@tlambarty2003 that's sheer nonsense. Much of the progressive legislation passed during the Johnson years was drafted by Kennedy and his team, including the civil rights legislation you mention. One might add that Kennedy gave his very life for his controversial stands on such issues.
@Yellyist Kennedy joked at just about every press conference. He was probably one of the wittiest President we've ever had. That wasn't a stupid question, "Mrs. Murphy's Boarding House" is a code. He just thought of a funny answer.
@Suprkit A code for what? She asked one intelligent question and that was the last one. Kennedy should have been more serious on that one. Equal pay was important, and is important.
@Yellyist You have to understand the relationship that the President had with the Press back then. They were what would be called "Buddy-Buddy" back then. "Mrs. Murphy's Boarding House" means a Brothel. He did believe it was important which is why he signed the Equal Pay Act on June 10th,1963 and before that created the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women on December 14th,1961,which helped pave the way for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970's.
@Suprkit Did she ask the president about a whore house?? Wow, haha. I never knew that. Look. I love Kennedy. He was a great president, and a great democrat. He`s one of the reasons for me loving the democratic party. It`s the party of Kennedy!
@Yellyist That's why it's "Code" lol. She was referring to an example that many would not really understand unless it was explained in detail. Also, the fact that he was of Irish decent may have played a role in her asking the question that way. He was a great leader lost before his time.
@Suprkit i agree. Johnson was a disaster. It went straight to hell when they killed Kennedy. He was a great president. it would never have been a civil rights bill without Kennedy. I love the man. He`s my favorite president.
@Yellyist Yes,Johnson had Vietnam(thanks to the Generals) and social unrest to deal with. But the Civil Rights Bill was stalled at the time of Kennedy's assassination and would not have passed if Johnson had not forced the Congress to do so,along with what would become the Great Society(which was being formulated before Kennedy's death). I have great respect for both of them,even with Johnson's flaws.
@Suprkit We disagree on Johnson.. I blame him for the Vietnam war. He reversed Kennedy`s agenda, after kennedy was dead, and moved hundreds of thousand soliders into Vietnam. He did well on domestic issues, but his legacy will always be vietnam.
@Yellyist Same here. I notice how views on Kennedy videos just keep getting more and more all the time. They look at the leaders of today and are disgusted.
@TheFrogger15 ~ sure. kennedy proposed civil rights legislation making it illegal for public places, i.e., theaters, restaurants, hotels, stores, etc. to refuse patronage based on race. legislation that challenged "separate but equal". a compromise was the "hardship clause" or the mythical "mrs. murphy's boarding house", which stipulated small businesses that served under 5 people were exempt. the joke asks will mrs. murphy's tiny business stop vital commerce? it's a clever non answer.
@TheFrogger15 ~ you're welcome, even after understanding the nature of "mrs. murphy", the question and answer still seem a bit ambiguous, i'm not sure if that's because both q & a seem to be beating around the bush, or there's a more direct underlier we're not getting.
@tomitstube See my answer to The Frogger 15 for another "twist" on the Mrs. Murphy answer. JFk originally intended the "interstate commerce" answer to explain whether or not Mrs. Murphy's institution would be impacted by the civil rights bill as he had proposed it to Congress. But I have heard that some folks imaginations ran wild and interpreted it differently and that is the reason for the big laugh.
@0907oliv ~ thank you so much for clearing that up, i knew there had to be a double entendre going on. "boarding house" could have easily been satirized into 'house of ill repute'. and your explanation of the reaction seems to verify that analogy. i don't think jfk intended it that way either.
after watching it again i finally get the real joke. "a substantial impact on interstate commerce" would imply how "active" mrs. murphy was. ; )
@TheFrogger15 I read in a book that the reason people laughed so hard is that joke could be - and I mean only could be - a reference to a house of prostitution. It is doubtful JFK originally intended it that way - but the men in the audience got it and apparently he eventually did and explains the reason why he was suppressing his laugh. It would probably being better understood if we were living in the time. It is the best explanation I have heard for the joke. I enjoy it.
Whatever this man's foibles, and he had many, he still had a natural charisma and likability that really since that time has remained unsurpassed. Over 50 press conferences in just 2 1/2 years and today you're lucky to a politician who will give half a dozen in his entire career.
Kennedy was a beauty
21Hosey 3 weeks ago
this guy's funny
nurula007 1 month ago
30 comments..... all replies to one o.0?
manlord9 1 month ago
Thank God for LBJ because Kennedy did nothing for Civil Rights. Johnson did not only give speeches, but he took action.
tlambarty2003 1 month ago
@tlambarty2003 that's sheer nonsense. Much of the progressive legislation passed during the Johnson years was drafted by Kennedy and his team, including the civil rights legislation you mention. One might add that Kennedy gave his very life for his controversial stands on such issues.
handyman1017 1 month ago
LOL, at 0:50 JFK is like "Oh, I see what they're laughing at now".
draoi99 2 months ago
"well im sure we havent done enough "
LOL
westside26807 2 months ago
They asked him why he has a bandaid on his hand,hahah!!
susankohistany 3 months ago
who is the female report who asked the mrs murphy answer.
MrSteve05 3 months ago
@MrSteve05 Her name is May Craig. She was a reporter since the days of FDR's administration.
Suprkit 3 months ago
@Suprki Kennedy made her into a joke. She asked stupid questions.
Yellyist 1 month ago
@Yellyist Kennedy joked at just about every press conference. He was probably one of the wittiest President we've ever had. That wasn't a stupid question, "Mrs. Murphy's Boarding House" is a code. He just thought of a funny answer.
Suprkit 1 month ago
@Suprkit A code for what? She asked one intelligent question and that was the last one. Kennedy should have been more serious on that one. Equal pay was important, and is important.
Yellyist 1 month ago
@Yellyist You have to understand the relationship that the President had with the Press back then. They were what would be called "Buddy-Buddy" back then. "Mrs. Murphy's Boarding House" means a Brothel. He did believe it was important which is why he signed the Equal Pay Act on June 10th,1963 and before that created the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women on December 14th,1961,which helped pave the way for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970's.
Suprkit 1 month ago
@Suprkit Did she ask the president about a whore house?? Wow, haha. I never knew that. Look. I love Kennedy. He was a great president, and a great democrat. He`s one of the reasons for me loving the democratic party. It`s the party of Kennedy!
Yellyist 1 month ago
@Yellyist That's why it's "Code" lol. She was referring to an example that many would not really understand unless it was explained in detail. Also, the fact that he was of Irish decent may have played a role in her asking the question that way. He was a great leader lost before his time.
Suprkit 1 month ago
@Suprkit i agree. Johnson was a disaster. It went straight to hell when they killed Kennedy. He was a great president. it would never have been a civil rights bill without Kennedy. I love the man. He`s my favorite president.
Yellyist 1 month ago
@Yellyist Yes,Johnson had Vietnam(thanks to the Generals) and social unrest to deal with. But the Civil Rights Bill was stalled at the time of Kennedy's assassination and would not have passed if Johnson had not forced the Congress to do so,along with what would become the Great Society(which was being formulated before Kennedy's death). I have great respect for both of them,even with Johnson's flaws.
Suprkit 1 month ago
@Suprkit We disagree on Johnson.. I blame him for the Vietnam war. He reversed Kennedy`s agenda, after kennedy was dead, and moved hundreds of thousand soliders into Vietnam. He did well on domestic issues, but his legacy will always be vietnam.
Yellyist 1 month ago
@Yellyist Same here. I notice how views on Kennedy videos just keep getting more and more all the time. They look at the leaders of today and are disgusted.
TakeBackAmerica2012 1 month ago
Could someone please explain the joke about Mrs. Murphy?
TheFrogger15 6 months ago
@TheFrogger15 ~ sure. kennedy proposed civil rights legislation making it illegal for public places, i.e., theaters, restaurants, hotels, stores, etc. to refuse patronage based on race. legislation that challenged "separate but equal". a compromise was the "hardship clause" or the mythical "mrs. murphy's boarding house", which stipulated small businesses that served under 5 people were exempt. the joke asks will mrs. murphy's tiny business stop vital commerce? it's a clever non answer.
tomitstube 6 months ago
@tomitstube Thanks...Now it all makes sense.
TheFrogger15 6 months ago
@TheFrogger15 ~ you're welcome, even after understanding the nature of "mrs. murphy", the question and answer still seem a bit ambiguous, i'm not sure if that's because both q & a seem to be beating around the bush, or there's a more direct underlier we're not getting.
tomitstube 6 months ago
@tomitstube See my answer to The Frogger 15 for another "twist" on the Mrs. Murphy answer. JFk originally intended the "interstate commerce" answer to explain whether or not Mrs. Murphy's institution would be impacted by the civil rights bill as he had proposed it to Congress. But I have heard that some folks imaginations ran wild and interpreted it differently and that is the reason for the big laugh.
0907oliv 6 months ago
@0907oliv ~ thank you so much for clearing that up, i knew there had to be a double entendre going on. "boarding house" could have easily been satirized into 'house of ill repute'. and your explanation of the reaction seems to verify that analogy. i don't think jfk intended it that way either.
after watching it again i finally get the real joke. "a substantial impact on interstate commerce" would imply how "active" mrs. murphy was. ; )
tomitstube 6 months ago
@TheFrogger15 I read in a book that the reason people laughed so hard is that joke could be - and I mean only could be - a reference to a house of prostitution. It is doubtful JFK originally intended it that way - but the men in the audience got it and apparently he eventually did and explains the reason why he was suppressing his laugh. It would probably being better understood if we were living in the time. It is the best explanation I have heard for the joke. I enjoy it.
0907oliv 6 months ago
lol who he fuck is mrs murphy!?
mikefan09 7 months ago
I enjoy his press conferences more than any other president.
snoops71 8 months ago
Whatever this man's foibles, and he had many, he still had a natural charisma and likability that really since that time has remained unsurpassed. Over 50 press conferences in just 2 1/2 years and today you're lucky to a politician who will give half a dozen in his entire career.
wisegambler 8 months ago
@wisegambler Yes and thank God we have these treasures to help us look back on those times.
0907oliv 8 months ago
@wisegambler true, true.
mikefan09 7 months ago
@wisegambler JFK had over 60 press conferences in 2 1/2 years......I believe Presidents today are very intimidated by the press today.
TheFrogger15 6 months ago