Ethnic Joke Is on Him, Reagan Says
VENICE, Italy — President Reagan, unaware that his remarks were being overheard, told an Italian-Irish joke today as he was warming up for his weekly radio address.
During a recording session at the villa where he is staying for the economic summit, Reagan commented that he was going to tell “my gondola joke.â€
The first part of the joke could not be overheard, but it appeared the story concerned a gondolier who was singing a popular Neapolitan song as he piloted his boat through the canals.
The rest of the joke went like this:
“And the Lord said, ‘I wonder what would happen if I took away 25% of his brainpower,’ †as the gondolier was singing ‘O sole mio’ (Oh, my sun)’.
“So the Lord did†and the gondolier sang only part of the song, ‘O sole, O sole.’
“The Lord said, ‘Hey, I’ll take half of it away,’ †and the gondolier’s song was shortened to ‘O so, O so.’
“Finally, the Lord said, ‘What will happen if I take all of his brainpower away?’ and he did.†And the gondolier suddenly switched his tune and sang, “When Irish eyes are smiling.â€
As the audience of broadcast technicians laughed, Reagan said, “See, I can tell that, being Irish.â€
“I can’t tell ethnic jokes except if they’re Irish now,†said Reagan, an Irishman. He laughingly added, “In fact, I can’t go to Ireland anymore.â€
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