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Shortly after delivering the speech, Ogle had tens of thousands of copies printed and circulated around the nation as campaign literature. Historians, journalists and politicians consider it one of the premier political attacks in American history. Many also rank it as one of the most amusing speeches ever delivered in Congress. The speech is almost coincidentally the most complete inventory of the objects and furnishings of the White House for that time.
It was claimed by the Trenton Emporium that what was published was not the speech made by Ogle. The paper claimed that the published speech was edited multiple times and stuffed with fabrications developed by other Whig Party members.[1]
Ogle took the floor of the House of Representatives on April 14, 1840. For the better part of three days he addressed the House, sitting as a committee of the whole, about the "regal splendor of the President's Palace." His words over those three days would snowball into a political campaign like no other.
In the presidential campaign of 1840, Democrat Martin Van Buren, eighth president of the United States, met strong Whig opposition to his supposedly "royal lifestyle." Van Buren continued to entertain European dignitaries in an elegant manner after the collapse of the economy in 1837. Van Buren's rather dandyish style and refined tastes made him an easy target for Whig attacks. Presidential scholars have pointed out that, while Van Buren did enjoy the latest fashions from Manhattan, he purchased such personal items with money from his own pocket and spent little public money on the White House. Van Buren made needed repairs and refurbishments as well as redecorations to the presidential residence.
Ogle announced that $88,722.58 had been appropriated by Congress for the White House since the Democrats had taken control of the presidency (though only $11,806.22 was appropriated during Van Buren's term). By the second day of his speech the galleries were packed to capacity. Laughter and sarcastic comments from the floor and the galleries were common during the speech. The disruptions continued after Ogle left the floor and several other members, many of them Whigs like him, took the floor to defend the president and apologize for Ogle's behavior.[2] However, the speech proved effective in defining Van Buren as an out-of-touch aristocrat, and Harrison was elected to the presidency in November, 1840 — only to die in office a month after his inauguration.
Excerpts from the speechEdit
An old soldier Harrison, who, to rescue thousands of women and children from the scalping knife of the ruthless savage, freely abandoned all the endearments of home and family, endured the icy and piercing blasts of northwestern winters, wading through the deep and cold waters and black swamps of Michigan and upper Canada, sustaining, at times, an almost famished nature upon raw beef, without salt, and often periling life on the field of battle? Poor simple-minded old veteran, he was, no doubt, foolish enough to believe that, having given the best energies of his body and mind in youth, manhood, and mature age, to serve and defend the honor, the rights, the property, and the lives of his fellow-citizens, he would at least, in common courtesy, be entitled to their respect, if not to their love and gratitude.
...
The survey of smooth lawns and gently sloping meads, covered with rich coats of white and red clover and luxuriant orchard grass, made no delightful impression on their eyes. No, sir; mere meadows are too common to gratify the refined taste of an exquisite with sweet sandy whiskers. He must have undulations, beautiful mounds, and other contrivances, to ravish his exalted and ethereal soul. Hence, the reformers have constructed a number of clever sized hills, every pair of which, it is said, was designed to resemble and assume the form of an Amazon's bosom, with a miniature knoll or hillock on its apex, to denote the nipple.
ReferencesEdit
Ogle, Charles (1840). Speech of Mr. Ogle, of Pennsylvania, on the regal splendor of the President's palace: Delivered in the House of representatives, April 14, 1840. Boston: Weeks, Jordan and company.
Seale, William, ed. (2004). "Gold Spoon Oration". White House History: collection 2, numbers 7 through 12. OCLC 301761647. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
Seale, William (Winter 2002). "About the Gold Spoon Speech Oration". The Speech of Mr. Ogle of Pennsylvania on the Regal Splendor of the President's Palace. pp. 5-11, 35-97. Retrieved 2020-12-08. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
^"Honorable Charles Ogle", Daily Ohio Statesman, p. 4, June 9, 1841
^Gunderson, Robert Gray (1956). "Ogle's Omnibus of Lies". The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 80 (4): 450. ISSN 0031-4587. OCLC 5543720027. The day after the Ogle "omnibus" Representative Levi Lincoln, a forthright Massachusetts Whig, took issue with his unscrupulous fellow partisan. Moved by an inherent sense of decency, the former governor of the Bay State protested against the "unwarranted and undignified attack" on the Chief Executive. Lincoln pointed out that less money had been spent under Van Buren for the upkeep of the White House than under any other President. Never, he said, had Van Buren requested "a single article of furniture." In fact, the President had "invariably expressed reluctance to have anything expended for that object."
"Hurrah and Hokum" Whistlestop podcast, by John Dickerson
October 19, 2023
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This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Gold Spoon Oration news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2012 The Gold Spoon Oration also called The Regal Splendor of the President s Palace was a political speech given in the US House of Representatives by Charles Ogle Whig PA on April 14 16 1840 The speech reviled then President Martin Van Buren for his supposedly luxurious lifestyle in the White House while idealizing Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison as a homespun man of the people compare the idiom silver spoon Shortly after delivering the speech Ogle had tens of thousands of copies printed and circulated around the nation as campaign literature Historians journalists and politicians consider it one of the premier political attacks in American history Many also rank it as one of the most amusing speeches ever delivered in Congress The speech is almost coincidentally the most complete inventory of the objects and furnishings of the White House for that time It was claimed by the Trenton Emporium that what was published was not the speech made by Ogle The paper claimed that the published speech was edited multiple times and stuffed with fabrications developed by other Whig Party members 1 Contents 1 Description 2 Excerpts from the speech 3 References 4 Sources 5 See also 6 External linksDescription EditOgle took the floor of the House of Representatives on April 14 1840 For the better part of three days he addressed the House sitting as a committee of the whole about the regal splendor of the President s Palace His words over those three days would snowball into a political campaign like no other In the presidential campaign of 1840 Democrat Martin Van Buren eighth president of the United States met strong Whig opposition to his supposedly royal lifestyle Van Buren continued to entertain European dignitaries in an elegant manner after the collapse of the economy in 1837 Van Buren s rather dandyish style and refined tastes made him an easy target for Whig attacks Presidential scholars have pointed out that while Van Buren did enjoy the latest fashions from Manhattan he purchased such personal items with money from his own pocket and spent little public money on the White House Van Buren made needed repairs and refurbishments as well as redecorations to the presidential residence Ogle announced that 88 722 58 had been appropriated by Congress for the White House since the Democrats had taken control of the presidency though only 11 806 22 was appropriated during Van Buren s term By the second day of his speech the galleries were packed to capacity Laughter and sarcastic comments from the floor and the galleries were common during the speech The disruptions continued after Ogle left the floor and several other members many of them Whigs like him took the floor to defend the president and apologize for Ogle s behavior 2 However the speech proved effective in defining Van Buren as an out of touch aristocrat and Harrison was elected to the presidency in November 1840 only to die in office a month after his inauguration Excerpts from the speech EditAn old soldier Harrison who to rescue thousands of women and children from the scalping knife of the ruthless savage freely abandoned all the endearments of home and family endured the icy and piercing blasts of northwestern winters wading through the deep and cold waters and black swamps of Michigan and upper Canada sustaining at times an almost famished nature upon raw beef without salt and often periling life on the field of battle Poor simple minded old veteran he was no doubt foolish enough to believe that having given the best energies of his body and mind in youth manhood and mature age to serve and defend the honor the rights the property and the lives of his fellow citizens he would at least in common courtesy be entitled to their respect if not to their love and gratitude The survey of smooth lawns and gently sloping meads covered with rich coats of white and red clover and luxuriant orchard grass made no delightful impression on their eyes No sir mere meadows are too common to gratify the refined taste of an exquisite with sweet sandy whiskers He must have undulations beautiful mounds and other contrivances to ravish his exalted and ethereal soul Hence the reformers have constructed a number of clever sized hills every pair of which it is said was designed to resemble and assume the form of an Amazon s bosom with a miniature knoll or hillock on its apex to denote the nipple References EditOgle Charles 1840 Speech of Mr Ogle of Pennsylvania on the regal splendor of the President s palace Delivered in the House of representatives April 14 1840 Boston Weeks Jordan and company Seale William ed 2004 Gold Spoon Oration White House History collection 2 numbers 7 through 12 OCLC 301761647 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a journal ignored help Seale William Winter 2002 About the Gold Spoon Speech Oration The Speech of Mr Ogle of Pennsylvania on the Regal Splendor of the President s Palace pp 5 11 35 97 Retrieved 2020 12 08 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a journal ignored help Carson Gerald August 1964 The Speech That Toppled A President American Heritage 15 5 Retrieved 2020 12 08 The Congressional Globe 8 Twenty Sixth Congress First Session 21 Washington D C Blair amp Rives 21 April 1840 327 Retrieved 2020 12 08 via UNT Digital Library a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Seale William 1986 The President s House A History White House Historical Association ISBN 978 0 8018 8597 6 OCLC 76183665 Sources Edit Honorable Charles Ogle Daily Ohio Statesman p 4 June 9 1841 Gunderson Robert Gray 1956 Ogle s Omnibus of Lies The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 80 4 450 ISSN 0031 4587 OCLC 5543720027 The day after the Ogle omnibus Representative Levi Lincoln a forthright Massachusetts Whig took issue with his unscrupulous fellow partisan Moved by an inherent sense of decency the former governor of the Bay State protested against the unwarranted and undignified attack on the Chief Executive Lincoln pointed out that less money had been spent under Van Buren for the upkeep of the White House than under any other President Never he said had Van Buren requested a single article of furniture In fact the President had invariably expressed reluctance to have anything expended for that object See also EditGreat Male RenunciationExternal links EditWhite House Historical Association essay on the Gold Spoon Oration by William Seale Discussion of the Gold Spoon Oration in The President s House by Margaret Truman Hurrah and Hokum Whistlestop podcast by John Dickerson American Heritage magazine discussion of the Gold Spoon Oration Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gold Spoon Oration amp oldid 1149203879, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
