President Joe Biden got help from his son, Hunter, as he took questions from children upon his arrival in Dublin on Wednesday.
On the second day of the 80-year-old’s trip home to his ancestors, the president told the families of US embassy staff that they could ask him about “anything” — though he declined to give a press conference.
He told a thorny story about the late Senator Jesse Helms, debated a German Shepherd Commander, and said pups could ask him anything—though he didn’t plan a press conference during his four-day trip.
Hunter corrected his father at one point when he said he was trying to remember if Helms was from North Carolina or South Carolina, then instructed him to “walk the rope line” when the event was over.
The president’s son, who is under federal tax investigations and under constant threats from Republicans, has been at his father’s side as he traces his family’s roots in the Emerald Isle.
The viewer stopped by Carlingford Castle in County Louth and then received a rock star’s welcome at a pub with historical links to his family – although he didn’t hit the traditional Guinness pint.
President Joe Biden got help from his son, Hunter, as he took questions from children upon his arrival in Dublin on Wednesday.
“Do any of you want to ask me any questions?” Biden asked the kids. He is then distracted by a young man holding an Air Force One toy model.
Then he turned his attention back to the crowd.
At the back. He has a question,” Hunter told his father.
Then the child asks the boss to describe the “first step” to success.
Then Biden goes on to a long answer about Senator Helms who “wasn’t so crazy about African Americans.”
“Oh, what’s the key to success? Did you know what I discovered is the key to success? And I’m not sure I’m the best person to explain it; those guys can tell you,” he says.
“The key to success is when you disagree with someone, it’s okay to question their judgment—whether they’re right or wrong—but it’s never okay to question their motives. If you question their motives, you’ll never be able to agree.
“For example, if I say to someone, ‘The reason you don’t agree with me is because you’re stupid, you’re bad, you are — you just don’t like the people I love.'” “
Hunter (right) corrected him at one point when he said South Carolina instead of North, then told him to “walk the rope line” when the event ended
Instead of saying I didn’t – just telling you why, I disagree with you on the following things.
Because once you question someone’s motive – why they do something – because you don’t know. In fact, what happens next, you can never get an agreement, get together.
I learned this lesson a long time ago – and I say it to all the Embassy people as well – I learned it a long time ago.
“There was a guy named Jesse Helms from South Carolina — from North Carolina — South Carolina.”
“North,” Hunter interjects.
And Biden continues in North Carolina.
He was a very conservative guy, and he wasn’t too crazy about African Americans when he got here. It was all — we always had fights.
And one day, I was going to the United States Senate, and Jesse Helms-was-was-was-on the floor of the Senate saying some awful things about Ted Kennedy and Bob Dole, the Republican leader, who both introduced a bill making sure people People with disabilities have access to roadblocks, access to buses, and all of those things. It’s called the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“And what happened is that I was so upset when I came in to go see the Majority Leader when I heard this debate.
Children of embassy staff wait to receive President Biden at Dublin International Airport
Unfortunately, I was more afraid of the majority leader being late than I was of going and talking.
I went in, thinking I was pissed off. He looked at me and said, “What’s the matter, Joe?” I was 32 years old. And I said — and I continued to talk about Jesse Helms, that he has no social compensation value. “How could he say things like that?” I didn’t believe it.
And he looked at me and said, “Joe, what would you say if I told you that Jesse Helms, in 1970, was sitting in his living room with his wife Dot in Raleigh and they were reading the paper. And there was a picture of a guy on crutches – about 16, with braces from under His arms are up to his ankles and crutches of steel.
And I said, What do you want—and—”It was an ad for an orphanage.” And she said, “All I want is for someone to take me home for Christmas and love me.”
He said: What would you say, Joe, if I told you that they had adopted that young man? I said, “I’m going to feel foolish.” Well, they adopted it. They adopted him.
And I said — and I went and apologized to Jesse Helms, because the idea that I disagreed with everything he said, but when he said — but the suggestion that he does it because he doesn’t care about people with disabilities was wrong. I questioned his motives. I never did it again.
“That’s a long answer to a real quick question,” he finished with laughter from the crowd.
Then another child jumps up and asks, “How’s your dog?”
He said, “My dog is doing well.” – His name is the commander.
The chief then asks the child for his dog’s name—”Louie”—and then signals that his appearance is about to end by saying, “Anyway, guys.”
Then it starts to come off, when Hunter says, “You’re supposed to do the rope, Dad.”
Looking around, Biden asks, “I’m supposed to do the rope-rope?”
‘Just to say hi to everyone,’ Hunter told him.
‘Good. Well, thanks guys,” Biden said as he left.
Joe’s son Hunter walks along the line of fans and shakes hands before joining his father at the bar
Biden takes a selfie outside the Windsor bar in Dundalk as crowds line the streets for his visit
