George Bush’s infamous crack speech, 30 years later
The Uncertain Hour
Marketplace
4.8 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 5 September 2019
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this day, 30 years ago, President George H.W. Bush gave his first address from the Oval Office. Bush held up a baggie of crack he said had been seized just outside the White House. Today, we’re revisiting our episode about that speech, the events that led up to it and the lives it affected. For more on America’s drug war, listen to season 3 of our show.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We heard you loud and clear. |
| 0:02.4 | You love the WMBA and want more analysis and insight on your favorite players. |
| 0:07.6 | Welcome to Queens of the Court and Odyssey Original Podcast. |
| 0:11.6 | I'm your girl Cheryl Swoops. |
| 0:13.6 | And I'm Jordan Robinson. |
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| 0:20.0 | and sitting down for interviews with athletes across the W. |
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| 0:30.9 | Hi, I'm Roman Mars, host of 99% Invisible. |
| 0:33.7 | It's a podcast about all the thought that goes into things most people don't even think about. |
| 0:38.1 | You're going to see stories everywhere. |
| 0:40.4 | Follow and listen to 99% Invisible wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:45.7 | If you happen to be watching TV on the evening of September 5th, 1989, flipping through the channels, |
| 0:52.1 | you might have seen the image of the White House flashing across your screen. |
| 0:56.7 | Live from the Oval Office, President George Bush addresses the nation. |
| 1:00.9 | The image cuts to President George H. W. Bush, the first President Bush. |
| 1:05.6 | He's sitting at his desk, blue suit, red tie, white hankerchief peaking out of his left pocket. |
| 1:11.4 | There's an awkward millisecond where he just stares at the camera like he's not sure the broadcast has begun. |
| 1:18.0 | Then he speaks. |
| 1:20.6 | Good evening. This is the first time since taking the oath of office that I found an issue |
| 1:25.8 | was so important, so threatening that it warranted talking directly with you, the American people. |
| 1:32.3 | It was Bush's very first televised address from the Oval Office since being elected president in 1988. |
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