The English language is infinitely flexible, providing multiple synonyms for almost every word. While that is helpful in most situations, it can also contribute to some confusing and embarrassing slips of the […]
Doling Out the Difference Between Dole and Nixon
One of the favorite sons of the state of Kansas is former U.S. Senator Bob Dole. He is admired for his service to the country and for his brilliant sense of humor. […]
Fatherhood Prepares Lincoln For the Presidency
While Abraham Lincoln was living in Springfield, Illinois, one of his neighbors looked out the window and saw a curious sight. The tall, lanky lawyer was walking down the street with his […]
Triboulet: The Jester Who Was Condemned — and Saved — By His Wits
Nicolas Ferrial, also known as Le Févrial or Triboulet (1479–1536), was one of the most celebrated jesters in history. He served two French kings: Louis XII and Francis I. He had all […]
The Wit and Wisdom of Erma Bombeck
Erma Bombeck (February 21, 1927 – April 22, 1996) started writing weekly newspaper columns in 1964 for $3 apiece. By the 1980s, she was one of the most popular columnists in the […]
Nixon and the Desired Kennedy Speech
Despite a hard-fought campaign and a narrow loss to John F. Kennedy in the 1960 Presidential election, Richard Nixon was able to maintain some sense of good humor. In congratulating the newly-inaugurated […]
Reagan On Irresponsible Government
President Ronald Reagan spent his entire political life warning against the dangers of ever-growing federal government. He once summed up his philosophy about government, saying, “Government is like a baby. An alimentary […]
A Dose of Humor Dispels Lincoln’s Critics
No President understood the power of humor better than Abraham Lincoln. His longtime political opponent Stephen A. Douglas complained that Lincoln’s jokes were “like a slap across my back. Nothing else — […]
The Tale of the Pregnant President
Weighing in at well over 300 pounds, President William Howard Taft was accustomed to being on the receiving end of many jabs about his girth. He also knew how to reply in […]
A Good Joke May Not Always Be the Best Medicine
When Alex Mitchell laughed himself to death while watching a comedy skit, it was a tragedy, but it certainly was not the first time anyone died from a fatal case of belly […]
Three POTUS Portrayals
Senator Robert Dole, upon seeing a picture of former presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon lined up at an official event, pointed them out and identified them, in turn, as […]
Holy Humor
Pope John XXIII (1881-1963) had an impatience for bureaucracy and a wonderful sense of humor. Sometimes these two qualities came together with memorable results. When asked how many people work at the […]
Throw it All Away — But Be Sure to Keep It All
President Ronald Reagan devoted his presidency to combating an ever-growing and intrusive federal government. He recounted his days in the Army Air Force during World War II when he first faced the […]
Christmas in D.C.
“Our nation’s capital is really getting into the holiday spirit. Yesterday I saw Tip O’Neil with a beard and red suit, shimmying down the Washington Monument.” — Bob Hope Tip O’Neil, a […]
2 D’s, or Not 2 D’s…
President Abraham Lincoln liked to joke about the well-to-do background of his wife’s family. “The Todds spell their name with two d’s, which is pretty impressive, considering one d is good enough […]