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Former President Biden’s remarks at the Reverend Jesse Jackson’s memorial service drew attention Friday when he told mourners he is “a hell of a lot smarter than most of you,” a pointed comment made while discussing his childhood struggles with stuttering.
The statement came during Biden’s tribute at Chicago’s House of Hope arena, where thousands gathered to honor the civil rights icon who died at age 84 following complications from progressive supranuclear palsy. The former president was sharing how speech impediments are often wrongly associated with intelligence.
“If I told you I had a cleft palate or clubfoot, none of you would have laughed,” Biden said. “But it’s OK to laugh at stuttering. … It’s the one place where people think you’re stupid.”
He then added, “Oh, really? I’m a hell of a lot smarter than most of you,” before quickly pivoting back to his broader point about the emotional impact of childhood ridicule. “But all kidding aside, it makes you feel really small.”
The comment quickly gained traction on social media, with users debating the appropriateness of such a statement during a memorial service. One commenter on a viral repost wrote, “That’s a strange line to deliver at a memorial service,” while another remarked, “Never ending comedy from this guy. So happy he’s back in public.”
Biden’s public speaking has long drawn scrutiny throughout his political career, particularly regarding off-script moments and personal anecdotes that sometimes veer into unexpected territory.
Later in his remarks, the former president made an assertion about Africa’s future population growth, saying, “The continent of Africa is going to be the largest continent in the world in terms of population of the year 2050, the largest in the entire world. Watch, man. Watch.”
The memorial service brought together an assembly of Democratic Party luminaries and civil rights leaders to celebrate Jackson’s transformative legacy. Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were in attendance, along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Reverend Al Sharpton.
Jackson’s death marks the passing of one of the last major figures from the Civil Rights Movement’s pivotal era. Rising to prominence as a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson went on to found the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and twice run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.
His presidential campaigns, while unsuccessful in securing the nomination, are widely credited with expanding Black voter participation and reshaping the Democratic Party’s electoral coalition. Jackson’s ability to build political alliances across racial and economic divides became a hallmark of his political approach.
Throughout the service, speakers focused on Jackson’s enduring legacy as a civil rights pioneer who helped build bridges between communities and elevated the concerns of marginalized populations to the national stage. His advocacy spanned issues from voting rights to economic justice and international human rights.
Biden, who has frequently spoken throughout his career about overcoming his childhood stutter, used his time at the podium to emphasize themes of resilience and perseverance—qualities that defined Jackson’s decades of activism and public service.
Despite the brief controversy generated by Biden’s remark, the memorial largely succeeded in its primary purpose: celebrating Jesse Jackson’s remarkable life and his outsized impact on American politics, civil rights, and social justice movements over more than half a century of public service.
Jackson’s influence extended well beyond American borders through his international diplomacy efforts, including securing the release of American hostages abroad and advocating for human rights causes around the world—a legacy that continues to resonate in today’s global political landscape.
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5 Comments
Hmm, that’s an interesting remark from Biden. I can see both sides – it may have been a bit of an odd choice for a memorial service, but his point about not judging intelligence based on speech patterns is an important one. Curious to hear others’ takes on this.
It’s understandable that Biden’s remark raised some eyebrows, but the broader context suggests he was trying to emphasize how speech issues are often unfairly equated with intelligence. Not the smoothest delivery, but a worthwhile sentiment.
While Biden’s remark about being smarter may have been ill-advised, I appreciate him using the platform to highlight the struggles faced by those with speech impediments. Turning a personal challenge into an opportunity to raise awareness is commendable.
Interesting remark from President Biden, though perhaps not the most tactful choice for a memorial service. Still, his larger point about overcoming speech challenges is an important one. Curious to hear others’ perspectives on this.
I can understand Biden wanting to share his personal experience with overcoming a stutter, but the comment about being smarter does seem a bit out of place for the occasion. Hopefully the broader message came through despite the questionable phrasing.