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Dogs as Deflection: Fala and Checkers (1944/1952)
It’s September 22nd. Today, we visit two speeches that used anecdotes about dogs to deflect and charm. In 1944, FDR gave a speech about his dog Fala and the misuse of government funds — the jokes he cut about Fala, written with the help of Orson Welles, helped belittle his critics. Eight years later to the day, in a long speech about improper gifts and funds, VP candidate Richard Nixon told a story about receiving his pet dog Checkers.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the two speeches, why they worked, and which dog was cuter.
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