The History of Blaming 'Both Sides' and Why Language Matters

As President Trump faces renewed criticism for his handling of the recent violent white supremacist march in Charlottesville, one thing is becoming very clear: Language matters.

The President first faced heat for not being quick to condemn the hate groups, instead blaming “many sides”. Then on Monday, he delivered a statement with what many considered the "right language," however late, but followed it Tuesday by again placing blame on "both sides."

Kevin M. Kruse, Princeton historian and the author of White Flight, spoke to WNYC's Richard Hake about how this sort of false equivalency has an important historical precedent.

During the 1950s, segregationist politicians often condemned the "extremists on both sides."

By that, they meant the Klan & the NAACP.

— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) August 15, 2017

In 1958, Gov. Orval Faubus of Arkansas, the chief architect of the Central High crisis, did the exact same thing. pic.twitter.com/HVcu34Cvaf

— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) August 16, 2017

The false equivalence was so widespread it became the standard for both national parties' leaders -- Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson. pic.twitter.com/yfhBfwPMZk

— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) August 16, 2017