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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump embarrassingly struggled to read Constitution for documentary
More from the Rucker / Leonnig book "A Very Stable Genius" (mine should arrive tomorrow ) :
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/01/donald-trump-disastrous-encounter-with-the-constitution-very-stable-genius
While being filmed for a documentary, the president stumbled through his chosen passage, taking his frustration out on everyone around him, Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig write in A Very Stable Genius.
BY PHILIP RUCKER AND CAROL LEONNIG
JANUARY 20, 2020
On March 1, 2017, nearly six weeks after President Trump had raised his right hand and swore to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, he struggled to read aloud the words of the founding document. A film crew had come to the White House to record the new president reading a section of the Constitution. Trump chose to participate in the HBO production because he did not want to forgo the chance to be filmed for history, and he knew that as the sitting president he would be the documentarys most important character.
The documentary, titled The Words That Built America, was directed by Alexandra Pelosi, a daughter of House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Her conceit was that the country was starkly divided after the ugliness of the 2016 campaign, but the founding documents remained a unifying force for the nations factions. Pelosi and her team had a novel and distinctly bipartisan hook: All six living presidents, as well as six vice presidents, would join in reading the Constitution on camera, and other political figures and actors would read portions of the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. Each performance would be edited to create a lively, unabridged reading of the treasured documents that have united the nation for more than two centuries.
On March 1, Pelosi and her crew arrived at the White House, and as they were getting ready in the Blue Room, Trump entered the opulent parlor, which sits at the center of the residences first floor and opens onto the South Portico. The Blue Room, distinguished by its French blue draperies and gold wallpaper, is steeped in history. It was where President Grover Cleveland and his wife exchanged wedding vows in 1886, and every December the White Houses primary Christmas tree is erected at the center of the oval-shaped room.
On this day Trump seemed stiff and uncomfortable. Though he was technically in his own home, he did not greet his guests. Rather, he stood waiting for someone to approach him. Pelosi moved in to thank Trump for participating in this special history project, but he appeared to have no idea who she was, apparently not briefed on her political lineage or her role as the director. The president asked for some water, and with no staff bringing any to him, Pelosi handed him a bottle of Aquafina from her purse. Ive been into the White House, Pelosi later said of visits to see previous presidents. There are always protocols. Here there were no rules, no protocol. She added, Theres so much wrong with the whole thing. Im thinking, Isnt there someone whos supposed to guard what hes eating and drinking?
<snip>
Every time he stumbled, he manufactured something to blame people, another person in the room recalled. He never said, Sorry, Im messing this up. [Other] people would screw up and say, Ohhhh, Im sorry. They would be self-effacing. He was making up excuses and saying there were distracting sounds. He was definitely blaming everyone for his inability to get through it. That was prickly, or childish. Though stiff, he eventually made it through without any errors.
</snip>
While being filmed for a documentary, the president stumbled through his chosen passage, taking his frustration out on everyone around him, Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig write in A Very Stable Genius.
BY PHILIP RUCKER AND CAROL LEONNIG
JANUARY 20, 2020
On March 1, 2017, nearly six weeks after President Trump had raised his right hand and swore to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, he struggled to read aloud the words of the founding document. A film crew had come to the White House to record the new president reading a section of the Constitution. Trump chose to participate in the HBO production because he did not want to forgo the chance to be filmed for history, and he knew that as the sitting president he would be the documentarys most important character.
The documentary, titled The Words That Built America, was directed by Alexandra Pelosi, a daughter of House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Her conceit was that the country was starkly divided after the ugliness of the 2016 campaign, but the founding documents remained a unifying force for the nations factions. Pelosi and her team had a novel and distinctly bipartisan hook: All six living presidents, as well as six vice presidents, would join in reading the Constitution on camera, and other political figures and actors would read portions of the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. Each performance would be edited to create a lively, unabridged reading of the treasured documents that have united the nation for more than two centuries.
On March 1, Pelosi and her crew arrived at the White House, and as they were getting ready in the Blue Room, Trump entered the opulent parlor, which sits at the center of the residences first floor and opens onto the South Portico. The Blue Room, distinguished by its French blue draperies and gold wallpaper, is steeped in history. It was where President Grover Cleveland and his wife exchanged wedding vows in 1886, and every December the White Houses primary Christmas tree is erected at the center of the oval-shaped room.
On this day Trump seemed stiff and uncomfortable. Though he was technically in his own home, he did not greet his guests. Rather, he stood waiting for someone to approach him. Pelosi moved in to thank Trump for participating in this special history project, but he appeared to have no idea who she was, apparently not briefed on her political lineage or her role as the director. The president asked for some water, and with no staff bringing any to him, Pelosi handed him a bottle of Aquafina from her purse. Ive been into the White House, Pelosi later said of visits to see previous presidents. There are always protocols. Here there were no rules, no protocol. She added, Theres so much wrong with the whole thing. Im thinking, Isnt there someone whos supposed to guard what hes eating and drinking?
<snip>
Every time he stumbled, he manufactured something to blame people, another person in the room recalled. He never said, Sorry, Im messing this up. [Other] people would screw up and say, Ohhhh, Im sorry. They would be self-effacing. He was making up excuses and saying there were distracting sounds. He was definitely blaming everyone for his inability to get through it. That was prickly, or childish. Though stiff, he eventually made it through without any errors.
</snip>
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Trump embarrassingly struggled to read Constitution for documentary (Original Post)
Dennis Donovan
Jan 2020
OP
C_U_L8R
(45,018 posts)1. Please let there be outtakes
ProfessorGAC
(65,154 posts)3. Alexandra Won't Release Them
She knows how things work, and she's smart & classy.
Somebody working for her might, but I'm dubious.
5X
(3,972 posts)2. the last sentence tells it all...
"Before he got this job, he really should have read it.