Bill O’Reilly Makes Sure People Know The Slaves Who Built The White House Were ‘Well Fed’

Michelle Obama delivered a passionate speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Monday night. One line in particular resonated with a lot of people watching: “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my daughters — two beautiful, intelligent, black young women — playing with their dogs on the White House lawn,” the First Lady said.

Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly, of course, couldn’t let the powerful moment go. He addressed the First Lady’s statement on The O’Reilly Factor, stating that “Michelle Obama referenced slaves building the White House in referring to the evolution of America in a positive way. It was a positive comment.” He went on:

“The history behind her remark is fascinating. George Washington selected the site in 1791, and as president laid the cornerstone in 1792. Washington was then running the country out of Philadelphia. Slaves did participate in the construction of the White House. Records show about 400 payments made to slave masters between 1795 and 1801. In addition, free blacks, whites, and immigrants also worked on the massive building. There were no illegal immigrants at that time. If you could make it here, you could stay here. … Slaves that worked there were well-fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government, which stopped hiring slave labor in 1802. However, the feds did not forbid subcontractors from using slave labor.”

O’Reilly called Michelle Obama “essentially correct” but reminded viewers that “there were others working as well.” He later attributed his smug attitude to “that history teacher thing.” O’Reilly taught history at the high school level for two years in the 1970s.

×