US President’s Speech
Posted : July 13, 2005 at 10:50 am [America/Los_Angeles]
Of course, my favorite is the famous “malaise” speech of 1979 (it deals with the energy crisis - but never actually uses the word malaise). Considered by some to be the worst presidential speech in history, the address asserted that our problems are “deeper than gasoline lines.” And: “This is not a message of happiness or reassurance, but it is the truth and it is a warning.” Then: “There is simply no way to avoid sacrifice.”
Those frank words, coming out of a presidential mouth, are shocking. It will be difficult, but think back and try to remember an America dependent on foreign oil, an America with high gasoline prices, an America consumed with crises in the Middle East. And imagine you feel there is nothing you, the average American, can do. Then your president goes on TV and instead of saying you can do something vague like “stay the course,” he tells you that there is something small and practical you can do. You can carpool!
These days, there’s just something refreshing about reading through (Jimmy) Carter’s clear-eyed political suicide. Daydreamer though I am, I have never expected a president to solve our chaos. It’s just nice to know that once, one of them acknowledged it.
— Sarah Vowell, “The Speech the President Should Give”
- Anand
Category: US