Aug. 11, 2026

National Presidential Joke Day.

Show Notes
Transcript

National Presidential Joke Day: famous political humor, comedy in the White House, and wit in history.

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Caalarogu shark media. Hi, I'm Mark Ellison. In today's theme

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is National Presidential Joke Day? Famous political humor, comedy in

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the White House and wit in history. Question one? Which

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US President inadvertently inspired National Presidential Joke Day with an

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off mike quip before a nineteen eighty four radio address,

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joking that he had outlawed Russia forever and that we

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begin bombing in five minutes? And in what year did

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he say it? Question two? When accused of being two

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faced during the eighteen fifty eight debates, what self deprecating

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line did Abraham Lincoln use to diffuse the insult with humor?

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Question three? At a dinner, a guest bet that she

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could get more than two words out of the famously

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taciturn President Calvin Coolidge. What two word reply is he

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said to have given? Question four? Hosting a nineteen sixty

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two White House dinner for Nobel laureates, which President quipped

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that it was the most extraordinary collection of talent, with

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the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. Question five,

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Name the New York charity event name for a former

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governor where presidential candidates traditionally trade good natured jokes and

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self deprecating barbes during election years. We'll be right back

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with these answers after this break. Welcome back. Question one?

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Who made the we begin bombing in five minutes joke?

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And when? Answer? Ronald Reagan nineteen eighty four. Ring a

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sound check on August eleventh, nineteen eighty four, President Ronald

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Reagan joked about outlawing Russia and bombing in five minutes.

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The leaked quip caused diplomatic jitters, and the date is

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now observed by fans of political humor as National Presidential

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Joke Day. Question two? What was Lincoln's famous two faced

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comeback answer? If I were two faced? Would I be

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wearing this? One? Lincoln was known for wit that humanized

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him and blunted attacks. This quip, often cited from his

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eighteen fifty eight Illinois debates, showcased his self awareness and

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comedic timing. Question three, What were Silent cal Coolidge's two

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words in the famous bet story answer? You lose. The

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oft told and possibly apocryphal anecdote sometimes linked to writer

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Dorothy Parker helped cement Coolidge's Silent cal legend, whether or

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not it happened exactly that way. The punchline fits his

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laconic persona. Question four, who delivered the when Thomas Jefferson

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dined alone? Quip? Answer? F Kennedy. JFK's line at a

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nineteen sixty two White House gathering blended humor with reverence

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for American history. It celebrated the intellectual heft of the

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guests while paying a witty tribute to Jefferson's brilliance. Question five,

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What is the New York Roast style political fundraiser for candidates? Answer?

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The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner. The Al Smith Dinner.

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Founded in nineteen forty five and benefiting Catholic charities, The

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Al Smith Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria is a bipartisan

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tradition of political comedy. It offers candidates a rare chance

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to show humor and civility on the same stage. That

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concludes today's five daily Trivia questions. I'm Mark Ellison, and

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today's questions were crafted with the help of AI technology.

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See you tomorrow.

National Presidential Joke Day.

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