Thread by @WhiteHouseHstry

#BobHope was a famous American entertainer, comedian, and actor. Throughout his long career, Hope found success in vaudeville, radio, movies, musicals, and comedy.

He also entertained eleven American presidents, from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Bill Clinton. He made numerous visits to the White House and golfed with Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and Clinton.

In particular, Hope shared a close relationship with President Nixon, who once landed the presidential helicopter in the backyard of Hope’s California home (pictured here), joking, “Do you mind if we park here?”

Image Credit: Bob Hope Collection, Library of Congress

Hope transcended political boundaries, poking fun at both parties alike. He once wrote, “I’ve known eleven presidents about as intimately as a man can without being either a fellow politician or related. I’ve golfed with them, dined with them, told jokes with them…”

“...I’ve even had them steal my material. Laughter is non-partisan—a great leveler. And maybe that’s the one thing all eleven presidents have in common. As long as it’s funny, you can say almost anything to them and get away with it.”

We now present, via @librarycongress: Bob Hope’s Notable Presidential Jokes:

“The first presidential joke I ever told was about George Washington: George told his father, ‘I cannot tell a lie.’ I don’t know how he made it in politics!”—1996

“Well, this is the year we vote for President . . . And President Roosevelt has finally decided to quit throwing his hat in the ring . . . He’s just tied a string on it and now works it like a yo-yo.”—January 29, 1944

“Truman was in fine shape when he talked to Congress . . . He was full of vim, vigor, and veto.”—January 10, 1950

“Ike spent his birthday on the golf course . . . He knows what he is doing. It’s his one chance to walk into the locker room and say ‘Sixty-eight today.’”—October 14, 1958

“President Kennedy is just winding up a non-political tour of the eleven states he lost in the last election . . . It really is non-political. He just wants to see how they’re getting along without federal aid.”—October 5, 1963

“President Johnson couldn’t be here tonight. He’s busy. He’s placing a wreath on the tomb of the ‘unknown foreign policy.’”—January 21, 1967

“President Nixon wanted to be here tonight but he’s busy preparing a speech on the Watergate and he’s busy typing it . . . Which is pretty tough to do with your fingers crossed.”—August 14, 1973

“You all know that Reagan is our oldest chief executive . . . Poli-Grip is now the official presidential seal.”—May 3, 1982

“George Bush told me to read his lips. While I had my eyes on his lips, he went for my wallet.”—July 19, 1990

“Clinton loves to make long speeches. In fact, this will be the first inaugural address with an intermission.”—1996

Image Credits:
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) (1-2)
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum / NARA
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum / NARA
White House Historical Association
NARA reproduction by Polaroid Corporation

Image Credits (Continued):
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum / NARA
George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum / NARA
Blair House: The President's Guest House, U.S. Department of State