We begin bombing in five minutes facts for kids

Reagan during his re-election tour, August 1984

On August 11, 1984, United States President Ronald Reagan was getting ready to give his weekly radio speech. He was running for re-election at the time. Before the speech, while checking the sound, President Reagan told a joke to the radio technicians.

He said: My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.

This joke was a funny take on the real first line of his speech that day. The actual speech began:

My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you that today I signed legislation that will allow student religious groups to begin enjoying a right they've too long been denied — the freedom to meet in public high schools during nonschool hours, just as other student groups are allowed to do.

Many people in America and the Soviet Union were worried about a possible nuclear attack after hearing the joke. This fear lasted until President Reagan explained it was just a joke. Even though Reagan had joked before speeches many times, the Soviet Union was not happy. They even started making fun of him.

The Reagan Radio Joke

What Happened on August 11, 1984?

On a Saturday in August 1984, President Ronald Reagan was preparing for his regular radio address. Before he started, he made a joke to the sound engineers. He pretended to announce that he had signed a law to "outlaw Russia forever" and that "bombing" would start soon.

Why Was the Joke a Big Deal?

At the time, the United States and the Soviet Union (which was a very large country, now mostly Russia) were in a period called the Cold War. This meant they were rivals and had many nuclear weapons. Because of this tension, many people were very scared when they heard President Reagan's joke. They thought it might be a real announcement about a war.

The joke quickly caused worry among people in both countries. It was a serious time, and the idea of a nuclear attack was a real concern for many. Even though President Reagan often joked before speeches, this particular joke was taken very seriously by the Soviet Union. They felt insulted and started to criticize him publicly.

Images for kids

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  President Reagan speaking at a re-election campaign event (July 1984)

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  White House Press Secretary Larry Speakes (September 19, 1983)

See also

In Spanish: Comenzaremos el bombardeo en cinco minutos para niños