We begin bombing in five minutes
The saying We begin bombing in five minutes is a controversial joke made by US President Ronald Reagan on August 11, 1984.
On August 11, 1984, the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, was preparing for his weekly Saturday address on public radio. During the sound test before his speech, Reagan made the following joke:
"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."
"My fellow Americans, I am pleased to announce today that I have signed a law declaring Russia forever outlawed. We will begin bombing in five minutes."
- Ronald Reagan
The joke was a parody of the introduction to the speech that day:
"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."
"My fellow Americans, I am pleased to announce today that I have signed legislation that will allow student religious groups to enjoy a right that has been denied to them for too long - the freedom to meet in public high schools outside of school hours, just as other student groups are entitled to do."
- Ronald Reagan
Contrary to popular belief, the joke was not broadcast publicly, but later leaked to the public. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported in October 1984 that the Far Eastern Military District of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union was placed on alert after rumors of the remark became public, and that the alert was ended after 30 minutes. Congressman Michael D. Barnes confirmed this information with then Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. There were no reports of a change in the U.S. DEFCON level.
Although this was not Reagan's first joke before a speech or address, the official Soviet news agency TASS clearly condemned the joke. It stated, "The USSR condemns this unprecedented and hostile attack by the U.S. president" and "this kind of behavior is incompatible with the great responsibility that the leaders of the nuclear states bear for the destinies of their own people and humanity." The daily Pravda, then the organ of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, commented that Reagan had "blurted out what is constantly on his mind."
