Word: joking
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1930-1939
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Hoover legends of the past ten years, Republicans meeting him for the first time are surprised to discover that he is a very able man and promptly conclude that he is badly maligned. He does not do the things that politicians are supposed to do: he cannot tell a joke, seldom even laughs at a good one and cannot go through the complicated ritual-throwing back the head, slapping the thigh-which immemorial tradition holds is the proper U. S. politician's response to a bad one. His handshake is no heartier than the usual political handshake deserves...
Surprised by the cleverness of Finland's preparations, Russia's press exploded in wrath. Wrote Nikolai Virta in Pravda (from Terijoki, where Russia has set up its joke People's Government): "When our tired men wanted to drink, they found all the village wells filled with earth. . . . Hardly had the first Red fighter set foot on Finnish soil when an explosion rent the air-a mine! Mines are everywhere." Even the Russian soldiers were indignant. Writer Virta quoted one as saying: "What cads! . . . They are masters of foul play. How well they make such nastiness...
Last week President Roosevelt spent his quietest seven days since the war began. He traveled from Hyde Park to Warm Springs, with a brief stop-over in Washington, dedicated a community centre, made a joke about the third term, carved a turkey at the Thanksgiving dinner for the patients at the Warm Springs Foundation, looked over his 2,500-acre Georgia farm, held a press conference at the roadside while sitting at the wheel of his car, discussed taxes, and in general provided reporters with nothing to write about...
When quaint Dexter Merriam Keezer became president of little Reed College (Portland, Ore.) five years ago, he ventured a purely academic joke: that Reed might hire a good football team and special professors to keep the players eligible. Early next morning players, coaches and professors began to arrive in droves to offer their services. Dazed President Keezer sent them away, decided not to trifle again with so serious a subject. Last week football came back to plague Mr. Keezer again...
...Midwest. But in the last decade, under the regime of President Robert M. Hutchins, football has been de-emphasized, its teams play like scrubs (154 points have been scored against them in four games this season) and its alumni bow their heads on Saturday nights. "We are a big joke in the eyes of the American public," wailed the student Daily Maroon last week...