Gracie Allen Was the Answer to Everything

There’s something about humor that slides in under the door.

Gracie Allen, for those too young to know, was one of the great comediennes of all time. She was one half of the Burns and Allen comedy team of the 30s, 40s and 50s, a gifted writer, a talented dancer, and a gracious lady with perfect timing.

In 1940, when the world was in flux, so to speak, she decided to run for President...of the United States, as the unofficial candidate of the Surprise Party, because, why not? 

She had a solid platform: 

We favor putting Congress on a commission basis. Pay them for results. If they do a good job and the country prospers, they get 10% of the extra take.

She had a quietly effective comment about her opponents:

This used to be a government of checks and balances. Now it’s all checks and no balances.

She ran without a Vice Presidential running mate because:

Gracie promised there would be no vice in her administration.

Smart, clever, to the point. I could definitely go for a Surprise Party candidate just about now. Where is the next Gracie Allen? Asking for a friend.

 The President of today is just the postage stamp of tomorrow.”

–Gracie Allen