Skip to content

Word on the Hill: How Will You Judge Trump’s Inauguration Speech

‘I’m also very much of a germophobe, by the way. Believe me’

President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration is almost a week away. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration is almost a week away. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

We’re almost a week away to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration and on Wednesday, he gave his first news conference since the election.

The Quote.com blog analyzed presidential inaugural addresses and ranked them by reading level. The analysis was part of a study of top American speeches, on eight different linguistic scales to figure out the complexity of their syntaxes. Of the inaugural addresses, the analysis found that President George H.W. Bushgave the easiest speech in 1989 while President John Adams gave the most difficult in 1797.

The blog also compared Trump and President Barack Obama’s election night victory speeches in 2016 and 2008 respectively, and found that they both used the same amount of repetitive terms. But Obama spoke a grade level above Trump, the blog said. Check out the full study here and get ready to hear what Trump says on Jan. 20.

Moms saying no to Pruitt

Mothers and their children are gathering on Capitol Hill for a second day to lobby senators to oppose the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA. Organizer Moms Clean Air Force said 34 mothers from 19 states have come to meet with lawmakers because they think a Pruitt-led EPA will hurt clean air rules.

Ways and Means ranking member talks strategy

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the new ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, will speak at the National Press Club about his party’s strategy on the future of the 2010 health care law. The news conference begins at 10 a.m. at 529 14th St., NW.

Staffer shuffle

Shripal Shah is the new vice president and Trump war room director at American Bridge 21st Century. He was previously communication director for the Senate Majority PAC.

Overheard

“I’d imagine you’re having a pretty good time already.”

— Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to Rex Tillerson nearly two hours into his confirmation hearing to be secretary of State.

“So, if a senator is going after a witness for not being balanced, I would suggest that the senator look at his own methods of making arguments.”

— Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., after Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tangled with a witness from the American Civil Liberties Union during the second day of confirmation hearings for Attorney General-designee Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.

“New guy.”

— Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., after he forgot to turn on his microphone at the secretary of State confirmation hearing.

“I’m also very much of a germophobe, by the way. Believe me.”

— Trump, appearing to comment on an alleged intelligence document that referenced him hiring prostitutes to perform a sexual act involving urination in a Moscow hotel to defile a bed in which the Obamas might have slept.

Happy birthday to…

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, 67.

What’s going on?

Have any tips, announcements or Hill happenings? Send them to AlexGangitano@cqrollcall.comBridget Bowman , Todd Ruger and John T. Bennett contributed to this report.

Recent Stories

Food, and Nazis, for thought — Congressional Hits and Misses

The pro wrestlers the Democratic Party needs to emulate

Judge orders temporary end to freeze on foreign aid spending

Photos of the week ending February 14, 2025

GOP budget framework gets over initial hurdle in House

Takeaways: White House visit by India’s Modi becomes mini trade summit