Reagan's "We begin bombing in five minutes" joke

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On August 11, 1984, United States President Ronald Reagan, while running for re-election, was preparing to make his weekly Saturday address on National Public Radio. As a sound check prior to the address, Reagan made the following joke to the radio technicians:

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.

The joke was a parody of the opening line of that day's speech:

My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you that today I signed legislation that will allow student religious groups to begin enjoying a right they've too long been denied — the freedom to meet in public high schools during nonschool hours, just as other student groups are allowed to do.^[1]

Contrary to popular misconception, the joke was not broadcast over the air; instead it was leaked later to the general populace. But the Tokyo newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported in October 1984 that the Soviet Far East Army was placed on alert after word of the statement got out, and that the alert was not withdrawn until 30 minutes later. Congressman Michael Barnes (D-Md.) confirmed that information with then Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger.^[2] There was no report of any change in the DEFCON level for the United States.

Contents 1 Popular culture 2 External links 3 Trivia 4 References

[edit] Popular culture

A recording of the speech was sampled by musicians Jerry Harrison and Bootsy Collins and edited into the dance single "Five Minutes", credited to Bonzo Goes to Washington. Other songs sampling the speech are "Jesus Gone" and "Irak 1 (Second Take)" by :Wumpscut:, "Blind Machines" by Hopeful Machines, "World Destruction" by Time Zone, "Interrogation Leash" by the group Grendel and "Nemesis" by Culture Kultür. In Charles Stross' alternate history short story "A Colder War", the Soviets believe that the joke is Reagan giving a serious announcement, and react by starting World War III.

[edit] External links

• Hear the recording (help·info)
• Audio via NPR: [1]

[edit] Trivia

• Reagan had also joked during a sound-check prior to his October 9, 1982 NPR address, beginning "Yesterday the Polish Government, a bunch of fresh-smelling flower children, took another far-reaching step in their deodorization of their own people."^[3]

[edit] References