“I’m a Hell of a Lot Smarter Than Most of You” – Joe Biden to Attendees at Jesse Jackson’s Funeral
Several prominent political figures attended the memorial service for civil rights leader Jesse Jackson in Chicago, Illinois.
Former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden were present at the ceremony. Hillary Clinton and Jill Biden also attended to pay their respects.
Jackson passed away last month at the age of 84 after battling progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, balance, and eye control.
During the memorial, Joe Biden shared several personal stories from his past. Among them was a familiar anecdote about his time working as a lifeguard in Wilmington, Delaware.
“I was the only white guy who worked on the east side of Wilmington, Delaware,” Biden said. “Matter of fact, they named the biggest swimming pool after me — the Biden swimming pool. All kidding aside, I was one of only 13 lifeguards.”
Biden said he took the job because he wanted to better understand the experiences of the people in the community.
“I was the only white guy because I wanted to understand. I thought I knew the issues, but I wanted to understand the individual persons,” he said.
He also recalled a story involving a teammate who asked to borrow his car and a five-gallon gas container.
“I remember I had an old Chevette,” Biden said. “A halfback I played with said, ‘Joe, do you have a jerry can? A big five-gallon one?’ I asked what he needed it for. He said he was driving to see his mother in North Carolina and couldn’t stop at gas stations along the way.”
At another point during the speech, Biden reflected on challenges he faced growing up with a stutter.
“My dad used to say, when you get knocked down, Joey, just get up,” Biden said. “I was a kid — a relatively good athlete and a pretty good student — but I stuttered.”
He then referenced how people often react to speech impediments.
“If I told you earlier that I had a cleft palate or a club foot when I was a kid, none of you would have laughed,” Biden said. “But it’s okay to laugh at stuttering. I’m not criticizing you, but think about it. It’s the one place where people think you’re stupid.”
Biden concluded by describing how the experience affected him as a child.
“All kidding aside, it makes you feel really small,” he said.
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