• kraftpudding@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I wonder what the last president to publicly say the nword was. Like, not Obama alone in the oval office giggling to himself, but a president casually dropping it while doing official president things like a speech or meeting.

    Edit: so a quick Google told me Obama used it on a podcast once (while president), so I guess the boring answer is indeed Obama

      • kraftpudding@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I just assumed like all of them before the fifties did. Which brings me to another interesting question, who was the first president,if there ever was one, to never use it, not even to himself?

        • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          I’m gonna go ahead and just strike Nixon and Reagan from the list of potential candidates for you. Also Johnson, since whipping your dick out to win arguments seems like an escalation from saying the most shocking thing you can think of to win arguments.

          And given that Obama is the only one that grew up during the civil rights movement and all other presidents were already adults by that point, there probably hasn’t been such a president yet.

          If you narrow that to “in adulthood” or “during their presidency”, then I think you’ll start getting some hits. Biden, Bush Jr (though more to avoid being recorded saying it and I wouldn’t hold my breath), Clinton, and Carter would be my guesses for the “during presidency” one. Probably just Carter and maybe Clinton for the “in adulthood” one.

          All just speculation though.

            • chatokun@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              4 months ago

              You misunderstood. They took Nixon and Reagan off of the “never said it” list, because of course they said it.

              • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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                4 months ago

                Yeah exactly. Nixon’s life was basically a steady stream of slurs, though not sure if it was backed up by actual hate or just indifference (sociopathy/psychopathy?) plus a desire to be edgy… Either way, he definitely said it regularly.

                Reagan implemented the war on drugs, which was a hateful act itself, so even without a reputation for language like Nixon had, I’m positive he also said it a lot behind closed doors.