Andy On The State Of The Union

Andy Rooney Shares Some Thoughts About The President's Speech

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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When the president - any president we have - speaks to all of us, I try not to miss it on television, so I've seen a lot of speeches by a lot of presidents. I listened to President Bush the other night.

I have a clear opinion of which of our recent presidents gave the best speeches and which gave the worst but I'm not going to tell you because I don't want to make anyone mad. Some presidents, of course, have been good speakers but I didn’t like what they said.

President Bush has made seven State of the Union speeches now. He looks pretty good giving a speech, I think.

President Bush didn't used to wear anything in his buttonhole. In the last six years though, he's had an American flag there. A lot of men wear the flag, particularly politicians running for office. You'd think that the people who make men’s suits might make a suit for politicians with the American flag already built into it.

I wish President Bush would stop mispronouncing the word "nuclear” when he speaks.

He always calls it "nucular". "Free of nucular weapons…"…to acquire nucular weapons…to clean, safe nucular power." It makes you wonder how he graduated from Yale.

Wouldn't you think that Laura or one of the doormen at The White House would point out to him that the word is "nuclear", not nucular?

It always seems to me that a president should write the words he speaks himself but of course none of our presidents do. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address may have been the last Presidential address actually written by a President.

President Bush certainly doesn't write his speeches. Does this sound like George W. Bush: "Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are commitments of conscience and so it is our duty to keep them permanently sound."

The president certainly edits the speech he's given but no matter how much a president rewrites or rehearses what someone else has written; you can always hear the phrases that aren’t really his. They sound written.

Presidents are always saying "Let us."

"Let us do that."

I always say to myself "Who me?"

If the president is going to read what someone else has written, I think the writer's by-line ought to be shown on screen at the end.

The words spoken by the president were not necessarily his except for "nucular."

[osyol]

Congratulations on your bit regarding the State of the Union message, Mr. Rooney! Just think of what a Yale education does for you. I'm glad I went to Georgetown.

Tom O'Gara

[hopeknight]

I loved your segment on the State of the Union address! I often wonder why someone has not pointed out to President Bush that the word is "nuclear" not "nucular". He is the President of the United States, for God's sake! Keep up the good work!

"nucular" doesn't bother near as much as Bush's inability to pronounce "recognize." I don't have a Harvard education but I know better than to say "rekahnize" or whatever it is he says.

[msbrd]

Thank you,thank you, thank you! Mr. Andy Rooney.
I was begining to think that every U.S. citizen graduated from Yale the same year as Mr. Bush.

[rufusmin]

Hi Andy! Like you, "nucular" drives me UP THE WALL. I remember as far back as Jimmy Carter, he said it that way, too. And who else before or since Jimmy probably said it that wa Must be southern and southwest vernacular. Someone also remarked on Porge's (you know--Georgie-Porgie) pronunciation of "recognize" as "rekahnized". If he were (notice use of subjunctive mode here)from New England, I guess some of your listeners/commentors would go up the wall over his dropping of his "r"s. Or if he were from New York, then his saying dis, dat, dese, dem and doze. But I DO agree on the nucular mispronunciation. That is inexcusable. But what really burns my *** is news anchors referring to how many "troops" were killed in Iraq today. If it were three "troops", then how many actual soldiers (members of the troops) were killed. As the society disintegrates, so does the language. Viz., e.g., no more use of the subjunctive mode. Keep up the good work, Andy! Love ya!

[mrcos1]

I am neither a Democrat or a Republican, but..... I am an American. I am so tired of hearing ancient Andy Rooney with his sarcastic, negative soundbites . Has he ever looked in the mirror and saw 1) those unbelievable ugly overgrown eyebrows. See a dam barber. 2) I actualy belive he was around duting the Lincon years. Please put him out to pasture. His boting whinning comments have no value. HI would suggest he start as a backup for George Carlin as they are both the same whinning, non-productive old men in America

[asuwon2]

As a Southerner currently living in the Midwest, I take great offense at the assumed pronounciation of certain words, in particular "nuclear". We are a country with many dialects. I checked the Webster's 1984 Collegiate Dictionary, and in summary it says that "nucular" has been found in widespread use by educated speakers including scientists, lawyers, professors, congressmen, U.S. cabinet members and at least one U.S. President.

[listerone]

Mr Rooney,FYI regarding your surprise at how any graduate of Yale could mispronounce the word "nuclear" I would refer you to an observation on this very subject made by Charles Harrington Elster,a *** laude graduate of Yale and regular contributor to NPR.In short,he observes that many well educated,successful and powerful people are known to have mispronounced this word in recent years,including President Eisenhower,President Carter (who served in the Navy as a Nuclear Engineer) and Vice President Mondale.Here's the link if you're curious to read his comment in its totality.
http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/beastly/#Nuclear

I'll eagarly look foreward to you expressing disbelief of Mr Carter's and Mr Mondale's stupidity equal to that of Mr Bush in a future airing of 60 Minutes.

[rfdelima]

Dear Andy --- Some mispronunciations may be excusable as regional dialect, but the President's "newk-you-lar" cannot. There is only one "u" in the word --- there can be only one "u" sound. But you were mistaken to suggest that maybe Laura should try to correct GW. She tried, and very publicly. At a reception or dinner thrown by, as I recall, the Washington press corps a few years ago she humorously referred to herself as the Bush who could pronounce "nuclear".

[glteague]

Mr. Rooney, I've watched your program over the years and I would like to say I think that you need to show some respect for a sitting president. It's not very intelligent or educated to make fun of someone on your program for their pronunciation of a word. There's a lot of things I'd like to see you change, however, your world view for one. I probably won't be watching your program any longer. You don't seem to have anything to offer.

[sloubet]

Andy, should be "does," not "none of our presidents do." None is singular, no matter what follows. You know that. Even tho common usage is flowing another way, you have to have some standards. Susan Loubet

[patsinclair-2009]

Yes, I've often wondered why the president has so much trouble pronouncing nuclear. However, it's amazing how many other people I see on TV do the same, even former President Jimmy Carter who was, I believe, a nucular engineer.

[sloubet]

Andy, should be "does," not "none of our presidents do." None is singular, no matter what follows. You know that. Even tho common usage is flowing another way, you have to have some standards. Susan Loubet

[rufusmin]

I know Webster's is "with it" when it gives all the variations of words now popularly in use and more or less puts is imprimatur on misspellings, mispronunciations etc in our langugage today. I guess we are just going back to Chaucerian and Elizabethan times when everyone had their own way of writing, spelling and speaking the language. As long as it doesn't lead to misapprehension of what someone is trying to express although I think that is what is happening too much any more in verbal communication. One really interesting change in use of a word is "naseous" where now people mean they are feeling sick (especially prevalent in New York City). Actually, the word's original meaning as given as recently as in Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary published in 1953 is "causing, or fitted to cause, nausea; disgusting". So if you say you are nauseous, then you are saying you are making others sick because you are disgusting. Ah, the vagaries of life. But just because a lot of people pronounce things in a way that isn't supported by their spelling, or use a word in a sense 180 degrees opposite to its meaning doesn't make it right. Or is it that 50 million Frenchmen or whatever can't be wrong.

[rufusmin]

Oops, just realized I misspelled "nauseous" in my previous post. Tsk Tsk. I guess I won't get a job as a proof reader. But I don't feel too bad as I see lots of misspellings, typos etc. from the rest of cyberspace. But still..... One SHOULD make an effort to communicate effectively.

[chasf2]

ANDY,YOU WEAR YOUR CONTEMPT FOR THE PRESIDENT LIKE AL JOLSON WORE MAKEUP IN MAMMY.IT'S GOING OVER THE EDGE A BIT WITH TONIGHT'S LATEST EPISODE ON HOW HE PRONOUNCES NUCLEAR.YOU USED TO BE MY FOVORITE SEGMENT OF THE SHOW,BUT NOW I LOOK FORWARD YOU THE SAME AS I DO THE END OF A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER....WHILE I'M ON THE BOWL.

[sillyferret]

Wow! that was great tonight! I always watch Andy and tonight he said exactely the same thing i ranted and raved about as i watched the state of the union.......keep up the good work Mr. Rooney. Molly DeLapp in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, N.M.

[kathy854]

Thank you for your comments on that awful mispronounciation of nuclear that we have had to endure for years with "G.W."
Perhaps someone has corrected him, but he doesn't seem like the type to take correction or advice (from anyone).
Kathy in Renss'ville

[labaer1]

Mr. Rooney....Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Once again, you nailed it! This president has got to go down in history as the most illiterate president ever. It truely frightens me when he attempts to speak about nuclear weapons, and yet he cannot even pronounce the word correctly.
We are all in trouble!

[jjrosenf]

Hello Andy,
Finally, a TRULY patriotic American who realizes and has the spine to state the OBVIOUS (obvious to anyone with a brain cell.....about 60 % of Americans)......We have an unequivocal IDIOT in the White House, who has been an absolute DISASTER on EVERY issue....and viewed by the world to be a terrorist.
Bush is an IDIOT elected by a nation of IDIOTS. No additional evidence needed to validate the dire need for education in this country.
You get the leadership you deserve.
Any criticism you receive, just consider the source-----another idiot.
Thank You,
John

[jn122736]

I enjoyed your article Mr. Rooney.

It would appear that some folks forget or just don%u2019t realize most of your comments (at the end of these %u201C60 minutes%u201D programs) are lighthearted satire.

It is getting harder to find anything good to say about President Bush but he has exhibited a better attitude toward criticism of his speech than a lot of his supporters. ---He may have gotten a chuckle from your comment if he read.

[bluestardad]

Media
Quit covering these animals in the Middle East and let them butcher themselves off camera. We have spent 50 years of time blood and money trying to civilize them to western standards and it does not work. Do they own your Job or what? Quit Covering them!

OK here is your chance, don%u2019t just set in front of your computer and complain spouting meaningless rants of sludge, do something about it! This is the contact address for your Senator! Send them a message of your opinion. All Class Two Senators are up for Reelection in 2008. Be respectful even if they do not deserve it because their office does! http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_in
formation/senators_cfm.cfm

[lizardale]

I always look forward to Mr. Rooney's segment on 60 Minutes, and tonight was no exception. The "nuclear" comment had me rolling! Loved it and I hope he keeps it up!

[dpale5]

If Laura Bush or a staff member should tell George how to say Nuclear, than why doesn't your wife or staff member tell you to trim your eyebrows. They are equally as offensive.

[lvtolol]

I have never posted a comment on-line about a television show or really anything but I felt compelled tonight because I was yelling in agreement at the tv screen- I have said those exact words countless times regarding how irritating it is that our President is not able to correctly pronounce a word he uses so often (nuclear)- doesn't anyone tell him he's saying it wrong? does he even care? and the fact that he managed to graduate from Yale still amazes me-Just like when there are typos in an importnat document and the author's credibility instantly falls, the same holds true for me and our President every time he opens his mouth. I really think a President of the United States of America should have the basics down-I think they should have to pass an exam of some kind- comparable to that of the Iowa tests years ago maybe-

[southpolee]

Andy,

I liked the old fashioned days (and I am not even old yet) when everyone did not spend so much time picking everyone apart including our President.
Since we are on the subject, your own news anchor Katie Couric seldom prounounces any word ending in "ing" with anything but the "een" sound. It drives me nuts; "good morneen" etc. Maybe you could drop a hint and see if she can change and I will work on President Bush. They each have many good qualities too. Thank you for your help. Les

[michaelh1714]

I don't particularly disagree with your assessment of the President's speech-giving abilities, and I've always enjoyed your segment of 60 minutes...but...

I think you're lowering yourself by deliberately belittling him (ie "nucular")

Stick to substance. You're far better at that.

[lvtolol]

important- hah! see- haven't I lost credibility already?

[michaelh1714]

Andy...I'm even older than you are (imagine that), and I lived in Washington when the governor was Albert D. Rossalini. He was a pretty fair governor overall, though his nickname was "Taxallini".

Anyway, to the point. Whenever he spoke about the state, he always called it "Washton", leaving out totally the "ing".

At ease. Mispronouncing words in endemic. Even media folks do it.

[dshore95]

Thank God a public figure finally said something about this. Andy hit the nail on the HEAD, spot on.

Andy, you're my HERO!!

[jcurious-2009]

Andy %u2013

You are a blessing in the skies that a lot of us take for granite. Some peoples thinks you would make a good cannidate for Presdent yoursef.

Maybe I should mine my own bidness, but I would like to aks you a question about our current physical policy. Irregardless of weather you was Publican or Democrat, I run acrossed an expecially interesting story in the libary.

It says that come Febuary, one way or thuther, the guvmint is gonna git some duck tape on the cost of the I-rak war for Amerca afore it makes us all perspire.

Good luck, I says. It wadn%u2019t like we was all supposably drinking expressos and whereing fancy jewlry all the time, excetera, excetera, and could afford to give them polticians a blanket check whenever they aksed us. Sose, Andy, is their any excape?

Cause the thing is, is that for all intensive purposes, sometimes bob wire just kent stop the calvary. Or is my way of looking at it just misinterpretating the fax and or maybe just a mute point that perculates through our doggy dog world like sherbert on a maynaise sanwitch, which I like maynaise sanwitches, and stuff like that?

Thank you.

[ljayres]

You always make me laugh. And thank you, thank you, thank you for your point tonight about the pronunciation of nuclear. I don't know how this ever got started, but I've been annoyed for years by hearing people say 'nucular'. Some posters here think it's trivial to pick on President Bush for this error, but it's an important word for an important world issue and our country's leaders, at least, should be pronouncing it correctly. It's just one small example of the slow deterioration of proper grammar, spelling and punctuation in our language. More people should be complaining about this destructive trend. Kudos to Andy.

[scully42]

Mr. Rooney- I know that you hate everything about Pres. Bush, but you might remember ( or actually, at your age, it is a plus that you remember anything at all ) that former Pres. Jimmy Carter, a graduate of the US Naval Academy, that served on a new-cular submarine, also pronounced the word new-cular. I know this is hard to believe, but there are people in the South and South West that pronounce words differently than you "perfect liberals" in New York

[pkv888]

It's totally UNclear to me why anyone would say nucUlar. It makes no sense as the word comes from nucleus; ergo: nuclear. We're not talkin' cellUlar here! Thanks Andy.

[ancientromer]

Had you been paying attention these last seven years you would have understood that George W. Bush%u2019s 7th State of the Union Address contained many of the ideals and concepts he has espoused throughout his Presidency.

Given that %u201Cthe buck stops%u201D at his desk President Bush of course acted prudently by having his ideas put into words by professional speechwriters. None too subtly Andy you suggested the crafting of the speech by others meant the President, left to his own resources, was incapable of forming the thoughts in his speech.

However, for you and others who make a living obsessing on irrelevancies, in that speech were thoughts and ideas that President Bush has developed from thousands of briefing sessions, hundreds of Cabinet meetings, numerous meetings with leaders of other nations, and perhaps thousands of personal consultations with Republicans and Democrats, experts in numerous fields of international and military affairs, economics and domestic policy.

But you elected to ignore substance and focus instead on %u201Cnukular%u201D. Further, your bias precluded noting that Jimmy Carter also assaulted the airwaves with his repeated use of %u201Cnukular%u201D. In either case, Andy, did it matter?

[jhorn10121]

Mr. Rooney, is this phrase really YOURS?

"It always seems to me that a president should write the words he speaks himself but of course none of our presidents do."
Of course, it should have said, "none . . . DOES".
Be careful and humble when criticizing others...I expect as much (or more) from a journalist and editor as from a President!

[skeezix06]

When he came to Missouri and gave two speeches, both identical, he kept saying "gooder" instead of "better". I also wondered about the value and quality of a Yale education.

[bluestardad]

Minority Leader McConnell from Kentucky is up for reelection in 08 The people from Kentucky are not stupid he will be voted out! The 101 is stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky and has had many soldiers killed in Iraq. This senator supports Bush at his own policital peril!

[lapar1]

I see that you have once again made fun of President Bush for mispronouncing the word nuclear. How many times have you made fun of Sens. Kerry and Kennedy for saying "idear" instead of "idea"? You should criticize every mispronounced word or none at all.

[shiloh58]

Hey Andy, Jimmy Carter pronounced nuclear the same way. Must be the way it rolls of the southern tong.

[ingar86]

Andy, you have been told that Jimmy Carter also mis-pronounces "nuclear"...It gets worse!...Jimmy Carter is nuclear engineer, retired from the US Navy nuclear submarine service...

[digdafunk]

Well said, Andy. Thanks for being the best thing on Sunday night television.

[marcodele]

Ainttaken: Very good points. I think anyone born into the lucky sperm club should just automatically be given a Yale MBA and a military deferment - don't make them waste precious horse riding time appearing to earn them.

[bm6005]

Bush understands neither ideals, concepts nor espouses any of them!!!

[myopinion2u-2009]

RIGHT ON, ANDY!!! No one could have said it any better! Mr. Bush couldn't write his own letter to Santa Claus, much less a SPEECH to the Nation... His chronic and STUBBORN use of his word "NUCULAR" is as irritating as nails on a chalkboard! As a world dictator - oops! I mean LEADER - he, of all people, should know how to pronounce the word CORRECTLY... Every time I hear him say "the N word" I get this image of him with his finger poised above the Big Red Button, with no clue as to what he is doing... A man of such ignorance should not have such power...

The one thing I have to disagree with, as far as your own well-written speech is concerned, is your comment about Mrs. Bush not trying to correct him. She has TRIED to do so, with no success. The President was roasted not long ago (Kennedy Center Awards?) and she made a joke about his misuse of the word in front of a room full of people, which was broadcast on nat'l TV (PBS)... SHE was BRILLIANT! Sorry you missed it!

[thgdriver]

Methinks thou doest taketh thou correspondent too seriously.

[bm6005]

"Poor George, he can't help it if he was born with a silver foot in his mouth"!

[halhab]

Please note that Ex -President Jimmy Carter, a trained nuclear engineer, always pronounces nuclear the same way President Bush does. It is sort of jargon as I, a nuclear medicine physician occasionally, along with the technologists lapse into that pronunciation.

[thgdriver]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!

[moronsunite]

How sad, for Andy can complain only about how "W" says new-clear. Dude, look in a mirror sometime and then explain to the world about your well kept eyebrows.