Life, 1929-05-03 · page 21 of 44
Life — May 3, 1929 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This piece satirizes President Herbert Hoover during Prohibition (implied by the bootlegger reference). The humor centers on wrong numbers—a common nuisance—but weaponizes it to mock Hoover's isolation and the absurdity of his position. The joke: When Hoover identifies himself as "President of the United States," the caller dismisses him, saying "Tell that to the Marines!"—a dismissive phrase meaning "I don't believe you." The escalating absurdity (callers seeking "Jane," an aunt named "Mitty," a bootlegger) suggests Hoover is so out of touch with ordinary Americans that his actual identity sounds implausible. The bootlegger reference mocks enforcement of Prohibition, which Hoover supported but was widely flouted. The satire implies Hoover's presidency was so disconnected from reality that even claiming to be President sounds like a prank call.
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He Py Dy Aprit_ 11—Home now for the third day, and I do find the most depressing thing after quitting hospi- tal, next to paying the bill, to be the vast number of individuals who do not even know that one has been ill, but Sam does caution me not to worry over the matter forasmuch as I shall not allow them to remain long in ig- norance. Dora Wheeler to see me, telling me how an acquaintance of hers was wroth to have laid out sev- eral hundred dollars amongst chirur- geons only to learn that there was nought wrong with her, an investment which I should rate Ar, even though my husband does noise it about that when I send spirituous liquors to the chemist for analysis I feel cheated if the report be favorable. My own chances for longevity being greatly in- creased, since Dr. Osler said that the best assurance of protracted, healthy existence was the possession of a mal- ady of which care must be taken, I do now pray that I be not snuffed out by pneumonia or a taxicab, thereby ren- dering vain my sacrifice of concen- trated carbohydrate. Much talk with Dora of our college days, and she did ask if I recalled the time I had stopped to put on a hairnet before quitting the dormitory upon a cry of “Fire!” and Bebe Leonard Buorro: My gosh! Six speakeasies in less'n fifty feet! I did; as well as how C. Graham, now Mistress Breckenridge Long, sur- rounded by sables, Paquin models and gold toilet accessories, had chosen to salvage her Banjo Club pin. My luncheon on a tray, three saltines, tea, (Continued on Page 36) “I told that darn porter to wake me five minutes before we reached Galesburg!” Phone in the White House According to the newspapers Presi- dent Hoover has had a telephone in- stalled on his desk. The telephone will ring and the President will an- swer it. Prestpent Hoover: Voice on 'PHONE: Prestpent Hoover: the wrong number. Voice on "Puone: Jane. Prestpent Hoover: the wrong number. Voice on ’Prone: I want to talk to Jane Doe. J-A-N-E D-O-E! Presipent Hoover: You MUST have the wrong number. Voice on ‘PHONE: speaking? Prestpent Hoover: The President of the United States. Voice on 'PHONE: Mitty! Prestoent Hoover: You MUST have the wrong number. Voice on "Prone: Say, you are not a bootlegger, are you? Prestoent Hoover: Certainly not. I am the President of the United States. Voice on 'PHone: Tell that to the Marines! —John Henley Tyree. Hello. Hello, dear. You must have I want to talk to You must have Who's this So’s your Aunt comicbooks.com