If it's the former are you saying he claimed to have invented assembly?
It's an interesting speech and I'm glad you posted it but I'm struggling to understand the connection to Booth
I really wish I could have received an answer. I don't follow why asking the question was considered wrong.
Really - if someone who downvoted this - or understands why it was downvoted could explain I'd really appreciate it.
The take away from the quote posted, to me, was the fact that at one time assembler was a huge innovation. Today it is seen as so low level no one would ever bother with it. But from Hammings perspective it was a huge boon to productivity.