Television is an important tool for any politician.
Appearing on camera can be risky, because where live television is concerned, anything is possible.
For example, just think of how manyawkward Donald Trump moments have been caught on camera.
It was September 11, 2001, and it was one of the darkest days in American history.
To hear Bush tell it, though, things would get much worse.
“I resent it.
It’s not true.
And it was one of the most disgusting moments of my presidency.”
Bush who, again, was president on 9/11 agreed, “Yeah.”
Things got heated, to say the least.
As they went back and forth about whether he was responsible for 9/11, Clinton finally had enough.
“You did Fox’s bidding on this show,” he said.
“You did your nice little conservative hit job on me.”
For his part, Wallace later toldNBC Newshe was taken aback by the president’s anger.
We’d spent most of the year inside, fearful of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The interview, however, went completely off the rails.
“There are those that say you’re free to test too much.
You do know that?”
Swan asked who the president was talking about, and Trump shot back, “Just read the manuals.
Read the books.”
Questioned about dying Americans, Trump responded, “It is what it is.”
In the interview’s most infamous moment, Trump handed the reporter a baffling chart.
“United States is lowest in numerous categories.
We’re lower than the world,” Trump said proudly.
He reacted with appropriate bafflement and horror."
Years later, Nixon sat down with journalistDavid Frostto go over what, exactly, happened.
For a long time, this statement was viewed as a classic example of executive overreach.
Former White House lawyer John Dean toldNPRsimply, “Richard Nixon would have had a pass.”
As sociologist Andrew Cherlin toldTimein 1992, Clinton was the first Boomer president.
“What is happening is that the first half of this century is receding in our institutional memory.”
One way to reach those voters: an appearance onMTV.
When the president appeared on the youth-oriented internet in 1994, he took questions from young voters.
Mr. President … we can’t believe you answered.
A few years later,Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinskywould dominate his presidency.
“I’m trying to answer your questions, and you keep on interrupting me.”
By the end of the exchange, Baier appeared apologetic for his conduct during the interview.
“I apologize for interrupting you so much, sir,” he said.
“I was trying to get the most for our buck here.”
When did I say I was confident?"
Later, Biden approached a throng of reporters to apologize for his response.
“I owe my last questioner an apology,” he said.
“I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy.”
He bragged about having passed a cognitive impairment test, admitting that some of the questions were tough.
“The last questions are much more difficult.
“So they say, ‘Could you repeat that?’
Okay, that’s very good.
If you get it in order, you get extra points.”
He repeated the list multiple times throughout the interview, as though that proved his intelligence.
What’s more, Trump also speculated about his opponent’s cognitive health.
“Now Joe should take that test because something’s going on,” he said.
“That’s it.”
Too forceful, and you seem defensive.
Too meek, and you risk having your years of service defined by questions you couldn’t answer.
That’s the trouble President George H. W. Bush faced when he appeared onCBSto speak withlegendary anchorman Dan Rather.
The two were on the wrong foot from the very start of the exchange.
“Would you like that?”
In an effort to dispel these fears, Biden agreed to an interview withABC News.
Reporter George Stephanopoulos asked, “Did you ever watch the debate afterwards?”
The president looked confused as he said, “I don’t think I did, no.”
In other words, the interview did very little to quiet critics.
A month later, Biden finally withdrew from the race.
