Somethings Just Never Change

[Valin]

The Guardian:

14 August 1984: Storm as Reagan bombing joke misfires

 

President Reagan’s instinctive anti-communism - and occasional graveyard humour - has embroiled him in another embarrassing incident. The White House was yesterday trying to calm reactions generated around the world by a bellicosely anti-Soviet presidential comment made into a live microphone.

 

It came as Mr Reagan was preparing for his weekly radio broadcast on Saturday. During a test to adjust the microphones for voice level, Mr Reagan intoned: ‘My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you that I have signed legislation to outlaw Russia for ever. We begin bombing in five minutes.’

 

The Democratic presidential nominee, Mr Walter Mondale, chided Mr Reagan for his joke, saying: ‘A President has to be very, very careful with his words.’

 

He told a press conference: ‘I am willing to accept he saw it as a joke...but others will think it is serious...I don’t think it is very funny...’

 

(Snip)

 

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