Every year on August 11, we celebrate National Presidential Joke Day, a day recognizing the lighter side of the men (and someday, perhaps women) who have served as President of the United States.

One thing that has united presidents throughout American history regardless of political party is the ability to laugh, especially at themselves.

Why August 11th you ask.  Well on August 11, 1984 President Ronald Reagan was getting ready to do his weekly Saturday evening radio broadcast.  During a routine microphone soundcheck, he jokingly announced: "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."

Thankfully tensions went away and Reagan and his Soviet counterpart were able to laugh about it.  So it was decided that this was a good a day as any to remember our Presidents have had a good sense of humor about themselves, even ones that were relatively uptight personally.  

Richard Nixon went on the comed/variety show Laugh In and did their catchphrase at the time that celebrities would come on to say, “sock it to me?”

Gerald Ford was mercilessly mocked for his clumsiness, despite playing football for a certain Big Ten school. 

I will never forget watching a show about Presidential Humor at his Presidential Library that he hosted.  They had some great one liner jokes from famous comedians like Bob Hope - “My favorite Gold Foreseome is, President Ford, a paramedic and a faith healer” to having Chevy Chase who handle the Saturday Night Live skits of him come out as him to welcome people.  

Jimmy Carter, on the David Letterman show years after office told a great story about giving a talk to a group who spoke Japanese and he got great laughs for his joke.  He found out later that the interpreter told the crowd  "President Carter told a funny story. Everyone must laugh." 

Ronald Reagan, besides his gaffe with the mic check loved to make sure of himself, one of my favorites "I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency—even if I'm in a Cabinet meeting."

George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush both had comedian impersonators of them host events for their teams.  

Bill Clinton, for his last White House Correspondents Dinner, was part of a video tribute to one of the retiring correspondents making fun of him now being a lame duck and her running into him in the press room and saying “what, you’re still here?”

Barack Obama, having seen Key & Peeles skits about him needing an anger translator, Obama speaking calm and rational, but his anger translator Luther would say what he really thought about those trying to get a rise out of him, had Jordan Peele come and be Luther for him at the dinner.  

Joe Biden as Vice President did a cameo on Parks and Recreation and also during his last White House Corespondents Dinner he joked that  "Of course, the New York Times issued a statement calling my speech 'a nostalgic look back at the Garfield administration.'"

And while Kurt has never serve in that high an office, in 2017 he was serving on Toledo Council and was invited to a candidate talent show and joked about his recent showing in a primary and then said “Someone asked me what made me think that a geeky, balding, overweight guy had a future in Toledo Politics. I told that that was easy, one word Wade (Mayor of Toledo)

Those in positions of power and service should have a sense of humor about themselves and the job.

Here at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC, we know there are times when life gets serious. Workplace injuries, medical treatment, hearings, and legal paperwork can all create stress for injured workers and their families.

That's why we also appreciate opportunities like today to smile a little.

In fact Kurt loves to collect lawyer jokes, for instance his spin on a classic: 

What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? A good lawyer knows the law, a great lawyer knows the judge, the best lawyer knows what the judge thinks the law is.

We deal with clients in some of the darkest, worst times of their lives.  So we take all we do seriously, but there are times that a smile is the best way to get through the day.

Happy National Presidential Joke Day from all of us at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC!

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