Listen to former vice president Hubert Humphrey examine the personalities of memorable U.S. presidents
Listen to former vice president Hubert Humphrey examine the personalities of memorable U.S. presidents
Hubert Humphrey discusses the personalities of some of the 20th century's most memorable presidents.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Transcript
[Music in]
NARRATOR: So the President is Head of State; he is Chief Executive; he proposes laws and sees that they're enforced; he is Commander in Chief, the nation's diplomat, chief of party, voice of the people, protector of the peace. But beyond the constitutional and traditional roles he plays, each occupant of the office leaves on it his own unique stamp of personality.
HUMPHREY: Teddy Roosevelt used to say that the White House is a bully pulpit. By that he meant that the man that occupied it could be the conscience of the nation, could be the voice of redemption for the sins of the nation. And he looked upon the presidency, in all of its aspects, as a force for good, a force for reform [music out]. Woodrow Wilson looked upon the presidency in a little different manner. Woodrow Wilson said, "The White House is the nation's classroom, and its occupant the nation's teacher."
WARREN: Do you, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, solemnly swear . . .
KENNEDY: I, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, do solemnly swear . . .
WARREN: . . . that you will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States . . .
KENNEDY: . . . that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States . . .
NARRATOR: Merely by repeating the oath of office, the man becomes the institution.
NARRATOR: So the President is Head of State; he is Chief Executive; he proposes laws and sees that they're enforced; he is Commander in Chief, the nation's diplomat, chief of party, voice of the people, protector of the peace. But beyond the constitutional and traditional roles he plays, each occupant of the office leaves on it his own unique stamp of personality.
HUMPHREY: Teddy Roosevelt used to say that the White House is a bully pulpit. By that he meant that the man that occupied it could be the conscience of the nation, could be the voice of redemption for the sins of the nation. And he looked upon the presidency, in all of its aspects, as a force for good, a force for reform [music out]. Woodrow Wilson looked upon the presidency in a little different manner. Woodrow Wilson said, "The White House is the nation's classroom, and its occupant the nation's teacher."
WARREN: Do you, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, solemnly swear . . .
KENNEDY: I, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, do solemnly swear . . .
WARREN: . . . that you will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States . . .
KENNEDY: . . . that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States . . .
NARRATOR: Merely by repeating the oath of office, the man becomes the institution.