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

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 comment, never meant for broadcast, was later released to the general populace. Contrary to popular misconception, however, the comment was not broadcast over the air. However, it was reported by the Tokyo newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun 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1984 that the Soviet Far East Army was placed on alert after word of the statement got out, and that the alert was not withdrawn until 30 minutes later.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. [ "Pentagon confirms Soviets were on war alert", "Pacific Stars and Stripes", October 14, 1984, p4 ] There was no report of any change in the DEFCON level for the United States.

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 is "Jesus Gone" and "Irak 1 (Second Take)" by , "Blind Machines" by Hopeful Machines, World Destruction by Time Zone and "Interrogation Leash" by the group Grendel.

External links

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* Audio via NPR: [http://www.npr.org/news/specials/obits/reagan/audio_archive.html]

Trivia

Reagan's 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." [ http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1984/81184a.htm Radio Address to the Nation on Congressional Inaction on Proposed Legislation ]

*Reagan had also joked during a sound-check prior to his October 9, 1982 NPR address, beginning "Yesterday the Polish Government, a bunch of no good lousy bums, took another far-reaching step in their persecution of their own people." [ "Lousy Bums and Other Asides," Hugh Sidey, The Presidency, TIME, October 25 1982 ] .