Senator Hawley Grills National Archives Nominee Over Article Calling Republican Voters “Anti-Intellectual” and GOP Presidents Stupid

On 9/21/2022, Senator Josh Hawley grilled Biden’s nominee for Archivist of the United States over a lengthy academic article in which the nominee wrote that “Republicans tend to exhibit anti-intellectual qualities” while “Democrats coalesce on the intellectual tail of the continuum,” characterized Reagan as having “less than impressive intellectual capacities,” and linked Republican populism to “the rise of the religious right.” The nominee repeatedly said “thank you, Senator” and claimed the article was about “rhetoric” — but Hawley read the words back and said “don’t dissemble in front of me."

"Republicans Are Stupid and Democrats Are Intellectual?”

Hawley read directly from the nominee’s article. “You say ‘Republicans tend to exhibit anti-intellectual qualities. Democrats, on the other hand, coalesce on the intellectual tail of the continuum.’ So is the point that Republicans are stupid and Democrats are intellectual?”

“Absolutely not. The point of the article is that the presidents I featured have a rhetorical connection with the American people,” the nominee said.

“A rhetorical connection that you say is anti-intellectual — and you feature every two-term Republican president going back to Dwight Eisenhower,” Hawley noted.

”Less Than Impressive Intellectual Capacities”

Hawley cited the nominee’s characterization of President Reagan. “You characterized President Reagan as having ‘less than impressive intellectual capacities.’ You said Eisenhower and Bush were ‘decidedly anti-intellectual.’ You said Reagan engaged in ‘intellectual posturing.’ So in other words — dumb.”

“Absolutely not. That was a perception, and it was cited,” the nominee said.

“It’s a perception by whom? By you? You wrote about it,” Hawley pressed. He read the passage: “‘Reagan’s less than impressive intellectual capacities have been widely discussed.’ That’s presented as a factual statement. You don’t even cite it. This is on page 298. I have your article. Don’t dissemble in front of me."

"The Rise of the Religious Right”

Hawley noted the nominee attributed Republican anti-intellectualism partly to “the rise of the religious right.” “Is it because those voters are stupid?” Hawley asked.

“Absolutely not. If confirmed as Archivist of the United States, I look forward to welcoming all Americans to the National Archives,” the nominee said.

”Stand Behind It”

Hawley delivered his summary. “You wrote an article saying basically that Republican voters are stupid, that Republican presidents deliberately appeal to anti-intellectualism. You categorized it all under ‘Republican populism.’ Yet you’re trying to present yourself here as nonpartisan. In fact, you’re an extreme partisan, and your record shows that.”

“You’ve denigrated every two-term Republican president since the Second World War — and their voters — in this lengthy article. If you wrote it, why won’t you stand behind it?”

“I will stand by my long experience over 15 years of nonpartisan service,” the nominee said.

The Weaponization Context

Hawley connected the nomination to broader concerns. “We are living through the weaponization — the political weaponization — of the National Archives, the Department of Justice, the FBI, such that half the people of this country cannot trust those institutions,” Hawley said.

“We’re living with a president who calls half the voters ‘semi-fascists’ and says they are a threat to democracy. In that environment, to have you up for confirmation — talking about the anti-intellectualism and frankly stupidity of American voters — it’s basically a self-parody,” Hawley said.

“How can you assure the 75 million Americans who voted Republican that you will be truly nonpartisan given what you have said over a period of years?” Hawley asked.

“I stand by my record of nonpartisan service at the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress, and the White House Historical Association,” the nominee said.

Hawley entered the full article into the record. “I’d invite everybody to read this. You can read the words for yourselves. Folks can make up their own minds. I think when they do, they’ll be really disappointed. I’m deeply disappointed.”

Key Takeaways

• The National Archives nominee had written that Republicans exhibit “anti-intellectual qualities” while Democrats represent “the intellectual tail of the continuum.”
• She characterized Reagan as having “less than impressive intellectual capacities” and linked Republican populism to “the rise of the religious right.”
• The nominee repeatedly claimed the article was about “rhetoric” and “perception” rather than her own views; Hawley said “don’t dissemble in front of me.”
• Hawley connected the nomination to broader weaponization of institutions, calling the nominee “an extreme partisan” presenting herself as nonpartisan.
• The full article was entered into the congressional record.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

• Republicans tend to exhibit anti-intellectual qualities. Democrats coalesce on the intellectual tail. So Republicans are stupid and Democrats are intellectual? Absolutely not.
• Reagan’s less than impressive intellectual capacities. That’s presented as a factual statement. Don’t dissemble in front of me.
• You attribute anti-intellectualism to the rise of the religious right. Is it because those voters are stupid?
• You wrote an article saying Republican voters are stupid. You’re an extreme partisan.
• 75 million Americans voted Republican. How can you assure them you’ll be nonpartisan?
• I’d invite everybody to read this. They’ll be really disappointed. I’m deeply disappointed.

Full transcript: 973 words transcribed via Whisper AI.