After a speech by the former President, the Chicago Times printed this tacky comment:
The cheek of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the filly, flat, and dishwatery utterances of a man who has to be pointed out to intelligent foreigners as the President of the United States.
Another paper was more dismissive:
We pass over the silly remarks of the President; for the credit of the nation, we are willing that the veil of oblivion shall be dropped over them and that they shall no more be repeated or thought of.
The President, by the way, was Abraham Lincoln. The speech was the Gettysburg Address.
Wiser Time 
Obama’s speeches do not prove his “eloquence.” They only prove that he’s aces at reading–as in reading teleprompters. Ever notice he never, never, looks directly into the camera; he never makes “eye contact” with his audience. Ever notice how his head bobs left to right; right to left, and on and on. Next time you go to a tennis match and sit parallel to the court, watch all the fans execute the “Obama Move.”
Apparently he didn’t have to be pointed out to John Wilkes Booth.