The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
Edited compilation of speeches made by Ronald Reagan during his Presidency. All contain some type of joke or funny story, showing his sense of humor.
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
February 26, 1982. Ronald Reagan Remarks at a Conservative Political Action Conference Dinner. "Up on the Hill, I understand they were saying, ``You need eloquence in the State Dining Room, wit in the East Room, and sign language in the Oval Office.'' [Laughter] It got so bad that I found myself telling every visitor there were absolutely no tape recordings being made. And if they wanted a transcript of that remark, just mention it to the potted plant on their way out." [Laughter]
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
October 29, 1985. Ronald Reagan Remarks at a Reception for the McLaughlin Group. The third anniversary celebration of "The McLaughlin Group", JOHN MCLAUGHLIN introducing Reagan: Reagan roasts the show, its host & panel. Reagan roasts John McLaughlin and his show. "I've always wanted to be on a McLaughlin show. [Laughter] I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd just drop in. [Laughter] Let's cut the nonsense and get down to beltway business. [Laughter] Issue one -- [laughter] -- the McLaughlin Group, 3 years running strong and getting stronger, seen in -- well, you've just heard how many markets. And now we know that next year it's going to play the big towns. [Laughter] In just 3 short years, the McLaughlin Group has distinguished itself on three fronts. First, it became a stable -- staple -- [laughter] -- that was a Freudian slip -- [laughter] -- in America's diet of political commentary. Its intellectual nutritional values fall somewhere between potato chips and Twinkies. [Laughter] Second, the McLaughlin Group also serves as the most tasteful programming alternative to professional wrestling -- [laughter] -- live from Madison Square Garden. And third, it's also been an obedience school for White House staffers. Issue two, political potpourri. [Laughter] We're talking about the four horsemen of the political apocalypse and their now-famous rotating chair. By the way, Pat Buchanan rotated all the way to a windowless office down the hall in the west wing just across from the broom closet. [Laughter] Well, I can dish it out, as well as take it. [Laughter] I'm going to give it to you with the bark on. [Laughter] That's McLaughlin Group talk. [Laughter] Robert Novak, the Prince of Darkness. [Laughter] I only said that because he's so darn liberal. [Laughter] Morton Kondracke, neoconservative, neoliberal, one of the best open minds in the business. [Laughter] Jack Germond, everything Geraldine Ferraro is today she owes to Jack. [Laughter] But don't laugh, at least he got Minnesota right. [Laughter] And John McLaughlin, Mr. T of TV journalism. [Laughter] I once described John by saying the United States needs a tax increase like John McLaughlin needs assertiveness training. [Laughter] John took a simple Sunday morning discussion format out of the issues of our day and, using the insight, skill, and great humility that have become his trademarks -- [laughter] -- managed to turn it into a political version of 'Animal House.'" [Laughter]
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
May 7, 1987. Ronald Reagan Remarks to Members of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists. "As you know, this is the second time that we've had editorial cartoonists here during this term. Last May I had some of you over for lunch. We're still looking for the missing silverware." [Laughter] edit "As I said, I enjoy your work. But since you're so free at critiquing the job I'm doing, I thought that it would be only fair, now that I have the chance, to take a shot at critiquing your work. I know you can dish it out, but can you really take it? Now, I have here a random selection of some cartoons from ``The Follies,'' and I'll just offer a few words about each." edit "... now, in case some of you can't read, that says, ``Let me clarify the last clarification of the previous clarification on the earlier clarification of the '85 tax issue.'' [Laughter] But that isn't what's important. What's important is where I'm pointing. [Laughter] I've tried everything I can to get my hair to stand up the way you've pictured it -- [laughter] -- and it just won't take. Now, the second cartoon -- here you've got me looking a little upset, and you've got the White House falling down. And that's Howard Baker with the tool kit. And I'm saying, ``Oh, good, you must be the handyman we called.'' But if you were close enough, you'd see that I look a little upset, and that's probably because I just found out Howard doesn't do windows. [Laughter] The third cartoon -- well, in the balloon it says, ``Economic Recovery.'' Now, I'm having trouble recognizing the fellow in the chair, but the crapshooter on the floor -- I got him right away. [Laughter] Yes, sir, he's still recovering from the last election. [Laughter] Now, we're to the fourth cartoon. Now, this one is titled ``The Great Communicator.'' But as you can see, there's been some mistake there. They left the balloon blank, so I think that -- [laughter] -- by filling it in -- I forgot what I was going to say." [Laughter]
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
February 4, 1982. Ronald Reagan Remarks at the Annual National Prayer Breakfast. "And I must say that all of those pile up, an increase of numbers, don't bother me at all, because I recall that Moses was 80 when God commissioned him for public service, and he lived to be 120. [Laughter] And Abraham was 100 and his wife Sarah 90 when they did something truly amazing -- [laughter] -- and he lived to be 175. Just imagine if he had put $2,000 a year into his IRA account." [Laughter]
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
MS Ron and NANCY REAGAN blowing out candles on birthday cake, then joking about how many birthdays he's celebrated. "Blowing out the candles on the cake only one thing came to my mind. This is the 38th anniversary of my 39th birthday. (Looking at Nancy) What are you going to do for my 39th birthday?" Nancy replies; I don t know, you re a hard person to buy a present for.
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
January 20, 1984. Ronald Reagan Remarks to the Reagan Administration Executive Forum. "And, by the way, I just noticed that HHS has announced that there have been new gains in life expectancy for Americans. I'm happy about that. [Laughter] I've already lived about 20-odd years longer than my life expectancy when I was born. That's a source of annoyance to a number of people." [Laughter]
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
May 11, 1988. Ronald Reagan Remarks at the Annual Republican Congressional Fundraising Dinner. MS Reagan at black tie affair, joking about the Rambo movie series, drawing the allusion between himself and the fictional character. "By the way, in a few weeks a new film opens: ``Rambo III.'' You remember, in the first movie Rambo took over a town. In the second, he singlehandedly defeated several Communist armies. And now in the third Rambo film, they say he really gets tough. [Laughter] Almost makes me wish I could serve a third term." [Laughter]
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
December 12, 1986. Ronald Reagan Remarks at a White House Briefing for the American Legislative Exchange Council. "You might want to use this sometime. It's a story about Winston Churchill near the close of the Second World War. He was visited by a delegation from the Temperance League and chastised by one woman who said, 'Mr. Prime Minister, I've heard that if all the whiskey you have drunk since the war began were poured into this room, it would come all the way up to your waist.' Churchill looked dolefully at the floor, then at his waist, and then up to the ceiling. And he said: 'Ah, yes, madam. So much accomplished and so much more left to do.'" [Laughter]
The Great Communicator Vol 4: The Man
July 8, 1985. Ronald Reagan Remarks at the Annual Convention of the American Bar Association. "I was disappointed, though, when the White House Counsel told me that I couldn't accept an honorarium this morning. Actually, I kind of thought it'd be a first to talk to a group of lawyers and I'd come home with the fee -- [laughter] -- but don't worry, I'm not going to speak very long. I have a lunch scheduled back at the White House with my wife, the Vice President, and my Chief of Staff, or as you would put it -- Reagan, Reagan, Regan, and Bush." [Laughter]