Good morning. It’s Friday, the day of the week when I share a quote meant to be informative or enlightening. Today’s words to remember come from several politicians who were elevated on this date to the highest office in the land.
America’s tradition of holding elections on the first Tuesday in November means that some important elections took place on this day in history, November 3, accompanied by a few memorable election-related quotations.
First, I’ll call your attention to RCP’s front page, which contains the latest poll averages, political news and video, and aggregated opinion pieces ranging across the ideological spectrum. We also offer the usual complement of original material from our stable of columnists and contributors. Recent highlights include the following:
RCP Takeaway. This morning, Emily Jashinsky joins Tom Bevan, Andy Walworth, and me to discuss the RFK Jr. “surge,” antisemitism and “wokeness,” and Speaker Mike Johnson’s first week at the helm.
China Critics Condemn Biden’s APEC Invite to Hong Kong. Susan Crabtree reports on the clash between the president and human rights groups over the communist country’s involvement in an upcoming economic summit.
Jewish Lives Matter. Peder Zane echoes a familiar refrain and posits that support for the people of Israel doesn’t have to mean a full-throated defense of their government.
A Ron DeSantis Presidency: MAGA 2.0. Maria Cardona warns that the Florida governor’s agenda closely mirrors Trump’s and that electing either candidate would be a turn in the wrong direction.
Virulent Antisemitism and the Rot at Our Universities. Charles Lipson doesn’t mince words about the alarming rhetoric heard at campuses across the country.
Five Facts on the Rising Intolerance. Americans pride themselves on our pluralism, but at RealClearPolicy, No Labels highlights troubling trends on both sides of the political spectrum.
A Speaker Unafraid. Also at RealClearPolicy, Grace-Marie Turner looks at what the recent shift in the House gavel might portend for the future of health care legislation.
Untested Legal Theories Driving Trump, January 6 Prosecutions. Writing for RealClearInvestigations, Julie Kelly explores how prosecutors are reimagining the law in novel ways to pursue their targets.
Walmart’s New Hiring Strategy Is a Boon for Workers. The retail giant recently announced they’re ditching degree requirements for many corporate jobs, and at RealClearEducation Linda McMahon and Jonathan Pidluzny applaud the move.
Policies Meant To Address Climate Change Can Worsen Human Suffering. At RealClearEnergy, Philip Rosetti and Robert Eccles submit that the challenge lies in addressing the trade-offs honestly.
Abortion Politics: Words Matter. At RealClearHealth, Amanda Mansfield writes that linguistic veils often obscure the real issues in the fraught debate.
Economic Pundits Don’t Deserve the U.S. Economy. At RealClearMarkets, editor John Tamny opines that Americans need more from their financial experts than a constant droning about the future of AI.
A Gathering of Officers and Historians. At RealClearDefense, Donald Bishop serves up a poignant review of the military members he served and taught with at the Air Force Academy.
Could Chili Peppers Treat Diabetes and Obesity? RealClearScience editor Ross Pomeroy cites an intriguing new possibility.
Religious Freedom Must Be Enshrined in U.S. Foreign Policy. And at RealClearWorld, Andrea Picciotti-Bayer asserts that in today’s world, we can’t afford the consequences of excluding this essential from our international agreements.
As promised, here are some of my favorite Nov. 3 presidential proclamations, lines that humanize our commanders in chief, and lesser pols as well.
Nov. 3, 1948: “We’d better go back to Kansas City, it looks as if I’m elected.” — President Harry Truman in the pre-dawn hours to members of his Secret Service detail, who stayed up all night listening to the returns on the radio in an election most experts expected him to lose. Truman made this matter-of-fact remark after eating a sandwich, chased by a glass of buttermilk, taking a bath, and going to bed early on Election Night in the resort of Excelsior Springs, Missouri.
Nov. 3, 1976: “I want to congratulate the toughest and most formidable opponent that anyone could ever have, President Gerald Ford. As I’ve said many times, throughout this nation, he’s a good and decent man … and I pray that I can live up to your confidence and never disappoint you.” — Jimmy Carter, in Atlanta, after being proclaimed the winner, about the man who would later become his close friend.
Nov. 3, 1992: “I plan to get very active in the grandchild business and in finding ways to help others. But I urge you, the young people of this country, to participate in the political process. It needs your idealism. It needs your drive. It needs your conviction.” — President George H.W. Bush, after losing his reelection bid to Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton.
Nov. 3, 2010: “After what I’m sure was a long night for a lot of you — and, needless to say, it was for me — I can tell you that some election nights are more fun than others. Some are exhilarating; some are humbling.” — President Barack Obama, at a press conference following the midterm elections that gave Republicans control of the House of Representatives.
My favorite concession speech quote was uttered in 1966. The line was so good it was appropriated 10 years later by Morris K. Udall after the legendary Arizona Democrat felt short in the 1976 primaries against Jimmy Carter.
The pithy quip Udall borrowed came from famed political prankster Dick Tuck. After losing his only campaign, a 1966 California state Senate race, Tuck deadpanned, “The people have spoken — the bastards.”
Tens of millions of Americans will feel that way next November, I fear. But for now, that is our quote of the week.
Carl M. Cannon
Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics
@CarlCannon (Twitter)
ccannon@realclearpolitics.com
