National Presidential Joke Day is observed annually on August 11.
A day to recognize the humor often found and yet not so appreciated in the highest office in the land, National Presidential Joke Day offers a nod to the gaffes, social missteps and sometimes downright hilarious mistakes presidents make. During an election year, the scrutiny of the constituency can be brutal; the presidential candidates should be prepared to handle the presidential joke. The citizenry will be listening!
National Presidential Joke Day began on August 11, 1984. During a sound check for his Saturday evening radio broadcast, President Ronald Reagan joked, “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” Since 1982, the networks had agreed comments made during sound checks were off the record. However, it was leaked to the general public and CBS eventually broadcast the recording on its Monday evening report. Critics blasted Reagan as being unpresidential, and others considered the joke harmless under most circumstances.
Some Presidential Jokes:
Ronald Reagan
“I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.”
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“I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency — even if I’m in a Cabinet meeting.”
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“Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
George W. Bush
“These stories about my intellectual capacity really get under my skin. You know, for a while I even thought my staff believed it. There on my schedule first thing every morning it said, ‘Intelligence Briefing.'”
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”Thank you for your email. This Internet of yours is a wonderful invention.” —To Al Gore during the 2000 presidential campaign
Barack Obama
”If I had to name my greatest strength, I guess it would be my humility. Greatest weakness, it’s possible that I’m a little too awesome.”
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”There are few things in life harder to find and more important to keep than love. Well, love and a birth certificate.”
And More!
”Did you ever think that making a speech on economics is a lot like pissing down your leg? It seems hot to you, but it never does to anyone else.” —Lyndon Johnson
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“I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy: Dear Jack, Don’t buy a single vote more than is necessary. I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide.” —John F. Kennedy, addressing complaints that his father’s money was buying the primary for him.
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”My esteem in this country has gone up substantially. It is very nice now when people wave at me, they use all their fingers.” —Jimmy Carter
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“When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer ‘present’ or ‘not guilty.'” —Teddy Roosevelt
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