Ticking-off for Reagan over bombing joke

Press, 15 August 1984, Page 10

Ticking-off for Reagan over bombing joke

NZPA-Reuter Minneapolis

Walter Mondale has bluntly told. President Ronald Reagan that American Presidents don’t make jokes about bombing the Russians.

The Democratic Presidential candidate yesterday lectured the President on decorum after Mr Reagan’s widely-publicised joke that he had “signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever.” Then he said: “The bombing begins in five minutes.” Mr Mondale told a news conference, “A President has to be very, very careful with his words.”

“People must understand that words like this live, and whatever was intended

... may not be accepted as such. I don’t find it very funny.” The White House yesterday said the joke, made before a Presidential radio address on Saturday, was an off-the-record remark made only to test the microphones. Mr Mondale and other Democrats were quick to attack Mr Reagan.

The former Presidential hopeful, Gary Hart, said, "We are increasingly seeing the President of the United States exercising very poor judgment about matters of great importance. It could be early stress of the campaign, or that he is not getting enough vacation or that his real feelings are finally coming out.” Mr Reagan was not the

only Presidential candidate with problems yesterday. John Zaccaro, husband of Mr Mondale’s running mate, Geraldine Ferraro, has refused to release his income tax returns — which would reveal details of his finances — despite his wife’s pledge earlier that he would do so.

Mr Mondale appeared embarrassed by this but said, “I am not in a position to second-guess him.”

Mr Mondale said all he could ask was that Miss Ferraro make her own tax returns public. The “New York Times” has also chided Mr Reagan for his joke about bombing the Russians and suggested he pick his subjects for humour more carefully. (Earlier story, Page 32)