ArtsJournal Reprints H.L. Mencken’s 1925 Bryan Obituary as Trump Parallel
ArtsJournal has reissued a six-year-old piece that compares H.L. Mencken’s 1925 obituary of William Jennings Bryan to a potential future obituary for Donald Trump. The article claims that Mencken’s writing, composed after Bryan's passing, stands as the most scathing tribute to an American politician, outdoing Hunter S. Thompson’s farewell to Richard Nixon. It proposes replacing “Bryan” with “Trump” to assess the accuracy of the comparison when Trump eventually departs. The excerpt characterizes Bryan as a crude, ignorant, and self-serving individual, suggesting that despite his high-profile connections, he favored the company of the uneducated. The piece concludes by encouraging readers to explore the entire text, labeling it as eerie.
Key facts
- ArtsJournal republished a six-year-old item drawing a parallel between H.L. Mencken’s 1925 obituary of William Jennings Bryan and a future obituary of Donald Trump.
- H.L. Mencken wrote the obituary after William Jennings Bryan died in 1925.
- The post claims Mencken’s obituary is the most devastating of an American politician, surpassing Hunter S. Thompson’s farewell to Richard Nixon.
- The text suggests substituting “Trump” for “Bryan” to see how snug the fit will be when Trump takes his permanent leave.
- The reprinted excerpt describes Bryan as vulgar, common, a cad undiluted, ignorant, bigoted, self-seeking, blatant and dishonest.
- It notes Bryan preferred the company of rustic ignoramuses despite contact with the first men of his time.
- The excerpt references watching Bryan at Dayton and finding it hard to believe he had traveled, been received in civilized societies, and been a high officer of state.
- The post ends by urging readers to read it whole, calling it uncanny.
Entities
Artists
- H.L. Mencken
- William Jennings Bryan
- Hunter S. Thompson
- Richard Nixon
- Donald Trump
Institutions
- ArtsJournal
Locations
- Dayton