President Biden’s Naval Academy Appointment Claim: Fact or Fiction?
Commencement Speech at West Point
During a commencement speech at West Point in 2022, President Biden claimed that he had turned down an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He stated that he had intended to pursue a football career instead.
Previous Statement in 2022
In a previous statement made in 2022, Biden had said that he had been accepted to the Naval Academy in 1965 but had declined to attend.
Details of the Claim
Biden has stated that he was appointed to the Naval Academy by Senator J. Caleb Boggs. He claims that he was one of ten individuals who received appointments and that he wanted to play football at the academy.
Influencing Factors
Several factors may have influenced Biden’s decision to consider attending the Naval Academy. At the time, the academy was home to two Heisman Trophy winners, Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino. Biden had also been a standout football player in high school.
Absence of Supporting Evidence
Despite Biden’s claims, there is no evidence to support his assertion that he was offered an appointment to the Naval Academy. His autobiography does not mention the academy, and there is no record of his alleged appointment.
Discrepancies in Bellino and Staubach’s Timelines
Further, there are discrepancies in the timelines of Bellino and Staubach that make it unlikely that they were present at the Naval Academy when Biden was supposedly considering attending. Bellino played his last game in 1961, four years before Biden claims to have considered attending. Staubach graduated in 1964, which also makes it unlikely that he was present when Biden was considering the appointment.
Biden’s High School Football Career
Biden was a standout football player at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware. He graduated in 1961 and played football at the University of Delaware for part of his freshman year. Biden’s high school football career may have influenced his desire to attend the Naval Academy, which has a strong football program.
Republican National Committee’s Response
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has called Biden’s story a “lie” and said that there is no evidence to support the claim. The RNC has also accused Biden of “making up stories” and “trying to rewrite history.” Biden has not responded to the RNC’s attacks.
Conclusion
Biden’s claim to have turned down an appointment to the Naval Academy remains unsubstantiated. There is no record of the alleged appointment, and Biden’s own statements about the matter have been inconsistent. The RNC has called Biden’s story a “lie,” and there is no evidence to support the claim. Biden has not responded to the RNC’s attacks.
The absence of supporting evidence and the discrepancies in Biden’s statements raise questions about the veracity of his claim. Until more information is available, it is difficult to say whether Biden actually turned down an appointment to the Naval Academy.