Pat Paulsen Quotes

Patrick Layton Paulsen was an American comedian and satirist notable for his roles on several of the Smothers Brothers television shows, and for his campaigns for President of the United States in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1992, and 1996, which had primarily comedic rather than political objectives, although his campaigns generated some protest votes for him.

✵ 6. July 1927 – 24. April 1997
Pat Paulsen photo
Pat Paulsen: 13   quotes 0   likes

Famous Pat Paulsen Quotes

“Left-wing or right-wing. No, I'm not either. I'm kind of middle-of-the-bird.”

Responding to audience question, "Are you left-wing or right-wing?"
Unidentified press conference, 1968
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 3 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdjY3TXYJkw&feature=relmfu, 02:49 ff (20:49 ff in full program)

“I've repeatedly warned we must avoid the extremists: those who say we should pull out our troops in Vietnam immediately, those who say we should escalate and go right into North Vietnam… I tell you, we should continue doing what we have been: just messing around.”

Unidentified press conference, 1968
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 2 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbP0ufyax5A&feature=relmfu, 01:01 ff (10:01 ff in full program)

“After all, the leaders of our country were not elected to be tittered at. Censors have to draw the line somewhere. For instance, we are allowed to say Ronald Reagan is a lousy actor, but we're not allowed to say he's a lousy governor – which is ridiculous. We know he's a good actor. And you can't say anything bad about President Johnston [sic], because you shouldn't insult the President. But if you compliment him, who will believe it?”

"An Editorial: Should TV Be Censored?", The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, unidentified episode
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 2 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbP0ufyax5A&feature=relmfu, 05:01 ff (14:01 ff in full program)
Alternative version archived at "Should Television Shows Be Censored?" http://www.paulsen.com/censor.html, Paulsen.com, January 7, 1968

“I do not claim that I can solve all the world's problems by myself. If I did, I'd have to run as a Republican or a Democrat.”

Unidentified dinner, 1968
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 6 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntOuehGE_D8&feature=relmfu, 02:32 ff (47:32 ff in full program)

“I promise you all, my fellow Americans, that I will continue to make promises that I will be unable to fulfill”

Unidentified rally, 1968
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 4 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gpLpP6CWvo&feature=relmfu, 06:22 ff (33:22 ff in full program)
Context: I've conducted my campaign thus far in the true American political tradition: I lied about my intention to run [... ] I have been consistently vague on all the issues [... ] Therefore I promise you all, my fellow Americans, that I will continue to make promises that I will be unable to fulfill.

“A good many people today feel our present draft laws are unjust. These people are called soldiers.”

"An Editorial: Are Our Draft Laws Unfair?", The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, unidentified episode
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 2 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbP0ufyax5A&feature=relmfu, 02:42 ff (11:42 ff in full program)
Alternative version archived at "Should Television Shows Be Censored?" http://www.paulsen.com/censor.html, Paulsen.com, October 29, 1967
Context: A good many people today feel our present draft laws are unjust. These people are called soldiers. In one of the arguments against the draft, we hear it is unfair, immoral, discourages young men from studying, ruins their careers and their lives. Picky, picky, picky! We propose a draft lottery, in which the names of all eligible males will be put into a hat, and the men will be drafted according to their hat sizes. The tiny heads will go into the military service, and the fat heads will go into government.

Pat Paulsen Quotes

“I say nay to the negative nincompoops who never nourished the nihilistic nerve to name a novice to nail down the nomination”

Unidentified press conference, 1968
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 2 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbP0ufyax5A&feature=relmfu, 07:20 ff (16:20 ff in full program)
Note: Despite the similarity, this would appear not to be a parody of Vice President Spiro Agnew's "nattering nabobs of negativism", which is from a September 11, 1970 speech.
Context: Many political experts have told me that nobody will vote for me because America is not ready for such decisive and dynamic leadership. They tell me these things, and I say nay to the negative nincompoops who never nourished the nihilistic nerve to name a novice to nail down the nomination.

“… let's all remember that we have a government "of the people, for the people, and by the people", and there are very few people in our government that you can't buy.”

Archived at "Congressional Ethics" http://www.paulsen.com/congress.html, Paulsen.com, January 12, 1968

“I ask you, will I solve our civil rights problems? Will I unite this country and bring it forward? Will I obliterate the national debt? [long pause] Sure, why not? Thank you.”

Unidentified press conference, 1968
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 2 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbP0ufyax5A&feature=relmfu, 01:54 ff (10:54 ff in full program)

“As a keen political observer, I've noticed that most people do not really vote for someone for the Presidency as much as they vote against the other candidate. And I think President Johnston's [sic] decision was unfair to these people.”

Referring to President Johnson's decision not to run for re-election
Unidentified press conference, 1968
Featured in Pat Paulsen for President (1968), part 2 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbP0ufyax5A&feature=relmfu, 01:30 ff (10:30 ff in full program)

Similar authors

John F. Kennedy photo
John F. Kennedy 469
35th president of the United States of America
Franklin D. Roosevelt photo
Franklin D. Roosevelt 190
32nd President of the United States
George S. Patton photo
George S. Patton 77
United States Army general
Donald J. Trump photo
Donald J. Trump 904
45th President of the United States of America
Eleanor Roosevelt photo
Eleanor Roosevelt 148
American politician, diplomat, and activist, and First Lady…
Ben Carson photo
Ben Carson 191
17th and current United States Secretary of Housing and Urb…
Arthur Miller photo
Arthur Miller 147
playwright from the United States
Dwight D. Eisenhower photo
Dwight D. Eisenhower 173
American general and politician, 34th president of the Unit…
Winston S. Churchill photo
Winston S. Churchill 601
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Ludwig von Mises photo
Ludwig von Mises 62
austrian economist