“The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Best of Season 3″ is available and can be ordered on the Smothers Brothers website. There is a bunch of Pat Paulsen material in this five DVD set, including “The Pat Paulsen for President” special which aired on CBS in October 1968. Read all of the details on their site.
We’ve supplied a lot of material never seen before and are really excited to see the entire package. Please post your comments after you have had an opportunity to view the collection. We’re looking forward to hearing the raves!!!!!
A tense election year. A volatile atmosphere. America at war. Unrest and cynicism. Racial tension. A nation in turmoil cries out for hope and change. One man answers the call. The year is 1968. The man is Pat Paulsen.
Did Pat Paulsen win the 1968 election? Was there a conspiracy to cover up the number of actual write-in votes? Why was Paulsen forced to appear on national television to denounce his own candidacy? Was this voter suppression? Was this censorship at its height? The Washington Post refused to run his ad asking for write-in votes. Their reason: “We take our politics seriously”, to which Paulsen replied, “So do I.”This is a brief look at the life of the man who should have been President.
May 17, 2008 - Saturday Night Live did a parody of an NBA ad campaign. Once again, Pat, ahead of his time, already blazed through this bit of political satire. Forty years ago, Pat created this on the Smother Brothers show, when he was filmed “Talking out of both sides of his face” during his 1968 Presidential Campaign.
Pat’s Version:
SNL’s Version:
NBA’s Version:
We think Pat’s version is better! Sometimes you just can’t beat the original idea. You decide which version is better. We’re interested in your opinion… post a comment!
OCEAN CITY, NJ…..Pat Paulsen for President Headquarters is now open at Doo Dah Central located in City Hall Annex, 901 Asbury Avenue.
The Doo Dah Board of Governors and Parade Committee have officially endorsed the deceased comedian for president. There will be a Paulsen for President Brigade in the City’s Doo Dah Parade, Sat., April 26 starting at noon.
The Doo Dah offices have been officially designated the New Jersey headquarters for the November election by Paulsen’s widow and soul mate, Noma, National campaign manager from Tujunga, California.
Noma and Paulsen’s children Terri and Monty will visit Ocean City for its Doo Dah events. They will arrive in town next Thursday (April 24).
The Doo Dah Parade has honored legendary comedians for 23 years. Officials note that Paulsen was the first famous comedian to run for president.
“His consistency has been amazing,” notes Mark Soifer, Doo Dah Parade co-founder. “He ran in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992 when he beat Ross Perot in the North Dakota primary. In 1996, he finished second to Bill Clinton in New Hampshire. Now he’s returned from the Great Beyond in an attempt to haunt the Oval Office.
“I’m pleased as punch to have been named New Jersey Campaign Manager by Noma Paulsen,” says Soifer. “The Doo Dah Board of Governors believes that Pat’s ghost can bring a refreshing, humorous approach to the present campaign.
Paulsen has a solid platform, said Soifer. Here are two of his ideas:
On Foreign Aid: We should ask every country in the world to send us whatever they can.
On Taxes: No taxes. Let’s just tip the government 15% if they do a good job.
And so it goes. You gotta love this guy’s logic dead or alive.
The Doo Dah/Paulsen Campaign headquarters has Paulsen “United We Sit” buttons, bumper stickers and posters. Paulsen’s 2008 slogans include: “Pat Paulsen in ‘08, Dead Man Running”, “Pat Paulsen in ‘08, Thinking Inside the Box”, and “Pat Paulsen in ‘08, Never Say Die!”
Paulsen was a regular on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and national TV programs until he passed away in 1997.
“What with the war, the price of gas, the economy and an endless primary, we could all use some Pat Paulsen humor, noted Soifer. “Besides, April is National Humor Month, an appropriate time to remember Pat and his many contributions to comedy.”
Paulsen’s family will hold a press conference at the Port O’ Call on Fri., April 25 at 11 a.m. to announce his posthumous platform and interview vice-presidential hopefuls.
The Democrats are battling for a nominee (it’s getting nasty, folks!) and John McCain is searching for just the right running mate (you know there’s got to be much discussion among his staff to look for someone younger, perhaps a woman, certainly and individual with executive and economic skills). We think it’s time to focus on a Vice Presidential candidate to serve with Pat.
Because Pat’s supporters are so innovative and bright, as evidenced by the wonderful entries in the slogan contest, we’ve decided to leave the decision up to you, our loyal readers.
In the comment section below this post, name a person, living OR not, who will complement the ticket in Pat’s run for the highest office in the land. Make sure to indicate WHY you’ve made your choice. The winner of this contest will receive an original campaign poster from 1968, signed by Pat in 1996 (pictured below).
We have had so many great entries. It shows that supporters of Pat’s candidacy are truly a bunch of brilliant and clever people! The decision was extremely difficult and we want to thank each and every one of the entrants for their participation in the contest.
There is a four way tie for first place. CONGRATULATIONS to:
Lou Warne from Green Lane, PA “Resurrect and Elect!”
Bill Martin from Bainbridge Island, WA “Dead Man Running”
Bill McClellan from Nashua, NH, “Thinking Inside the Box”
Joel Goodman from Saratoga Springs, NY “Never Say Die!”
All four winners will receive an autographed copy of Pat’s 1968 book “Pat Paulsen for President”.
Honorable Mention winners will also receive a first edition copy of the same book. Sorry, not signed:
Duane Heikkinen from Rhinelander, WIÂ “Bringing New Life to Politics”
David Grenewtski from Novato, CA “Join the Pat Paulsen Underground” and…..
Rusty Gear from Los Angeles, CA “One Step Beyond”
Congratulations, again to one and all! Stay tuned - a new contest will be announced in a few days.
The North Cove, WA Genealogy Society contacted us today with interesting information, which on its face was quite a conicidence, considering the numerous reports in the media the last two days regarding similar stories about the current presidential candidates.
Their first revelation was no surprise to us. It is a fact that Pat Paulsen is a direct descendant of Leif Ericson, who you all know discovered America nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus laid his claim.
Other information was quite unexpected, however. They have found that Pat is related to Chief Sitting Bull, who was his great, great uncle on his mother’s side. This makes sense - it must be where he got his often used expression, “Bullfeathers!”
And this: Jesse Jackson is his 5th cousin, twice removed. Through research it has been determined that his family changed the spelling of their name from Jacksen to Jackson three generations ago.
 The most exciting however, is the discovery that Pat and Elvis were 3rd cousins. We should have known - they both had an affinity for peanut butter and banana sandwiches!
They are still conducting research and promised they would be back in touch with more information. We will keep you updated as we hear further news.
Dr. Joel Goodman, founder and director of The HUMOR Project in Saratoga Springs, New York interviewed Pat Paulsen for his LAUGHING MATTERS magazine in 1993 and involved Pat in his annual international humor conference. According to Goodman, “Pat personified and put into action one of my favorite quotes from JFK: ‘There are three things which are real: God, human folly, and laughter. The first two are beyond our comprehension, so we must do what we can with the third.’ In his life…and beyond…Pat has been doing what he can with the third to remind us that we are all humor beings!”
I remember the evening of the interview as if it were yesterday. I hope you enjoy reading it!
In 1968, the landscape of our nation’s political environment was about to change dramatically. In the volatile atmosphere of that election year, during a time of political unrest and cynicism, one man emerged on the political scene and forever changed the way we look at campaign politics. Pat Paulsen, with the face of a desperate Basset Hound and the body of a lumpy toothpick, appeared as if out of nowhere.
Who was this quiet, soft-spoken son of a Norwegian immigrant, whom Hubert Humphrey angrily accused of causing his loss in the 1968 election, whom Bobby Kennedy called “ruthless”, who turned American politics on its head, and paved the way for a new generation of presidential candidates?
This is a look at the self-proclaimed “common, ordinary, simple savior of America’s destiny.” Our one hour television special offers 40 years of historical perspective, presenting candid and insightful observations from past and present political figures, news anchors, pundits, celebrities and friends.
Pat Paulsen: Was he too dumb to be elected….or too honest to be trusted?
“The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Best of Season 3″ is available and can be ordered on the Smothers Brothers website. There is a bunch of Pat Paulsen material in this five DVD set, including “The Pat Paulsen for President” special which aired on CBS in October 1968. Read all of the details on their site.
one man emerged on the political scene and forever changed the way we look at campaign politics. Pat Paulsen, with the face of a desperate Basset Hound and the body of a lumpy toothpick, appeared as if out of nowhere.