Biden's Speech at the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center: Working Together for Progress

Biden at Ford Rouge Center

On May 18, 2021, President Joe Biden spoke at the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Biden reaffirmed the Democratic Party’s traditional links to American industry, labor, and labor unions. Using a seemingly random selection of speech techniques, he showed that Americans—workers, industry, and government—need to work together to move to a new industrial future. 

Biden emphasized making progress through unity. What did he talk about? First, Biden recognized union, government, and industry leaders. He made jokes and friendly comments about several of them. He talked about cars and his childhood. He emphasized how unions represent unity: in an ideal world, where everyone works in unity to accomplish great things. He gave examples of past American successes. He explained that we need to work together to build a better future. 

Whereas, too often, conservatives like to pretend that we are the greatest when we’re not, Biden pointed out that the United States has fallen behind because we have fallen asleep. His opening pleasantries, his examples, and his arguments all aimed toward the theme of unity, of working together to make progress. His speech was not traditionally organized; instead, seemingly unrelated speech tactics led the audience back to his central theme.

Making That Critical Audience Connection

Biden began by connecting himself with his audience. He began by thanking the United Auto Workers for their support in his political career:

“I want to say something else up front: I’m standing here because, about 180 years ago, when I first got elected to the Senate, Gov — (laughter) — the UAW elected me.  (Applause.)”

Let’s remember, that for many years, the Democratic Party often overcame the Republican Party’s huge campaign coffers because labor unions supported them. Biden told stories about his father’s work ethic. He casually mentioned that his father operated a Ford dealership. 

Biden greeted various dignitaries. He pointed out  “a good friend of mine: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.” He also acknowledged United Auto Workers leaders and Ford executives Bill Ford and Jim Farley. He thanked Ford and Farley “for hosting us, and investing in our workers and in our country.”  All very chatty. Later in the speech, he hailed Representative Elissa Slotkin and the controversial Rashida Tlaib. Confronting the tremendous criticism that Tlaib often faces, Biden said:

“I tell you what, Rashida — and I want to say to you that I admire your intellect, I admire your passion, and I admire your concern for so many other people.  And it’s my — from my heart, I pray that your grandmom and family are well.”

In other words, he called out and praised leaders of government, industry, and labor: people who often find themselves in conflict. Yet, they were all in the room, and seemingly shared goals.
 

An Alternate Perspective: Trump's Speech at the Whirlpool Factory

And Now, Biden’s Thesis!

Biden’s point was that the United States faced a crucial decision, whether to move forward with modern industry. He was, after all, speaking at an industrial research facility. He warned:

“We’re at a great inflection point in American history.  How we handle the next 4 to 10 years is going to determine where we’re going to be 30, 40, 50 years from now.  It’s one of those moments in American history.

“This is an incredible facility.”

More Introductions!

After recognizing even more dignitaries, Biden then asserted unity among the government, labor, and industry leaders whom he was recognizing. Indeed, he turned the routine task of recognizing guests into a rhetorical technique: 

“Labor, industry, federal, state, local leaders all together.  That’s America at its best.  And that’s what I so admire about what Bill Ford is doing here. 

“And I — you know, I want to — so everything that these workers, this historic complex, and this state represent is something that I hope gets modeled around the country.  It’s about respect.  It’s about dignity — the dignity of work.” 

 
We Need New Industry

Ford’s electric research facility is not a traditional auto-making plant. It was, Biden explained, the industry of America’s future:

“And I wanted to be here today — the day before you unveil the next generation of America’s bestselling vehicle to the entire world — to thank you.  Thank you for showing how we win the competition of the 21st century.  You know, how the future is going to be made — it’s going to be made here in America.  Made in America.  (Applause.)”

Biden drove that point home, stressing that “look, the future of the auto industry is electric. There’s no turning back.” He then quoted union leader Rory Gamble, who said “The American auto industry is at a crossroads.” Biden emphasized that the United States needed to move ahead in industry, not backwards: 

“And the real question is whether we’ll lead or we’ll fall behind in the race to the future; or whether we’ll build these vehicles and the batteries that go in them here in the United States or rely on other countries; or whether the jobs to build these vehicles and batteries, that are good-paying union jobs with benefits — jobs that will sustain and grow the middle class.” [Italics added]

But There Is a Challenge

Biden warned his audience that China was racing ahead with new industrial technology. He didn’t deny it. He didn’t beat his chest and pretend that the United States was winning. Instead, he challenged his audience, and as he did so, the rest of America: “Right now, China is leading in this race. Make no bones about it; it’s a fact.” 

Biden pointed out that the United States used to lead in research and development, but, due to the United States’ lack of investment in basic research, technology and infrastructure, China has now badly surpassed the United States: 

“You know, we used to invest more in research and development than any country in the world and China was number eight — or, excuse me, number nine.  We now are number eight and China is number one.  Can’t let that be sustained.”

 
On to the Politics

Toward the end of his speech, Biden reviewed the legislative proposals in the proposed “American Jobs Plan.” He listed three points that the proposal made:

 “One, transform our infrastructure.  Our infrastructure is ranked like 38th in the world.”

And, next: 

“Two, we’re going to boost our manufacturing capacity.  That’s why the American Jobs Plan invests in new and retooled union facilities: grants to kickstart new battery and parts production, loans and tax credits to boost manufacturing of these clean vehicles.” [Italics added]

Finally, he talked about the Plan's research and development component:

 “It also makes the largest investment in research and development in generations.”

Biden reminded his audience that it was government investment that propelled American industry in the past: “It was the Defense Department and NASA that got the modern semi-conductor industry on its feet decades ago. We started it. Your tax dollars.” [Italics added]

As his speech neared the end, Biden pulled his comments together into a brilliant package, ending with this punchline:

“Bottom line: The American Jobs Plan is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America — a blue-collar blueprint to build America.  (Applause.)  And we need automakers and other companies to keep investing here in America.”

 Finally, Biden pointed out that we all need to work together for the nation to succeed:

“This is the United States of America.  There’s not a single thing — and I believe this with every fiber in me — that not a single thing — nothing — beyond our capacity when we act together.  And that’s exactly what we’re about to do, starting with all of you.”

 
Conclusion

Biden’s theme – progress through unity – emerged gradually from a collection of seemingly unconnected comments. Biden didn’t just give this speech at an industrial research facility for his health. He wanted the audience to think about the future. He didn’t call out so many different dignitaries just to be friendly. No, indeed, he wanted to show that all those different people from different groups had come together to help industry make progress. His examples, stories, and historical comments all pointed at that central theme, that Americans need to work together to develop new industry. 

Political scientist Jeffrey K. Tulis’ book The Rhetorical Presidency points out that American presidents can bypass Congress and speak directly to the American people. This recognizes that when the voters are behind something, the politicians will often fall into line. Frankly, I wonder why Biden is not giving speeches like this three and four times a week. Congress, as it stands, is inflexible, hidebound, partisan, and dysfunctional. Nevertheless, if Biden can win the war of ideas, the members of Congress will bend over like the spineless minions they are.

The Republican Party’s premise, of course, is that government needs to get out of the way and let industry succeed. In this speech, Biden argued that the entire nation needs to work together for American interests to succeed. He helped his audience realize that, although labor and industry often are in conflict, each needs the other. He pounded on the warning that we cannot live in the past.

On a personal note, it has bemuses me that businesspeople tend to vote for politically conservative candidates. Why? I guess they want low taxes. However, every successful business person will tell you that today’s success only belongs to yesterday, and that business needs to move forward. Yet, they seem to think that the opposite is true of government. That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Worse, as Biden pointed out, research and development, largely financed by the government, fueled America’s past success. Why have we forgotten that lesson?

 

P. S. There is nothing new about the Democratic Party’s connection with labor, which often helps to overcome the Republican Party’s enormous financial resources. If you’re interested, the first chapter of my book about the 1896 presidential campaign shows how William Jennings Bryan exploited just that relationship more than a century ago. You can find a copy at many university libraries, and it’s available for sale in paperback. 

Image of Biden's speech: White House YouTube Channel