President Trump is accused of using the word “shithole” to describe some African countries, Haiti and El Salvador. The president has been slammed in the media for his reported use of profane language.
{mosads}Democratic Sen. Dirk Durbin (Ill.) even suggested it was the worst vulgarity in presidential history.
“I think back at presidents throughout history and I cannot imagine a moment where a president sunk to that depth, that’s what breaks my heart,” he said.
But according to historians, we’ve had our fair share of presidential potty mouths.
“I have interviewed six presidents of the United States. I have traveled with them. I have been in their homes. They’ve been in my home on multiple occasions. I have flown on Air Force One with them and commercial jets and private jets and car caravans and Winnebagos. Went to Disney World with one. They all have used the ‘S-word.’ Even that old gentleman, Ronald Reagan, would sometimes occasionally, rarely use the ‘F-word.’ So, the White house is going to endure,” conservative author Doug Wead said.
Let’s take a look at some presidential profanity throughout history.
Sometimes choice words were reserved for the political opponents. President Reagan famously referred to enemies a few times as “SOBs.” While former President Obama once called Mitt Romney a “bullshitter” in a “Rolling Stone” interview.
One of the more profane presidents in recent history was Richard Nixon. Nixon was caught on White House tapes using numerous vulgarities, including some offensive terms about gay people.
Likewise, President Johnson was accused of often using the “N-word” when talking about African-Americans.
Some of these remarks were caught on video.
In 2000, George W. Bush was caught on a hot mic during a campaign rally calling Adam Clymer, a reporter with The New York Times, a “major league asshole.”
In fact, both the younger Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, are quoted in Mark Updegrove’s book, “The Last Republicans,” as dropping the “F-bomb.”
George W. Bush even had this to say about two former colleagues.
“[Former Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld] never made one f—-ing decision.”
Even the silver-tongued President Clinton had his moments. In 2008, Clinton forgot to hang up a phone call with reporter Susan Phillips before saying he wouldn’t take any “shit” from Obama, then a candidate.