Bill O’Reilly Lambasted For Claiming That Slaves Who Built White House Were “Well-Fed And Had Decent Lodgings”

Written by Nina Mast

Published

Fox’s Bill O’Reilly was castigated for arguing that slaves who built the White House were “well-fed and had decent lodgings,” with media and public figures pointing out both that the claim was false and that it is “unbelievable that [O’Reilly] thinks this is a rebuttal.”

Michelle Obama Notes That Slaves Built The White House In Her Speech At The Democratic National Convention

Michelle Obama: “I Wake Up Every Morning In A House That Was Built By Slaves.” First lady Michelle Obama addressed the Democratic National Convention on its opening night, “arguing for the importance of black and female role models in the White House” and pointing out that “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves.” From a July 25 Time magazine article:

First Lady Michelle Obama gave an emotional speech at the Democratic national convention Monday night, arguing for the importance of black and female role models in the White House.

“That is the story of this country, the story that has brought me to this stage tonight, the story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done so that today I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves,” she said.

“And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women playing with their dogs on the White House lawn. And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.” [Time magazine, 7/25/16]

Bill O’Reilly Attempts to Fact-Check Obama, Says Slaves “Were Well-Fed And Had Decent Lodgings”

Fox's Bill O'Reilly: Slaves Who Built White House Were "Well-Fed And Had Decent Lodgings Provided By The Government.” Fox host Bill O’Reilly responded to Obama’s speech, claiming that the slaves who helped build the White House “were well-fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government” and that, although “Michelle Obama is essentially correct in citing slaves as builders of the White House … there were others working as well.” From the July 26 edition of Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor: ”

BILL O'REILLY (HOST): Finally tonight, Factor Tip of The Day. As we mentioned, Talking Points Memo, Michelle Obama referenced slaves building the White House in referring to the evolution of America in a positive way. It was a positive comment. The history behind her remark is fascinating. George Washington selected the site in 1791, and as president laid the cornerstone in 1792. Washington was then running the country out of Philadelphia.

Slaves did participate in the construction of the White House. Records show about 400 payments made to slave masters between [1795] and 1801. In addition, free blacks, whites, and immigrants also worked on the massive building. There were no illegal immigrants at that time. If you could make it here, you could stay here.

In 1800, President John Adams took up residence in what was then called the Executive Mansion. It was only later on they named it the White House. But Adams was in there with Abigail, and they were still hammering nails, the construction was still going on.

Slaves that worked there were well-fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government, which stopped hiring slave labor in 1802. However, the feds did not forbid subcontractors from using slave labor. So, Michelle Obama is essentially correct in citing slaves as builders of the White House, but there were others working as well. Got it all? There will be a quiz.

[...]

I just can't get rid of that history teacher thing. You know what I'm talking about? [Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, 7/26/16]

O’Reilly’s “Unreal” Claim Is Roundly Mocked And Condemned

Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jay Bookman: “We Have An Eyewitness, First Lady Abigail Adams, Who Said Those Slaves Were 'Half Fed, And Destitute Of Clothing.'”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Slate’s Isaac Chotiner: Slaves Who Built The White House Were “Like Three Fifths As Well Fed As Non-Slaves.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Slate’s Jamelle Bouie: “You Know I Made A Joke About Someone Saying This, But Here We Are, In Real Life.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Historian James Gleick: “Fox News, In 2016, Actually Sticking Up For Slavery.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

BuzzFeed’s Adam Serwer: “How Did The Republicans Nominate Trump I Have No Idea.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

MSNBC’s Michael Steele: “There Are No Words.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Wash. Post’s Matt O’Brien: “Political Satire Has Never Been Harder.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

CNN’s Chris Cuomo: “What Is The Value In This?”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

HotAir’s Ed Morrissey: “Just Unbelievable that [O’Reilly] Thinks This Is A Rebuttal.”

[Twitter, 7/27/16]

NY Times’ Paul Krugman:“Sometimes They're Worse Than You Could Imagine, Even Taking Into Account That They're Worse Than You Can Imagine.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

CNN’s Paul Begala: “Delete Your Show, Bill.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

MSNBC’s Joy Reid: “*Headdesk*.”

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

The Atlantic’s James Fallows: “When Will Responsible, Moderate White People Criticize The Excesses Of Their Extremist Fringe?”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Huffington Post’s Sam Stein: “Smart Take, Bill.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Huffington Post’s Nick Baumann: “UNREAL.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Wash. Examiner’s Kelly Cohen: “Well Weren't [Those Slaves] Just The Luckiest.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

New York Magazine’s Jonathan Chait: “And They Didn't Even Have To Pay For This Sweet Gig? They Got To Do It For Free?”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Forbes’ Brian Solomon: “Come On.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

RedState’s Leon Wolf: “For His Next Hot Historical Take, Bill O'reilly Will Tell Us About The Free Dental Care At Auschwitz.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

TV Writer Shonda Rhimes: “Bill: Chat About Cuisine After They Steal Ur Name, Homeland, Family Then Beat U, Breed U And Make U Work For Free.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

New America Foundation’s Rabia Chaudry: “I Will Provide Decent Lodging And Food To Bill O'Reilly If He Becomes My Slave. Need A Shed Built.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Author Ken Jennings: "’Persistent Wage Gap Between Slaves And Non-Slaves Largely A Result Of The Slaves' Lifestyle And Family Choices.’"

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

BuzzFeed’s Anne Helen Petersen: “This Isn’t Just Equivocation; This Is Gaslighting.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Professor Tressie McMillan Cottom: “When You're Morally Bankrupt You Think Food And Housing Matters More Than Autonomy, Freedom, Safety & Actualization.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Felonious Munk: “They Were Still...Slaves.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Chicago Tribune’s Dawn Rhodes: “Even If This Were True, They Were Still SLAVES! Stop Trying To Be All Revisionist And Act Like It Wasn't That Bad.”

[Twitter, 7/26/16]

Mic: Bill O'Reilly's Claim “Could Be Generously Described As Missing The Point.” Mic’s Tom McKay wrote that O’Reilly's argument “could be generously described as missing the point.” McKay noted that O’Reilly “minimiz[ed] the number of slaves required to work on the structure” and added sarcastically, “the ones who did [build the White House] had it pretty good for the times, right?” From the July 26 article:

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly responded to first lady Michelle Obama's speech Monday at the Democratic National Convention, in which she described what it was like to wake up every morning in a White House built by slaves, with a reply that could be generously described as missing the point.

Extremely generously.

[...]

Mentioning construction on the White House continued into the 19th century, O'Reilly then segued into a point minimizing the number of slaves required to work on the structure — and anyway, the ones who did had it pretty good for the times, right?

[...]

Yeah. So, to recap, Obama does, in fact, wake up every day in a house built by slaves, but before you feel too bad for them remember: These slaves had probably had great benefits. Like food. [Mic, 7/26/16]

Esquire: According To O'Reilly, “Being Deprived Of Your Basic Human Liberty And Dignity Wasn’t So Bad If You Were Put On A Good Project.” Esquire’s Jack Holmes wrote in a July 26 article that “Fox News host Bill O'Reilly couldn't allow a moment that laid bare the ugly reality of America's relationship with race to go unaddressed” and that according to O’Reilly, “being deprived of your basic human liberty and dignity wasn't so bad if you were put on a good project.” [Esquire, 7/26/16]