When cataloging moments of great presidential rhetoric, a few speeches immediately come to mind:
- Washington’s Farewell Address
- Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
- FDR’s Inaugural Address
- FDR’s Four Freedoms
- JFK’s Inaugural Address
- LBJ’s We Shall Overcome Speech
- Reagan’s Brandenburg Gate Speech
I have two books that deal with Presidential rhetoric (Speaking with the People’s Voice [recommended] and America Out Loud), neither reference a single Clinton speech or interview. America Out Loud reduces the Clinton years to a single sentence, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” I think that is a mistake.
In retrospect, it is easy to reduce Clinton’s appearance on Arsenio to a single gif of him playing heartbreak hotel.
However, his interview as the democratic candidate for president with Arsenio Hall is one of the best uses of political speech I’ve heard and deserves to be on the list above. In 1992, candidate Clinton appeared for a 30 minute interview with late night tv host, Arsenio Hall. Hall’s show was hip and Clinton needed to attract a younger audience to beat Ross Perot (and his pointer) and George H.W. Bush.
The interview started with Clinton’s infamous sax performance, but quickly ran into substantive issues. Clinton was grilled on his views about race in the aftermath of the Rodney King riots. Hall continues to be a staunch activist for civil rights and social equality and it was clear in the interview that he was not looking for political answers from the candidate, he wanted to know how Clinton was different.
Whether or not Clinton was different is irrelevant. The interview is like nothing I’ve ever seen from a candidate. Clinton appears vulnerable. He doesn’t try to play the role of invulnerable politician, he doesn’t promise he will fix every problem in the US. He tells an embarrassing story about his first experience with marijuana, he jokes that Hall will need to pay more taxes, he openly lets viewers know that he needs to narrow his scope if he hopes to get anything done.
The interview was in 1992. There are moments that come across as insensitive, and he discusses race and gang affiliation in ways that should make Americans a little uncomfortable. But, language gaffs and poor examples aside, his views and policy decisions on minority groups remain salient today. If you told me that his interview took place in 2020, I’d tell you that I was excited we had a young moderate in the race.
Why is this interview not considered a moment of great political rhetoric? Maybe because it was an interview, not a speech. Maybe we remember only the saxophone. Maybe Arsenio wasn’t considered “serious” enough. I never experienced this interview in its time.
I wish I had. I hope in the next decade we will have a number of politicians that revere this interview. I’d love to see a series of presidential hopefuls baring their soul to Ira Glass, Malcolm Gladwell, Joe Rogan, Conan, or the next generation of great interviewers. Interviews that leave the audience with the impression that they understand the person, not just the platform, that is trying to win their vote.
Watch the full interview here:
Polly Wanna Math 