# It is perfectly reasonable for a president to rely on a teleprompter **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707 "2020-06-29T22:17:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/1 "2020-06-29T22:17:53Z")
I recall Obama being mocked in the early days of his presidency for relying heavily on a teleprompter, and I bet there are many who wish Trump would rely _more_ on it. A president must be mentally swamped 24/7 and have a dozen different things on his mind at any given moment. You cannot expect such a person to come up with spontaneous great historic and eloquent stuff on the spot to speak about Polish history when visiting Warsaw or Yale at a commencement or extensive minority facts and data from memory at the funeral of some civil-rights icon. Nobody has that brainpower. In fact, it’s a wonder that there’s anything a president _doesn’t_ need a teleprompter for; there are a hundred different topics for a hundred different public settings. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/2 "2020-06-30T00:36:28Z")
Obama got mocked for wearing a tan suit and fist-bumping his wife. The teleprompter stuff was more of the same, and had exactly as much basis as all the other insults people were frantically throwing at him. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/3 "2020-06-30T00:41:05Z")
For a prepared speech, certainly. If the speech is to sound credible without having to be memorized. Provided the President is able to read, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/4 "2020-06-30T00:46:25Z")
Trump has the problem that when he does follow a script, he reads it like he’s been held hostage and his captors are forcing him to read the ransom demands. Trump also has the problem that when he doesn’t follow a script, he just says out loud what he’s thinking. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/5 "2020-06-30T01:39:05Z")
Is this an issue? Other than Obama being criticised for anything he did, has anyone else been complaining about this? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/6 "2020-06-30T01:42:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Trump also has the problem that when he doesn’t follow a script, he just says out loud what he’s thinking. Problem for him, not for us. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/7 "2020-06-30T02:32:01Z")
Obama was black and the GOP had a problem with his existence, so we go telepromptergate and mustardgate, etc. The GOP is a white nationalist movement. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/8 "2020-06-30T03:26:50Z")
The president has to be very careful to say exactly what he means to say, there is no room for error. Speeches are rewritten many times before they get into the hands of any diplomat. How much an individual has to rely on memory aids is not an indicator of his credibility as a statesman. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/9 "2020-06-30T03:29:55Z")
Of course. It is indeed perfectly reasonable for a president to rely on a teleprompter. Few people would disagree, unless motivated by misplaced partisan fervor. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/10 "2020-06-30T06:38:39Z")
Lincoln read the Gettysburg address off a note. How is that any different? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/11 "2020-06-30T08:48:13Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Of course. It is indeed perfectly reasonable for a president to rely on a teleprompter. Few people would disagree, unless motivated by misplaced partisan fervor. In Obama’s case there was a hefty dose of racism at work, too. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/12 "2020-06-30T11:37:11Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > The president has to be very careful to say exactly what he means to say, there is no room for error. Speeches are rewritten many times before they get into the hands of any diplomat. How much an individual has to rely on memory aids is not an indicator of his credibility as a statesman. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were not a sidebar function on a teleprompter that would let someone add suggestions or something to the speaker in response to reporter questions - like having an NSA advisor or lawyer on hand in the background to help out - not that the cheeto would use the suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/13 "2020-06-30T11:48:37Z")
I’m sure they can type directly into it. AFAIK, they regularly ‘live’ type into the teleprompters for news anchors. Do presidents wear an earpiece? If they’re comfortable with it, it seems like it would be easier to have someone talk into your ear and get your suggestions that way. Or, if you’re not good answering questions on the fly (or don’t fully understand the material), an even better way would be to give your speech and let your press secretary field the questions. In theory, your press secretary would have the time to go over the speech, practice for the obvious questions and talk to other people to get an understanding for parts they don’t understand. At least that’s my theory. However, Trump’s not one to hand the mic over to someone more qualified. I think off all the times in the last few months when someone asked him medical questions and he made up answers. I can’t think of any other president, D or R, that wouldn’t have said “I’m not sure, but in just a minute I’m going to hand this over to Dr Fauci and he can field that question”. How much better would things have been if we had let the medical professional answer the medical questions instead of just making up answers that sound good. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/14 "2020-06-30T11:50:35Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I recall Obama being mocked in the early days of his presidency for relying heavily on a teleprompter, and I bet there are many who wish Trump would rely _more_ on it. It was never about the teleprompter. It was about clinging to any possible reason to believe that Obama was not intelligent and well-spoken. The tactic is now being reappropriated and directed at Trump by liberals who mistakenly believe that conservatives will experience shame and comeuppance upon learning that Trump, like Obama, also uses a teleprompter. As has every president since they were invented, probably. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/15 "2020-06-30T12:25:24Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Trump has the problem that when he does follow a script, he reads it like he’s been held hostage and his captors are forcing him to read the ransom demands. My theory on this has always been that he’s literally getting the words in his ear one at a time so he can’t fuck it up, but I can’t prove it. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/16 "2020-06-30T17:11:21Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > It was never about the teleprompter. It was about clinging to any possible reason to believe that Obama was not intelligent and well-spoken. > > The tactic is now being reappropriated and directed at Trump by liberals who mistakenly believe that conservatives will experience shame and comeuppance upon learning that Trump, like Obama, also uses a teleprompter. As has every president since they were invented, probably. I don’t understand this or the original OP. Is it being claimed that this teleprompter shaming is happening often, or is this something that a few people online have done and now it’s being made to sound like everybody’s picking unfairly on Trump? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/17 "2020-06-30T17:15:28Z")
It is not the use of a teleprompter. It is the use of hypocrisy. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/18 "2020-06-30T18:03:12Z")
I too think it’s perfectly reasonable for a president to rely on a teleprompter. Glad we cleared that one up. I would be interested to read reasons why it is _not_ reasonable for a president to rely on a teleprompter. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/19 "2020-06-30T18:12:51Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > The tactic is now being reappropriated and directed at Trump by liberals who mistakenly believe that conservatives will experience shame and comeuppance upon learning that Trump, like Obama, also uses a teleprompter. Really? Could you provide some evidence for that? I hear criticism of Trump constantly - most of it fair but some of it ridiculous - but I have yet to hear anyone criticize Trump for using a teleprompter. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707/20 "2020-06-30T18:14:19Z")
Teleprompters have been in common use by politicians since at least 1952. From _Smithsonian Magazine_: > By the time the next presidential election rolled around, in 1952, Kahn saw the next frontier for his device. After reading that aging former President Herbert Hoover had had difficulty reading speeches while campaigning for Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Kahn traveled to Chicago, the host city for the Republican National Convention, and persuaded Hoover and other speakers to try out the machine. The technology was an immediate hit—between that convention and the Democratic gathering later that month, 47 of the 58 major speeches were teleprompted. > **[A Brief History of the Teleprompter](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-teleprompter-88039053/)** > > How a makeshift show business memory aid became the centerpiece of modern political campaigning [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-for-a-president-to-rely-on-a-teleprompter/913707.md?page=2)