Obama Reading Marshall Prof's Book to Prep for Presidency
Obama Reading Marshall Prof's Book to Prep for Presidency Save Email Print
Posted: 4:20 PM Nov 21, 2008
 Last Updated: 7:15 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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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.
Posted by: An American on Nov 23, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Josh any real American couldn't accept things that are against everthing this country was built on and stood for! These office holders now can no longer say this is the Honorable so and so. If they do it's just another lie, there is no honor in a country based on deception and manipulation of the truth. Politicians using well wishers can say what ever they may. The truth will still be standing when this country is on fire !
Posted by: To Josh From Jess on Nov 22, 2008 at 11:59 PM
So your moving out of the country for the next 4 years atleast? your not going to stay and enjoy the tax cuts health care and other good things Obama could bring right because if hes not your pres. then you should not benefit from it right?
Posted by: JH on Nov 22, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Josh, sorry I meant to put my name on the first post but must have forgot. If you want to get your information from chain emails and the like then go ahead, but I saw Obama wearing a flag pin numerous times over the Presidential race. You are right he is not your President now, but I can gaurantee you he will be come January 20, unless of course you are not a US citizen. I'm just saying no matter who you supported during the election it is now over and the American people as a whole have spoken. They chose Obama as our President and every one no matter what should give him the support a President deserves as it is in all of our best interest that he succeeds.
Posted by: Janette on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:01 PM
We have Muslim sympithizers and non- belivers running the country now. Has God turned his blessings and compassion from this country? I can feel it and see it! Has he withdrawn his offer of repentence and closed the book of life also? That day is soon or now! On the day of judgement, at the white throne the book of life will be opened. So when will it be closed? The calling will stop then, has this been done or in the process of being so!
Posted by: Doug on Nov 22, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Let's get real! Was that Harvard Law school degree or agreement, like the one that Joe's daughter got from WVU? It sounds to me like someone gave the keys to the nut houses to the inmates here!
Posted by: MC on Nov 22, 2008 at 01:05 PM
To Anonymous, if our leaders had been paying closer attention to our history we probably would not be in the situation that we find ourselves in today. So many of the mistakes that have been made in the last 20 years could/should have been avoided if those in charge had remembered that past mistakes should not be repeated. Laissez faire capitalism contributed greatly to the the Great Depression of the 1930s and has led us to the crisis of today. It is not looking backward, it is remembering our lessons.
Posted by: ed on Nov 22, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Sue doesn't judge.
Posted by: JOSH on Nov 22, 2008 at 11:21 AM
REPLY TO ANOTHER.CANT GIVE YOUR NAME SEE HOW PROUD YOU ARE.FIRST OF ALL HE IS NOT MY PRESIDENT.TALK ABOUT PATRIOTISM OBAMA HIMSELF HAS NONE. HE WOULD NOT WEAR AMERICAN FLAG PIN,HE SAID DOES NOT LIKE THE WORDS IN OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM HE SAYS THE WORD BOMBS OFFEND OUR COUNTRIES.IF YOU WANT TO BE A FOWOLLER GO AHEAD I WILL WAIT FOR A REAL LEADER
Posted by: Junie on Nov 22, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Sue, so a redneck voted for Obama and your male friend was trying to hit on a gay British man. That's some story.
Posted by: Larry on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:38 AM
What was the book "Being President for Dummies"?
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 22, 2008 at 07:11 AM
what part is he playing in that new movie?
Posted by: Sue on Nov 21, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Josh I can tell you how Obama got all the votes in Ohio. A good friend told me when he went to vote there. The fellow in front of him was drinking a beer, while hiding it under his jacket and he had two or three baby diapers in his back pocket. The fat woman in front of him was ridding a scooter. A pregnant white girl that was in front of her, had a tear drop tatto and a by-racial kid with her. The ones before her was a guy that had a rebel tee shirt on with an old lady, they had a gay fellow there telling them how to vote! My friend turned to talk with the one behind him, but he had an unbelievable body odor and could hardly speak english! The gay guy there was over heard saying he was going back to England tomorrow and that he had voted 17 times today himself !
Posted by: Obama can read? on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:38 PM
how can he with all the tv time he is rating and the meetings he is having with people trying to fill his cabinet?
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:33 PM
get real a llong time has passed since 1933 look how far we have come and now look how far we are going backwards all obama is doing is reading what someone els has wrote he cant never woke in ROOSEVELT'S shoes obama is trying to be something he can never be. obama you are who you are when no one els is watching you
Posted by: MC on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Let us hope that under President Obama our nation will benefit from a similiar confidence and leadership that was shared by Abraham Lincoln and FDR. Our nation needs their form of strength and attitude. God be with you President Obama and with our nation.
Posted by: yet another response to Josh on Nov 21, 2008 at 08:04 PM
you sound bitter. i'm going to take a wild guess...McCain supporter, right?
Posted by: Another "To Josh" on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:58 PM
If so, that means you both have something else in common.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Josh, you have no way of knowing whether he will be a good leader or not. You could show a little patriotism and give the guy a chance to prove himself. I mean he is your President and it is in your best interest that he does a good job. If after his first 2 years you feel he has done a bad job then you have a right to talk, but I think every American should support him for at least that long.
Posted by: JOSH on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:04 PM
MAYBE HE IS A GOOD READER BUT HE WILL NEVER BE A GOOD LEADER.
Posted by: To Josh on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Grow up!
Posted by: to Josh on Nov 21, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Considering that he graduated from Harvard Law School & was the editor of the Harvard Law Review, I would imagine he can probably read better than you.
Posted by: JOSH on Nov 21, 2008 at 05:25 PM
I DID NOT KNOW HE COULD READ.
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The Yell: Comments for the Week of 7/5
  • Posted By: to food for thought: i think you have solved the mystery on m.t.r.obama pay back of the unions.lets see if the so called news investigates this theory.but aren,t news media union too.wont hear any thing from them.left up to the peons and peasants to bring up truth ful news.
  • Posted By: Keith: Anon. it would seem Big Earl is sick of you too. And Food for Thought, great comment, Cecil Roberts is a joke and a sorry excuse for a labor leader he seems to as big a dunce as his buddy Obama. Look at the union under him and figure it out. So hows the hope and change working for everyone? Another half million jobs lost in June. Trace it back folks, the economy went belly up when it bacame apparent the democrat party was going to nominate a radical, ignorant, inexperienced marxist to their ticket. Economists tell us that full employment is considered at an unemployment rate of 4.7%, a year ago unemployment was at 5%. But you all know, Bush was soooo stupid. Look at how the war in Iraq turned out...ooops can't use that one, look at how great the economy is now...oops, can't use that one...well everybody hated us when Bush was in office and now everybody just loooves us and helps us out in the world, well, oops, look at N. Korea, Iran, can't use that one. Some of you really got fooled.
  • Posted By: Bob & Meg: What I want to know is how many times does the water company have to be notified that water is coming up from the street on East Gardner Ave. in Belle? Bugs are getting bad and sometimes it has a sewer smell to it. Get on the ball WVAWC!
  • Posted By: politically correct again: do video on left wing coal protesters,tea party ,a grudgeing few sentences.i wrote a longer anynallyse,but i dont see it,it must have been too much truth for liberal left wing so called reporting.but we do have some truth seeker else where,they,re catching on.....
  • Posted By: jesco: What a disappointment the Ashland Summer Motion was for our children. No focus on the children whatsoever...........The hospitals were the main focus along with the motorcycle show..... very little for the children to enjoy. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!
  • Posted By: Ben Chambers: YOUR DECISION TO SHOW MJ FUNERAL IN PLACE OF DAYS IS VERY POOR AND NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAME. MAYBE A NEW PROGRAM DIRECTOR IS IN ORDER.
  • Posted By: : RE: Worm in Water If you will Google "hair worm", you will be given millions of pages of information concerning the hair worm. There used to be a myth that a horse hair put in water would turn into a worm. From experience, it doesn't work.
  • Posted By: food for thought: WSAZ I ask of you please do a a follow up story of the 6 weeks of rain that we had so some of these people who have forgotten will have some miniscule sense of thereselves to know that ALL THAT RAIN would cause flooding anywhere. Here is another story. Find UMWA president MR. Roberts and ask him why he hasn't come out and had his brothers and sisters to be involved in keeping there MTR jobs.All these people that say Massey is a Union breaking company should be worried in salvaging the jobs they do have. It's not rocket science, UMWA supports Obama, in return Obama may reward them. This may be from left field but believe I am on to something. Isn't it strange the protesters only target Massey. Most of them are led to believe there are NO union jobs in WV. HOW STRANGE!? Here is the hunch I have WV politicians don't like Don B and the Union supports Obama. So sounds like a money trail to me for the hippies. Just a thought, but makes for good reporting. Big Earl lets make the idea reality!
  • Posted By: To Fat Earl: You're losing! Ha,Ha!
  • Posted By: Diane: Buck, I agree. When it comes to kids playing sports (not just in the summer), the parents are CRAZY! They just need to "cut the cord" and allow their children, the refs, and coaches worry about the games. Now if you have a parent who is a coach just watch out...that is a double wammy!
  • Posted By: jbug: i saw on the news this morning obama is in russia and he took the family,people are upset about gov of south carolinia takeing a trip on taxpayers money,witch he agreed to payback, is obama going to pay for his familys plane tickets,hotel bill,food and entertainment or will it us taxpayers.....
  • Posted By: : I for one am sick and tired of reading the same bs that big earl keeps spewing out. All you ever hear is peta, tree huggers, hippies. People who made a difference in this world and who are smart enough to care, should be honored instead of being bashed by some people who have the mentality of the monkeys who they believed they evolved from. also big earl keep on believing that your idol, who you worship and adore so much is smarter than a nasa scientist, apparently you haven't been around any smart people.
  • Posted By: bias obious: if anyone has had a dought about left wing liberal news bias,heres a glaring clue.anti coal party,news,with video.tea party,productive people concerned with socialism,taxed into poverty,a czar run government,etc,no video ,a disintrested report,yawn,yawn,yawn.thankfully we now have an alternative to this liberal bias with conservative talk radio,internet news ,alternate t.v. etc.there is a good article on world net daily about the vietnam war.hollywood was running the war then too.
  • Posted By: buck: why is it w/ summer sports it seems the parents make it all about them instead of the kids. am i wrong or do alot of these parents seem to want to relive life again through the kids. or even worse make a claim to being so good at whatever the sport the parent did that they push the kid all because of what they did 'or never did'. These parents also seem to be the really high ego type person. funny thing is if the parent was so good then why arent they pro or at least a great college player. what i have noticed is the the kids w/ the parent who did play college or was on the verge of being pro does not press the issue. they allow the kids to play ball. just my opinion
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Well hello again good working coal people of WV this is Big Earl and I hope everyone had a nice holiday wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a holiday or one of them permenant vacations from all the tree hugger types and hippies that are barging into our communities uninvited tying to run all our jobs off. Well good people I am calling on those who have the means to do so and you know who you are so lets pony up some cash and have our own protest here in the coal fields to support our coal miners. I seen on this very TV station where the tree huggers held a rally and a cookout with a bunch of Grateful Dead hippie wanttobees singing about the trees and polar bears but we can do one better. We can have it down at the coal festival in Madison people I say invite some real singers who aint got above there raisin like WV adopted son Mr. Charlie Daniels and how about Alabama since they have coal down there to. Invite Gov. Joe and them people from Washington DC that is a good way to find out who is pretending to be a friend of coal and who is really on our side. We could even make Mother Jones bobblehead dolls to give away I for one would like to see her set loose on these tree huggers that have invaded Cabin Creek trying to run off her beloved coal miners. You could pull a string and she would say #** !!##**!! Tree huggers.
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