When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts in the 1950’s, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was very hungry. As Herter went down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.
“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”
“Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”
“But I’m famished,” the governor said.
“Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.”
Governor Herter, who would later serve as secretary of state and be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around.
“Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the governor of this state.”
“Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”
–Also quoted in this morning’s sermon
I remember Governor Herter with a great deal of affection and respect. He was indeed an accomplished and modest man. At one time there was speculation that he might be a good presidential prospect.
I’ve heard about three versions of this joke now. Each time it was a different dignitary, with a different setting, all involving food.
Still a good one, though.
Three Aussies were lost in London. One of them approached a distinguished member of the pin-striped Establishment & asked: ‘Mate, do you know the way to Piccadilly Circus?’
The Important Person replied in horror: ‘”Mate”? Do you know who I am?’
The Aussie returned to his companions: ‘We are up the creek, mates. We don’t know WHERE we are, & HE doesn’t know WHO he is!’