Obama Reading Marshall Prof's Book to Prep for Presidency
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Updated: 7:15 PM Nov 21, 2008
Obama Reading Marshall Prof's Book to Prep for Presidency
The President-elect mentioned two books he was reading about the Great Depression during an interview Sunday on '60 Minutes.'
Posted: 4:20 PM Nov 21, 2008
Reporter: Michael Wooten
Email Address: michael.wooten@wsaz.com
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Dr. Jean Edward Smith was among the millions watching Barack Obama's first interview as president-elect last week on '60 Minutes.'

"I did watch 60 minutes, and I saw it but he simply referred to the fact that he was reading biographies, that he was reading about Roosevelt," Dr. Jean Edward Smith said.

Obama mentioned he was reading a couple books about President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the time of the Great Depression. Dr. Smith did not realize Obama was referring to a book he wrote while at Marshall University.

"Obviously I was pleased, and obviously there's a connection between 1933 when Roosevelt was inaugurated and the situation now," Dr. Smith said. "Clearly this is the most serious domestic crisis we've faced since the Great Depression."

Dr. Smith says Obama can look to FDR for advice as he prepares to tackle the challenges ahead.

"Roosevelt responded to the crisis in '33 pragmatically. He didn't have a preconceived notion of what to do or a game plan when he was inaugurated, but he responded to the crisis as it presented itself," Dr. Smith said.

Dr. Smith wrote the book with help from some of his students at Marshall who proofread. Currently, he's working on a biography of President Eisenhower. Later, he will write a biography of President George W. Bush.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: to kj on Nov 23, 2008 at 07:14 PM

werent whites out there voting too ?
Posted by: jz on Nov 23, 2008 at 01:40 PM

smells like low education up in here,sniff sniff
Posted by: kj on Nov 23, 2008 at 01:19 PM

Sue, I do believe about the voters in ohio. I have seen it too. And in Columbus, there has been lots of voter fraud as well. But thousands who previously never voted did and those are the ones your friend saw. The poor, the blacks, the gays, the immigrants, you name it they were all out there voting. I'm glad they finally took their rights, but they are only did it because they thought that Obama could give them everything they want. They don't realize that he can't do everything. They will be the first groups upset when they don't get what he promised. The rest of us are at least more realistic and know it's going to really suck for a while.
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