MSNBC historian Michael Beslos explained Thursday that President Biden’s speech in Philadelphia was inspired by presidential speeches before two of America’s biggest wars.
He told “All In with Chris Hayes” that he was among the historians who spoke with President Biden earlier this summer about the state of America and historical parallels, later implying that it influenced Biden’s speech. He recalled President Abraham Lincoln’s speech and the events leading up to the American Civil War.
“1860, this country was in great peril. It was falling apart. A house divided. Slavery or no slavery. And Lincoln ran the election of 1860 saying ‘the house will not stand, half slave-half free, we’ must choose,’” Beslos explained.
He then proceeded to talk about President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks about what he calls the “ongoing battle for the nation’s soul” in front of Independence Hall in Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, U.S., September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernest
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“1940, when Franklin Roosevelt was running for a third term, as you just mentioned, Roosevelt didn’t say ‘the primary issue this year is the minimum wage,’ although that was very important, or whether Texans are getting oil-depletion or anything like that. Beschloss noted.
“He said, ‘Look, all of that is important, but what’s really at stake right now is whether our children are going to live in an American democracy, especially with Hitler and the fascists showing up in Europe and marching.’
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 01: US President Joe Biden delivers a primetime speech at Independence National Historical Park on September 1, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. President Biden spoke of “the ongoing battle for the nation’s soul.” (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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Beschloss then claimed that he and the other historians explained to Biden at the meeting: “This is like 1860. This is like 1940. You have to talk about the big issue in the room, and just like Lincoln gave his speech House Divided, just as Roosevelt gave a State of the Union address on the Four Freedoms, as you well know, in 1941, this is the moment President Biden chose.”
He said he didn’t help Biden write the speech himself, but credited his team with convincing Biden “that this is a historic moment,” adding, “What you heard, I think, comes out of that.”
Beschloss has a history of partisan speech in news appearances.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivers one of his Fireside Chat radio broadcasts in this photo from the 1930s. FDR announced his plan to pack the Supreme Court in a March 1937 Fireside Chat to the nation. (Photo by Stock Montage/Getty Images)
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In mid-August he urged Americans to “vote like your life depended on it” during an appearance on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart” during which he also told the host, “I don’t know” whether the country will survive. This.
Alexander Hall is an associate editor at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected]
