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Cool Tuesday presidential trivia

metsguyinmichigan Jul 29 2008 01:49 PM

The Chicago had this to say about whose speech: "The cheek of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat and dish-watery utterances of the man who has been pointed out to intelligent foreigners as the president of the United States" Name the president, and bonus points for the speech.

AG/DC Jul 29 2008 01:56 PM

Lincoln. Gettysburg Address.

metsguyinmichigan Jul 29 2008 01:57 PM

AG/DC wrote: Lincoln. Gettysburg Address. Damn, that was fast! ALso goes to show that the media really hasn't changed all that much.

AG/DC Jul 29 2008 02:01 PM

I was actually editing my boss's boss's boss's essay about the "House Divided" speech when you posted that. He incorrectly credited it as coming from the Lincoln Douglas debates. It was his acceptance speech upon his nomination for the senate. I think it was popular to portray Lincoln as a country rube long after anybody paying attention should have realized it wasn't true.

RealityChuck Jul 29 2008 02:05 PM

Lincoln's writing style was quite modern, and thus considered uncultured by the standards of his time. People preferred long and flowery speech, so when he only gave four sentences -- in a very plain, direct manner, it was thought to show lack of skill.