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Great Political Wit
by Robert Dole
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Nan A. Talese (1998-09-15)
ISBN: 0385493479
EAN: 9780385493475
Dewy Decimal #: 320.9730207
Hardcover: 208 pages
Edition: 1
Release Date: 1998-09-15
SKU: BX028-061109013
Condition: Used: Very Good Firs
Comments: Clean and shiny. Minor wear, near new, not pricecut. Pgs crisp, clean, tight, unmarked. No remainder mark.
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Editorial Reviews
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Amazon.com Review
Shortly after his defeat in the 1996 U.S. presidential election, Republican Bob Dole was invited to appear on David Letterman's Late Show. Letterman asked Dole about President Clinton's weight, but Dole wasn't taking the bait. "I never tried to lift him," he retorted. "I just tried to beat him." That was the first time many Americans got to see a side of Bob Dole rarely revealed to the public during his 36 years on Capitol Hill--the dry, wicked sense of humor that quickly became a defining characteristic of his postpolitical career. Great Political Wit collects some of Bob Dole's favorite humorous anecdotes about American politicians--and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who gets most of the handful of truly savage putdowns. (Told by one female member of the House of Commons that he was drunk, Churchill replied, "You're ugly, and tomorrow morning I'll be sober, but you'll still be ugly.") If you like the "Laughter Is the Best Medicine" section of Reader's Digest, the stories about pols like Ronald Reagan, Tip O'Neill, and Woodrow Wilson are sure to make you smile. This reviewer's candidate for the funniest American president, though, would have to be Calvin Coolidge, especially after reading about the time that, at a ceremony for the laying of a cornerstone, Coolidge turned over a spadeful of dirt and then fell silent. Prompted by the master of ceremonies to say something, Coolidge looked down at the ground and remarked, "That's a fine fish worm." --Ron Hogan
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Product Description
Famous for his delectably dry humor, Senator Bob Dole brings us the ultimate bipartisan book: some of his favorite witticisms, hilarious remarks, and wry observations of the great political figures of this century.
Bob Dole's political career may not have taken him to the White House, but he did pick up some great stories along the way. In this delightful collection, the longtime United States senator shares his favorite anecdotes, witticisms, and reminiscences.
From the campaign trail to the Oval Office, from smoked-filled rooms to the chambers of the Capitol, Bob Dole surveys a century of political wit. There are bon mots from Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and a host of other political figures. Bob Dole introduces each section with mirthful moments from his own experience, displaying the gift for wry humor that has made him such a favorite guest on late-night talk shows.
A jovial--and completely bipartisan--compendium, Great Political Wit is a connoisseur's selection of political repartee at its best.
Great Political Wit will have readers rolling on both sides of the aisle.
Bob Dole is recognized as one of the nation's most prominent political figures of the twentieth century. Known for his effectiveness as a consensus builder in his thirty-five years in Congress, Senator Dole was the longest-serving Republican leader in Senate history. He was also chairman of the Republican National Committee, the 1976 Republican nominee for vice president, and the 1996 Republican nominee for president. He is currently serving as the chairman of the World War II Memorial campaign and as chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons in Bosnia. Wounded in World War II, Senator Dole was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. He is married to Elizabeth Hanford Dole, president of the American Red Cross, and lives in Washington, D.C.
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Customer Reviews
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If Bob Dole had demonstrated this wit starting in the 1976 presidential election, he probably would have been president
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-05-08
My first exposure to Bob Dole was when he was the vice presidential nominee with President Gerald Ford in 1976. His performance as a political hatchet man during the vice presidential debate convinced me that he was unsuited for the job and helped convince me to cast my vote for Jimmy Carter. It took some time before I realized that he was in fact one of the greatest legislators of all time. In this book he also demonstrates that he has a humorous side that dominates his cranky appearance.
My favorite joke of all in this book was actually uttered by uttered by Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show."
"In a stunning admission on `Larry King Live' last night, Bob Dole revealed he is one of the test subjects for Viagra. He said on Larry King, `I wish I had bought stock in it.' Only a Republican would think the best part of Viagra is the fact that you could make money off of it."
This is a great joke and shows that Dole is capable of poking fun at himself. Had he publicly demonstrated this trait two decades earlier, it is quite likely that he would have been president.
I did not find any of the political jokes to be side-splitters, although they were amusing. They certainly were bipartisan in nature, all of the Presidents back to Theodore Roosevelt and the leading members of Congress appear on at least one side of a joke. The source of some of the jokes will surprise you, even Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon told some pretty good ones.
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A trace of history and a tinge of humor
Rating  (3)
Date: 2007-08-26
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I wasn't sure if the title of this little book was intended to imply that the author, Bob Dole, laughed, or almost laughed, as he almost became President of the United States or that the book, itself, was intended to be almost funny. I hoped for the latter and found that to be true. That's not to say that the book wasn't interesting, but taken out of context most of the quotes seemed to fall a little flat. To me, it was like reading a book of the 1000 funniest jokes. If you have ever attempted it, you likely found, as I did, that few, if any, struck you as funny. What was missing was the context, the spontaneity, and especially the teller -- the Bob Hope, the Robin Williams, your best friend, or your drinking companion.
But, if you read this book closely, you will find that it sheds some light on our nation's political history, at least since Thomas Jefferson's time, and reveals that politicians and the reporting media haven't changed much over the years.
So, if you are interested in politics/politicians and are looking for a book with a trace of history and tinge of humor, you might find this one to be to your liking. As for myself, I particularly enjoyed the sage observations of Ronald Reagan and the wit and humor of Winston Churchill and that great humorist, Calvin Coolidge. Brevity, as they say, is the soul of wit. But, in my view, true wit is the ability to capture concisely the essence of a situation and express the truth of it in a humorous or meaningful way. And no one was better at doing that than Ronald Reagan. Fortunately, this little book is replete with many his witty pronouncements.
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Funny stuff from a fabulous person
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-07-20
Bob Dole is a very funny guy. He has seen and done so much and is able to laugh about so many great things.
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Funny stuff! Completely bipartisan.
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-10-02
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I received this as a gift from my stepmother -- an autographed copy! In this completely bipartisan volume, former Senator and Vice-Presidential and Presidential candidate Bob Dole has compiled a collection of his favorite quotes from politicians and those around them -- with great success.
There are quotes about every aspect of politics -- public speaking, religion, the economy, war, the vice-presidency, losing, etc -- from American history's wittiest politicians such as Calvin Coolidge and Ronald Reagan. There's a final section full of late-night TV show jokes made about Bob Dole.
There's little more to say about this book -- it is what it is, and it succeeds in its purpose.
A real treat for any lover of political humor!
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A book to enjoy front to back or for just dipping into
Rating (4)
Date: 2003-12-07
5 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is a very enjoyable book. Bob Dole has a fine sense of humor and has selected witty sayings by politicians on a variety of topics in a range of situations. Senator Dole has organized them topically and I found all of them funny and many of them hilarious. A few are even worth committing to memory.It isn't a long book, but it offers a lot of great stories. What is even better is that Mr. Dole shares his own knowledge of some of the people he quotes in the book and of the institutions in Washington that he knows so well. It is a book you can enjoy reading from front to back or just dipping into briefly again and again. A word to speakers who would use the anecdotes from this book: be careful. I remember when this book first came out and politicians everywhere were quoting this or that story from it and it was a bit embarrassing to hear. This kind of humor is something that has to be used with a delicate touch and with the best style and timing. You can't just say the words and expect the big laugh. It just doesn't work that way. I always enjoyed Senator Dole's sense of humor and he could pull it off with a bit of an acerbic touch. Some folks didn't like that spice, but I always did.
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