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Barack Obama

Obama fumbles classic song title: 'R-S-P-E-C-T'

David Jackson
USA TODAY
President Obama

Maybe he was a little nervous about being in the presence of a musical legend: Aretha Franklin.

Whatever the reason, President Obama flubbed the famous refrain of Franklin's most famous song on Thursday night, dropping a vowel as he spelled out "R-S-P-E-C-T.":

As guests at the White House "Women of Soul" concert chuckled, Obama plowed ahead to discuss the legacy of Franklin and Respect, released in 1967.

"She had no idea it would become a rallying cry for African-Americans, and women, and then everyone who felt marginalized because of what they looked like or who they loved," Obama said. "They wanted some respect."

He added: "Later, when somebody asked her why it had such an impact, she said, 'I guess everybody just wants a little respect.'"

The official White House transcript gives Obama credit for spelling out "R-E-S-P-E-C-T;" the video tells a different story.

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