---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suppose something would happen to the…"
description: "\"Suppose something would happen to the president, who would be in charge? The Vice President. Joe Biden? You have got to be kidding today when you say t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/douglas-wilder-24913_biden_suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-pr_2602101.png"
---

#  Suppose something would happen to the president, who would…

![“Suppose something would happen to the president, who would be in charge? The Vice President. Joe Biden? You have got to be kidding today when you say the Taliban's not our enemy.” quote by Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/douglas-wilder-24913_biden_suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-pr_2602101.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/douglas-wilder-24913_biden_suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-pr_2602101.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/douglas-wilder-24913_biden_suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-pr_2602101.png)

> “Suppose something would happen to the president, who would be in charge? The Vice President. Joe Biden? You have got to be kidding today when you say the Taliban's not our enemy.”

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Succession plans are clear, but mischaracterizing threats can be dangerous.

**In simple terms:** Leadership succession is clear; mislabeling enemies is risky.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about threats.

Themes

politics leadership security misinformation

Mood

critical urgent

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- election cycles
- policy debates
- media analysis

Key Concepts

political science strategic communication

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines an enemy in modern politics?
- How should leaders address misinformation?

A Different Perspective

Over‑simplifying complex geopolitical issues can mislead.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Vice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vice/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/)

## Related quotes

> [Pennsylvania couldn't be prouder of our native son, Joe Biden from Scranton. No one knows us better than Joe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-casey-jr/pennsylvania-couldn-t-be-prouder-of-our-native-son-joe-biden-from/)

[Bob Casey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-casey-jr/)

> [Every man who has sat in the Oval Office has felt the short, sharp shock when an ordinary day in the highest office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/every-man-who-has-sat-in-the-oval-office-has-felt-the-short-sharp/)

[Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/)

> [When George W.Bush attacked Afghanistan, it was widely hailed, and the failure of our war there wasn't understood. Within a few months of attacking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-hersh/when-george-w-bush-attacked-afghanistan-it-was-widely-hailed-and-the/)

[Seymour Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-hersh/)

> [On the day when I was shot, and on the next day, people raised the banners of 'I am Malala'. They did not say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/on-the-day-when-i-was-shot-and-on-the-next-day-people-raised-the/)

[Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/)

> [I say to the Taliban: surrender the terrorists; or surrender power. It's your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-say-to-the-taliban-surrender-the-terrorists-or-surrender-power-it-s/)

[Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/)

> [Fundamentalism, as practiced by the Taliban, is the enemy of real thought, and religion too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/fundamentalism-as-practiced-by-the-taliban-is-the-enemy-of-real/)

[Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/)

> [A tell-all book by David Axelrod, one of President Obama's former strategists, reveals that Obama chose Joe Biden as his VP because of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/a-tell-all-book-by-david-axelrod-one-of-president-obama-s-former/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [President Clinton and President Obama played a round of golf over the weekend. President Clinton asked Obama what his handicap was, and Obama said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/president-clinton-and-president-obama-played-a-round-of-golf-over-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Michelle, I love you so much. The other night, I think the entire country saw just how lucky I am. Malia and Sasha, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/michelle-i-love-you-so-much-the-other-night-i-think-the-entire/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [We have first lady Michelle Obama on the show tonight. As you'd expect, security's been pretty tight. On my way in I got five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/we-have-first-lady-michelle-obama-on-the-show-tonight-as-you-d-expect/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [Joe Biden once again denied stories that he will be replaced on the ticket in 2012. He says he will continue to embarrass President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/joe-biden-once-again-denied-stories-that-he-will-be-replaced-on-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [I can't wait to see the debate between Ryan and Joe Biden. Biden is said to be already trying out different strategies. So far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-can-t-wait-to-see-the-debate-between-ryan-and-joe-biden-biden-is/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [When it comes to pay raises, Congress always plays the role of Grinch. The bill extends an existing pay freeze for Vice President Joe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-davis/when-it-comes-to-pay-raises-congress-always-plays-the-role-of-grinch/)

[Susan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-davis/)

> [That's Joe Biden right there - unbowed, unbroken and unable to stop talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/that-s-joe-biden-right-there-unbowed-unbroken-and-unable-to-stop/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [Yesterday on CNN, Joe Biden said he hasn't made up his mind about whether he'll run for president in 2016. Which raises the question:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/yesterday-on-cnn-joe-biden-said-he-hasn-t-made-up-his-mind-about/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

## More by Douglas Wilder

> [Africa is not a country, but it is a continent like none other. It has that which is elegantly vast or awfully little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/africa-is-not-a-country-but-it-is-a-continent-like-none-other-it-has/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [The first black president will be a politician who is black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/the-first-black-president-will-be-a-politician-who-is-black/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [Government or politics in America today is big business. Everybody makes money involving themselves in one way or the other, whether it's pollsters, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/government-or-politics-in-america-today-is-big-business-everybody/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [Sept. 11 jolted America out of its second gilded age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/sept-11-jolted-america-out-of-its-second-gilded-age/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [Greece's European neighbors were able step in and bolster the weak foundation on which Greece's free-spending budget was based. It would be difficult for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/greece-s-european-neighbors-were-able-step-in-and-bolster-the-weak/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [Since Obama has expressed admiration for the portrait of Abraham Lincoln that Doris Kearns Goodwin paints in 'Team of Rivals,' he could do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/since-obama-has-expressed-admiration-for-the-portrait-of-abraham/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [My experience politically has always been that one-word definition of politics: money. Keep your eye on the buck. And that tells you where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/my-experience-politically-has-always-been-that-one-word-definition-of/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [During the 2008 campaign, I strongly endorsed Barack Obama for president. I did so early, when many Democratic leaders - including many prominent African-American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/during-the-2008-campaign-i-strongly-endorsed-barack-obama-for/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [Certain black leaders would believe that you have to go through their prism: 'If I lay my hand on you, you're OK.' So many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/certain-black-leaders-would-believe-that-you-have-to-go-through-their/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [What is blackness? Is it the way you talk? Do you got to say, 'Dey this, dey dat.' Or the way you dress? Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/what-is-blackness-is-it-the-way-you-talk-do-you-got-to-say-dey-this/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [You don't ever earn a right to stop doing anything if you feel there is an obligation to move in terms of public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/you-don-t-ever-earn-a-right-to-stop-doing-anything-if-you-feel-there/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [Many voted in 2008 with the desire to see racism and racists humiliated by having a qualified black man elected president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/many-voted-in-2008-with-the-desire-to-see-racism-and-racists/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [Slavery is nothing to joke about. The history of this nation's involvement with slavery is nothing to pass off in a joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/slavery-is-nothing-to-joke-about-the-history-of-this-nation-s/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [There will be those who will tell you that you can't make it because of how you look, because of the way you talk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/there-will-be-those-who-will-tell-you-that-you-can-t-make-it-because/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

> [I fought in Korea, front line. I knew who the enemy were. The enemy were the people who were firing at me. And shooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/i-fought-in-korea-front-line-i-knew-who-the-enemy-were-the-enemy-were/)

[Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

[Explore all 23 Douglas Wilder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/)

## More Biden quotes

> [Yesterday on CNN, Joe Biden said he hasn't made up his mind about whether he'll run for president in 2016. Which raises the question:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/yesterday-on-cnn-joe-biden-said-he-hasn-t-made-up-his-mind-about/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [That's Joe Biden right there - unbowed, unbroken and unable to stop talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/that-s-joe-biden-right-there-unbowed-unbroken-and-unable-to-stop/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [I actually prepared Vice President Biden for his debate in the last election. I played Sarah Palin. It's a little tough debating a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-granholm/i-actually-prepared-vice-president-biden-for-his-debate-in-the-last/)

[Jennifer Granholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-granholm/)

> [Of course we all know Biden is the intellect of the Democratic Party. Kind of a grin with a body behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/of-course-we-all-know-biden-is-the-intellect-of-the-democratic-party/)

[Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/)

> [When it comes to pay raises, Congress always plays the role of Grinch. The bill extends an existing pay freeze for Vice President Joe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-davis/when-it-comes-to-pay-raises-congress-always-plays-the-role-of-grinch/)

[Susan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-davis/)

> [It is no secret that I believe my son, Attorney General Beau Biden would make a great United States Senator - just as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/it-is-no-secret-that-i-believe-my-son-attorney-general-beau-biden/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [Shockingly, the Bidens donated under $1,000 to all charities combined every year for the ten years prior to 2008.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shockingly-the-bidens-donated-under-1-000-to-all-charities-combined/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A group called Draft Biden 2016 has started selling bumper stickers that say 'I'm ridin' with Biden.' It's a lot better than the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/a-group-called-draft-biden-2016-has-started-selling-bumper-stickers/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [I can't wait to see the debate between Ryan and Joe Biden. Biden is said to be already trying out different strategies. So far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-can-t-wait-to-see-the-debate-between-ryan-and-joe-biden-biden-is/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [Joe Biden once again denied stories that he will be replaced on the ticket in 2012. He says he will continue to embarrass President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/joe-biden-once-again-denied-stories-that-he-will-be-replaced-on-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Obama and Biden want to raise taxes by a trillion dollars. Guess what? Yes we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/obama-and-biden-want-to-raise-taxes-by-a-trillion-dollars-guess-what/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [What do you want me to tell Romney? I can't tell him to do that. I can't tell him to do that to himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/what-do-you-want-me-to-tell-romney-i-can-t-tell-him-to-do-that-i-can-2/)

[Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/)

> [President Clinton and President Obama played a round of golf over the weekend. President Clinton asked Obama what his handicap was, and Obama said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/president-clinton-and-president-obama-played-a-round-of-golf-over-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Truly 1 percent of this country serves and protects the freedoms of the other 99 percent of us, so many of us don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/truly-1-percent-of-this-country-serves-and-protects-the-freedoms-of/)

[Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/)

> [A tell-all book by David Axelrod, one of President Obama's former strategists, reveals that Obama chose Joe Biden as his VP because of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/a-tell-all-book-by-david-axelrod-one-of-president-obama-s-former/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

Browse all 91 Biden quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Suppose something would happen to the president, who would be in charge? The Vice President. Joe Biden? You have got to be kidding today when you say the Taliban's not our enemy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Douglas Wilder"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-president-who-would-be-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Biden"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-president-who-would-be-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/douglas-wilder-24913_biden_suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-pr_2602101.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/douglas-wilder-24913_biden_suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-pr_2602101.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/douglas-wilder-24913_biden_suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-pr_2602101.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Suppose something would happen to the president, who would be in charge? The Vice President. Joe Biden? You…” — Douglas Wilder",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Douglas Wilder",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Suppose something would happen to the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-president-who-would-be-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/suppose-something-would-happen-to-the-president-who-would-be-in/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
