[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.67,0:00:04.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of my favorite words in the whole\Nof the Oxford English Dictionary
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.27,0:00:06.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is "snollygoster,"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.14,0:00:07.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just because it sounds so good.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.81,0:00:11.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what snollygoster means\Nis "a dishonest politician."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.12,0:00:14.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although there was a 19th-century\Nnewspaper editor
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.67,0:00:16.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who defined it rather better when he said,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.73,0:00:19.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"A snollygoster is a fellow\Nwho seeks office
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.27,0:00:22.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,regardless of party,\Nplatform or principle,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.87,0:00:24.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and who, when he wins,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.41,0:00:29.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gets there by the sheer force\Nof monumental talknophical assumnancy."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.65,0:00:31.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.21,0:00:33.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I have no idea\Nwhat "talknophical" is.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.33,0:00:35.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something to do with words, I assume.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.16,0:00:38.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's very important that words\Nare at the center of politics,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.45,0:00:41.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all politicians know\Nthey have to try and control language.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.68,0:00:44.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It wasn't until, for example, 1771
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.74,0:00:49.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the British Parliament\Nallowed newspapers to report
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.18,0:00:51.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the exact words that were said\Nin the debating chamber.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.45,0:00:54.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this was actually\Nall down to the bravery
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.78,0:00:58.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a guy with the extraordinary\Nname of Brass Crosby,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.11,0:00:59.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who took on Parliament.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.86,0:01:01.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he was thrown into the Tower of London
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.96,0:01:04.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and imprisoned,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.08,0:01:06.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he was brave enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.91,0:01:09.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was brave enough\Nto take them on, and in the end,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.41,0:01:11.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he had such popular support\Nin London that he won.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.87,0:01:13.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it was only a few years later
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.66,0:01:18.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we have the first recorded use\Nof the phrase "as bold as brass."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.06,0:01:21.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most people think\Nthat's down to the metal.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.11,0:01:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not; it's down to a campaigner\Nfor the freedom of the press.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.55,0:01:29.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But to really show you\Nhow words and politics interact,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.76,0:01:32.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to take you back\Nto the United States of America,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.40,0:01:34.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just after they'd achieved independence.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.21,0:01:36.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they had to face the question
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.98,0:01:39.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of what to call\NGeorge Washington, their leader.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.71,0:01:40.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They didn't know.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.99,0:01:43.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What do you call the leader\Nof a republican country?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.34,0:01:47.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this was debated\Nin Congress for ages and ages.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.23,0:01:49.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there were all sorts\Nof suggestions on the table,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.78,0:01:50.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which might have made it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.00,0:01:53.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, some people\Nwanted him to be called
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.26,0:01:55.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Chief Magistrate Washington,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.08,0:01:57.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and other people,\N"His Highness, George Washington,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.59,0:01:58.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.85,0:02:01.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Protector of the Liberties
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.63,0:02:04.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the People of the United States\Nof America Washington."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.70,0:02:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not that catchy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.35,0:02:08.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some people just wanted\Nto call him king --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.80,0:02:10.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was tried and tested.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.34,0:02:12.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They weren't even being monarchical,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.09,0:02:15.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they had the idea that you could\Nbe elected king for a fixed term.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.33,0:02:17.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, you know, it could have worked.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.62,0:02:19.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And everybody got insanely bored,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.50,0:02:21.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because this debate\Nwent on for three weeks.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.60,0:02:24.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I read a diary of this poor senator\Nwho just keeps coming back,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.61,0:02:25.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Still on this subject."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.88,0:02:28.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the reason for the delay\Nand the boredom
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.43,0:02:32.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that the House of Representatives\Nwere against the Senate.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.07,0:02:36.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The House of Representatives didn't want\NWashington to get drunk on power.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.31,0:02:39.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They didn't want to call him "king,"\Nin case that gave him ideas,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.42,0:02:40.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or his successor ideas.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.79,0:02:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they wanted to give him\Nthe humblest, meagerest,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.96,0:02:46.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most pathetic title\Nthat they could think of.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.36,0:02:48.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that title ...
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.44,0:02:50.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was "President."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.86,0:02:52.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.95,0:02:54.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"President." They didn't invent the title.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.00,0:02:56.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, it existed before,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.35,0:02:59.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it just meant somebody\Nwho presides over a meeting.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.04,0:03:00.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was like the foreman of the jury.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.94,0:03:02.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it didn't have much more grandeur
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.80,0:03:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the term "foreman" or "overseer."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.68,0:03:07.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were occasional presidents\Nof little colonial councils
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.58,0:03:08.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and bits of government,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.78,0:03:10.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it was really a nothing title.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.99,0:03:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's why the Senate objected to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.02,0:03:16.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They said, "That's ridiculous!\NYou can't call him 'President.'
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.80,0:03:20.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This guy has to go and sign treaties\Nand meet foreign dignitaries.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.24,0:03:23.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who's going to take him seriously\Nif he's got a silly little title
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.82,0:03:26.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like 'President of the United\NStates of America'?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.48,0:03:27.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.52,0:03:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And after three weeks\Nof debate, in the end,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.29,0:03:33.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Senate did not cave in.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.37,0:03:40.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, they agreed to use\Nthe title "President" for now.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.06,0:03:43.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they also wanted\Nit absolutely set down
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.86,0:03:45.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they didn't agree with it,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.97,0:03:52.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from a decent respect for the opinions\Nand practice of civilized nations,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.44,0:03:56.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether under republican\Nor monarchical forms of government,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.27,0:03:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose custom it is to annex,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.41,0:04:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the office\Nof the Chief Magistrate,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.45,0:04:02.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,titles of respectability --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.25,0:04:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not bloody "President."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.38,0:04:08.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that, in the intercourse\Nwith foreign nations,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.01,0:04:12.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the majesty of the people\Nof the United States
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.28,0:04:16.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,may not be hazarded\Nby an appearance of singularity --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.29,0:04:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,i.e., we don't want to look\Nlike bloody weirdos.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.48,0:04:23.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you can learn\Nthree interesting things from this.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.11,0:04:25.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First of all -- and this is my favorite --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.34,0:04:27.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that, so far as I've ever\Nbeen able to find out,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.80,0:04:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Senate has never formally\Nendorsed the title of President.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.09,0:04:36.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Barack Obama, President Obama,\Nis there on borrowed time,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.03,0:04:39.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just waiting for the Senate\Nto spring into action.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.20,0:04:40.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.47,0:04:41.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second thing you can learn
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.94,0:04:45.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that, when a government says\Nthat this is a temporary measure --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.19,0:04:47.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.58,0:04:51.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can still be waiting 223 years later.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.85,0:04:56.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the third thing you can learn --\Nand this is the really important one,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.39,0:04:58.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the point I want to leave you on --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.14,0:05:02.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that the title, "President\Nof the United States of America,"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.10,0:05:05.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doesn't sound that humble\Nat all these days, does it?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.24,0:05:09.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something to do\Nwith the slightly over 5,000
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.47,0:05:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nuclear warheads he has at his disposal
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.74,0:05:13.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the largest economy in the world
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.94,0:05:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a fleet of drones\Nand all that sort of stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.54,0:05:23.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Reality and history\Nhave endowed that title with grandeur.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.49,0:05:26.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so the Senate won in the end.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.13,0:05:28.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They got their title of respectability.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.58,0:05:32.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And also, the Senate's other worry,\Nthe appearance of singularity --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.14,0:05:34.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, it was a singularity back then.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.29,0:05:37.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But now, do you know\Nhow many nations have a president?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.17,0:05:38.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A hundred and forty-seven.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.51,0:05:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All because they want\Nto sound like the guy
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.55,0:05:44.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who's got the 5,000 nuclear warheads, etc.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.16,0:05:49.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, in the end, the Senate won
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.06,0:05:51.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the House of Representatives lost ...
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.56,0:05:55.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because nobody's going to feel that humble
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.10,0:05:56.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they're told that they are now
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.81,0:05:59.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the President of the United\NStates of America.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.24,0:06:04.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's the important lesson\NI think you can take away,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.03,0:06:05.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the one I want to leave you with.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.83,0:06:09.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Politicians try to pick and use words\Nto shape and control reality,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.65,0:06:11.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.33,0:06:16.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,reality changes words far more\Nthan words can ever change reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.24,0:06:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.