Campaigning for re-election in 1936, Roosevelt had to prepare a speech to deliver in Pittsburgh. Four years earlier he had spoken there advocating drastic government economy. Now he wanted to defend government spending.
He asked his advisor Sam Rosenman to figure out some way of making this about-face without appearing too inconsistent. Rosenman thought it over for a few days and finally told him: “I think, Mr. President, that I have found a way out.”
”What is it, Sam?” asked Roosevelt eagerly.
”Deny that you made a speech in Pittsburgh in 1932.”
Source:
Boller, Paul F. “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Presidential Anecdotes. New York: Oxford UP, 1981. 271. Print.
Original Source Listed:
Allen, Presidents Who Have Known Me, 10.
Further Reading:
Thankfully we have video and tweets. Thats they try to erase and make forgotten.