other VP candidate, but I’ll take logical, wise reasoning with irrelevant factual errors to mindless drivel any day…

  • Flap

    The image of Joe Biden is a blowhard who does not know what the frak he is talking about.

    Joe Biden has a history of gaffes which are well documented on this blog – just search under Joe Biden.

    BTW: A late thirties crash? Try late 20’s like in 1929.

  • Scott

    First of all he doesn’t say PRESIDENT Roosevelt and doesn’t say “In 1929 Roosevelt” so stop taping the two together. Second, Roosevelt may have addressed on the radio instead of television when he DID explain what happened with the great depression, but television WAS around in 1929, making one of its first media appearances in 1928, although admittedly not a mainstream type of media until th 40s (in which I believe Roosevelt WAS still president and the effects of the depression WERE still being felt). I read somewhere else that the issue here is just that Biden has a wealth of knowledge that may have gotten a word (that word being “television”) spit out incorrectly. Palin’s mistakes are just from idiocy.

  • Flap

    Yeah so Biden made another mistake. Another gaffe from being a MORON.

    It wasn’t until after World War 2 after FDR’s death that television took off. In 1942 there were around 5,000 TV’s in the US.

    Please are you commenters coming from some boiler room or message board the name of which is the most stupid arguments in the world to cover Joe Biden’s DUMB ASS?

  • Stunned

    Should anyone somehow return to this thread, a few comments.

    Stunned at the level people will go to avoid the obvious in front of their eyes. But with over a year of perspective, it should be pretty obvious. Furthermore, no one asked the apologists why Biden would reference either post 1929 crash (with TV, no less) without specifically mentioning it, to an audience of American people, about 1/2% of which might remember the other crashes. (The answer is completely obvious: he wouldn’t, and wasn’t referring to anything but the 1929 crash, one of the safest assumptions anyone has ever made, since President Theodore F. Taft assumed the Chinese wouldn’t launch nuclear missiles at us in 1872 during the Cuban Missile Crisis – can I run for Vice President now).

    Even better, how do the apologists explain Biden, during the debate where he was supposed to embarrass Palin, completely botching, with great arrogance and condescension, both the role of the VP and the contents of the U.S. Constitution (and he’s the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee) or claiming that he had discussed some policy with his constituents in a cafe that had not existed as such in years.

    In support of their previously held opinions, people will go at great lengths to support those opinions against all evidence. (Cognitive Dissonance Avoidance, I suppose.)

  • flapiswrong

    @26 so your saying just cuz you make a mistake your a moron? thats makes everyone in the world one then cuz no one is perfect at all. people make mistakes but they can learn from them and do better the next time and also biden didnt say anything about 1929.

  • Flap

    Biden is a moron not because he makes “a” mistake but because he is always putting his foot in his mouth.

    Biden who is now Vice President = a Gaffe Machine.