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Eugene

(61,593 posts)
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 02:25 PM Jan 2014

Historian apologizes for comments on Obama

Source: Associated Press

Historian apologizes for comments on Obama

AP foreign, Thursday January 30 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — A Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer is apologizing for saying on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln did not attempt to "rebuild" the country through executive orders, which President Obama advocated this week as an alternative to getting legislation enacted.

Jon Meacham wrote in an email Thursday to The Associated Press that he was at best "imprecise" and at worst "just plain wrong." Many commentators noted that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order and that Roosevelt advanced numerous New Deal initiatives through executive orders.

Meacham appeared Thursday on "Morning Joe." He told the AP that he had meant to say that presidents cannot lead only through executive orders, but must also get laws passed and influence public opinion.

Meacham has written books about Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/11173166

Earlier thread: Jon Meacham Says Lincoln, FDR Never Tried To 'Rebuild America On An Executive Order'
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fadedrose

(10,044 posts)
10. History knowledge not needed - Bush still alive, & Reagon remembered...
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 02:37 PM
Jan 2014

Maybe he should just watch current news and find out what's going on...

ladym55

(2,577 posts)
3. This "biographer" lost a reader
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 02:28 PM
Jan 2014

I read his book on Andrew Jackson, but I'm done with someone who is so publicly ignorant of the history he purports to have "expertise" in.

Too late, Jon. You should have kept your mouth shut on something you OBVIOUSLY knew NOTHING about.

 

alcibiades_mystery

(36,437 posts)
9. Roosevelt had the most executive orders per days in office of any President in modern times
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 02:35 PM
Jan 2014

Obama has the LEAST!

I'd say "just plain wrong" is much more ACCURATE, Mr. Meacham.

blm

(112,920 posts)
11. Meacham was a BFEE operative elevated to 'expert analyst' to protect Bush
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 02:46 PM
Jan 2014

throughout his term. He was a disgusting, lying piece of sh!t throughout the 2000 and 2004 elections.

BainsBane

(53,001 posts)
17. Meacham is NOT a historian
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 04:11 PM
Jan 2014

He is a journalist with a BA in English Literature. He has no training as a historian. Even so, you don't have to be a historian to know that FDR issued far more executive orders than Obama or any other president.

MagickMuffin

(15,890 posts)
18. K&R Off To The Greatest
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 04:13 PM
Jan 2014

:kick:

People who no nothing about what they are talking about should keep their ill-informed talking points to themselves.


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