August 11 -- Presidential Joke Day

The Jokester

Today is Presidential Joke Day, marking this date in 1984 when President Ronald Reagan, during a thought-to-be off-the-record voice test, instead of "testing 1-2-3," said, "My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes."  The statement was  picked up by live TV cameras and carried worldwide.