Preface: I do not approve of all the slam tactics being used of late. With that said, preserving and USING one of our most fundamental and important Freedoms, that of Speech, short of violence, should be acceptable whether we agree with the speaker or not! AND I do not think that what we are seeing during this period of time is any different than what has happened in the past. Thus, this article.
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Good Morning Class! Today the lesson is on the History of Disrespect Shown to the President of the United States of America. We will travel back in time for the past 20+ years of the office to document instances of the level of disrespect shown and that it pertained to the POLICIES of the administration. So, let us begin.
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With ALL the indignation, surprised individuals, and offense being displayed regarding disrespect or disagreement with the current POTUS, a little research show us just how previous Presidents have been disrespected.
Of course, with the advent of the internet and all it's video sites, it was much easier to find information regarding those of the last twenty or so years, and with an abundance of videos and references.
However, I did find a few articles references to Johnson and Nixon. I feel sure that Presidents before to them did have instances of heckling and/or disrespect, but the publicity was not (obviously) as widespread and/or rabid.
Additionally, these links do NOT include the multitudes of protests and controversies of the 60's, which could, in itself, show tremendous disrespect.
Anyway, my personal memories of politics goes back to about Gerald Ford. Before that, I remember seeing those guys on tv, but was more interested in "Tom and Jerry" than "Richard and Gerald". Many of you are much younger than me and may never have seen any of these. Now, don't be shocked. It really is not any different than what you are being exposed to these days, regardless of what some folks may tell you. For those that paid attention sooner than me, please share your stories so we can be assured that the current POTUS is not getting any less respect than previous Presidents.
So kids, let's take a little stroll down memory lane, shall we?
(warning: many of these links are VIDEOS...just FYI ahead of time)
Jan. 20, 2009 [George W. Bush]
Inauguration 2009 - 2 Million People Boo President Bush - yes, folks...that's a lot of those people booing in the video that are now saying just how wrong it is to treat a president that way.
Bush was still the POTUS at that moment, yet the crowds felt it was okay to treat him this way.
A couple of additional instances:
President Bush Gets Booed at Baseball Game! MLB
President Bush booed at Furman
Nov. 17, 2008 [George H.W. Bush]
Former President Heckled In Lawrence (Kansas)
July 4, 2008 [George W. Bush]
Raw Video: Bush Heckled at July 4th Speech
April 1, 2008 [George H.W. Bush]
Bush League Baseball
Campaign 2008 [Bill Clinton]
Raw Video: Bill Clinton Heckled
Aug. 16, 2007 [George W. Bush]
MSNBC Newsroom Booed Bush State of the Union
Sept. 24, 2006 [George W. Bush]
George Bush Has Got To Go
Mar. 5, 2006 [George W. Bush]
I should not be the only one to boo Bush in Disney's Hall of Presidents
Feb. 4, 2005 [George W. Bush & Bill Clinton]
Pundits called Dems' reaction during Bush address "unprecedented," but Republicans booed Clinton
Jan. 2005 [George W. Bush]
"Bush is a terrorist" 2nd inauguration
Bush gets booed at his inauguration
2005 State of the Union [George W. Bush]
Flashback: Democrats Boo Bush At 2005 State Of The Union
2001 Inaugural Day [George W. Bush]
George W. Bush Inauguration (2001)
The Bush Presidential Motorcade, Oh So Welcome
Nov. 13, 2002 [George W. Bush]
GI, wife lauded for defending freedom; president booed
"I have to watch President G.W. Bush go through the motions of honoring our dead on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery where his very presence on hallowed ground mocks those immortal words - duty, honor, country."
http://chat.augustachronicle.com/stories/2002/11/13/let_358327.shtml
July 15, 1992 [George H.W. Bush]
President (President G.H.W. Bush) Booed by All-Star Game Fans
Jun. 15, 1987 [Ronald Reagan]
Reagan Booed, Taylor Cheered at AIDS Benefit
Mar. 4, 1983 [Ronald Reagan]
Queen, president heckled and honored in 'Frisco
Mar. 22, 1980 [Jimmy Carter]
Draft Call Opponents Protesting
Oct. 8, 1974 [Gerald Ford]
President booed by Vermont protestors
Mar. 19, 1974 [Richard Nixon]
"Nixon clashed again with CBS News with millions watching the exchange. It occurred at a Nixon news conference during the election campaign. When Dan Rather, the White House correspondent, arose to question him, boos and cheers rang through the hall. The boos came from Nixon acolytes spread through the room, the cheers from fellow correspondents expressing their support for Dan. As the noise erupted, Nixon, on the stage, looked down at Rather and asked with heavy sarcasm, 'Are you running for something?' Dan, always impulsive, snapped right back, 'No, sir, are you?' More boos, more cheers! Not the most dignified scene at a presidential news conference.
"Dan was in trouble. It is one thing, perfectly legitimate, to challenge a president with tough questions. It is something quite different for a reporter to engage in a sassing contest with the nation's chief executive, no matter how obnoxious and wrong the president may be."
--David Schoenbrun, famed CBS reporter, in his 1989 book, On and Off the Air: An Informal History of CBS News.
http://www.ratherbiased.com/nixon_richard.htm
Apr. 18, 1972 [Richard Nixon]
May 5, 1970: UCLA Decared "In a State of Emergency"
Apr. 14, 1967 [Lyndon B. Johnson]
Apr 14 In San Francisco thousands protest President Johnson's policy in Vietnam by marching from the Ferry building to Kezar Stadium which they fill to capacity. A Vietnam veteran, David Duncan, gives the gathering's keynote speech.
http://www.fsmitha.com/time/1967.htm
So, kids, you see....these are just a FEW of the instances of a President being disrespected BECAUSE OF HIS POLICIES!!! There are multitudes of instances available with a simple search on the internet.
Your assignment is to go and find any and all instances of disrespect for the President from previous adminstrations.
You may use the internet, books you have read, personal exposure and additional resources I may not have mentioned or thought of.
Please tell your parents that this is just My opinion: this POTUS is not experiencing anything that previous Presidents have not experienced.
Thanks for reading.
Please submit your assignments as you finish them showing additional instances of the People (in government or private sector) expressing their Freedom of Speech.
The COH will be strictly enforced!!!
