How long have you been attending these events . How have they changed over those years . Steve i think i have been going 28, 29 might be 30 years. Close. I have been going since reagan. Bob how have they changed . Steve two things. They have become more crowded. We have added, we have squeezed more tables into the same ballroom. And it has gotten a lot more hollywood and celebrities than it used to. Always had them, but it has gotten a lot more. Those are the two biggest changes. Bob what about the length of the president s speeches . The speeches we will show in a few minutes we start with Ronald Reagan, he goes about eight minutes. We end this program with george w. Bush. He goes about 20 minutes. Clearly, the speeches are getting longer by the president s. What do you account for that . Steve age. Ronald reagan, particularly at his last dinner, was getting up there and was ready to go home. 20 minutes is about average now. To be fair, all of the president s, one of the things they insist on is they want to get out of there and get home. So when we are working on a schedule the white house always , reminds us, whether it is barack obama or Ronald Reagan, running the gamut in age, they want that done by 10 45 or 11 00 so they can get out. Bob do they get more do you find they get more comfortable each year . Do they get more comfortable, enjoy themselves as the years go by . Steve absolutely, they get more relaxed. You can see it. The humor changes, particularly the last couple president s. Barack obama at the beginning often told jokes that kind of stung a little bit. He was using those jokes to go after his political rivals or enemies. And as each of them goes on, they become more relaxed, more egalitarian, make a little more fun of themselves than of their enemies, and everyone laughs a little more. Bob what about first ladies . How long have they been attending this event . Do they take a role in any way . Steve they have been attending for decades. Obviously, no women attended at all before 1962 when john f. Kennedy opened, insisted he would not come unless they opened the dinner to women. So before that, we did not have Eleanor Roosevelt or bess truman. They have all come. A few have played a role. Nancy reagan went to the microphone once. It was a great moment where present reagan called her up and asked her if she had anything nice to say about the media. She took a long dramatic pause, he said no, and she said i am thinking. And laura bush, famously george , w. Bush actually stepped aside. She delivered the monologue on his behalf one year. Very fine. Bob what is going on at the tables . Lets go into the ballroom. Are reporters working the room . Have you ever had the opportunity to talk to an Administration Source and try to get a story during the event . Steve if not a story, definitely making contact in getting as much information as you can. Other than the fact that you will have a drink and a few laughs, hopefully you are working your sources or meeting new sources. Absolutely. Do it every time. At mcclatchy, we tend not to take celebrities. We tend to take people in government or politics who can help us, and well talk to us about policy and politics. Bob in the times that you have attended the event, what is one particular fun or memorable moment you can relate to us. Steve my position is a little different because i was president of the association. So the unique moments tend to be presiding over the dinner and sitting next to the president , having dinner with him for three hours. His conversation is off of the record. The white house makes sure you know that, that is so he can relax and chat a little more. I will say he told me we talked about golf. He played that day. I know what he shot, which is kind of a state secret. The white house does not release his golf score. And i am not going to tell you, because it is about the only thing i have for my book. And we talked about, we talked about things that has since become public. We talked about where he would live after he left the white house. I asked the white house staff several times if we could put that on the record. They said no. I never wrote it. Until he released a statement that said he will likely move to new york. We talked about other issues. The most memorable moment, the mick the entertainer was joel mchale. He told some jokes i thought were a little offcolor. More than i was comfortable i was wincing. I kind of apologized to the president. He put his hand on my knee and said, steve, dont worry. I have heard so much worse. I will always remember that. Bob steven thomma, the senior White House Correspondent for mcclatchy news. Thanks for joining us. Now, we will show you the last White House Correspondents dinner speeches by president reagan, president george h. W. Bush, bill clinton, and george w. Bush. We start with Ronald Reagan from 1988. [applause] Ronald Reagan thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Please. Thank you all. I am delighted to be here. My, what a crowd. Looks like the index of larrys big book. [laughter] [applause] Ronald Reagan it is good to see norm sandler and your incoming president , jerry oleary. In his book, larry said that jerry used to fill his coat pockets with pastries. Jerry denies it. Earlier tonight, just to be safe i told him, keep his hands off , my dinner roll. [laughter] larry also said that preparing me for a press conference was like reinventing the wheel. That is not true. I was around when the wheel was invented, and it was easier. [laughter] [applause] baker reagan even howard is writing a book about me. It is called three by five, the measure of a presidency. [laughter] mike, mike devers in his book said that i had a short attention span. I was going to reply to that, but what the hell, lets move on to something else. [laughter] [applause] Ronald Reagan now, i forgot to acknowledge yakov smirnov. I have heard him before, and he is a very funny man. I just have an idea why dont you and i have a little fun . How would you like to go to the summit as my interpreter . [laughter] [applause] Ronald Reagan the media certainly have had a lot to report on lately. I thought it was extraordinary that Richard Nixon went on meet the press and spent the hour with chris wallace, tom brokaw, and john chancellor. That should put an end to the talk that he has been punished enough. [laughter] [applause] Ronald Reagan and of course, you have been reporting on the new york primary. I am afraid that dukakis foreignpolicy views are a little too far left for me. He wants no u. S. Military presence in korea anymore. No u. S. Military presence in central america. And no u. S. Military presence at the pentagon. [laughter] dukakis got great news today, though, about the jimmy carter endorsement. He isnt getting it. [laughter] [applause] Ronald Reagan george bush is doing well. George has been a wonderful Vice President , but nobody is perfect. [laughter] i put him in charge of antiterrorism, and the Mclaughlin Group is still on the air. [laughter] but with so much focus on the president ial election, i have been feeling a little lonely these days. I am so desperate for attention, i almost considered holding a news conference. [laughter] i have even had time to watch the oscars. I was a little disappointed in that movie the last emperor. I thought it was going to be about don regan. [laughter] [applause] of course, i still have lots of work here. There is that panamanian business going on. One thing i cant figure, the Congress Wants to bring the panamanian economy to its knees, why doesnt it just go down there and run it . [laughter] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, this is the last White House Correspondents dinner that i will be attending. We have had our disagreements, over the years, but the time i have spent with you has been very educational. [laughter] i used to think the Fourth Estate was one of walter annenbergs homes. [laughter] as my goodbye, i am not going to stand up here and deliver one of those wornout sentimental homilies about the presidency neither of us would believe it. [laughter] a president may like members of the press personally, and i do. Jerry, norm, johanna, lou, and so many others of you. But a president institutionally seeks to wield power to accomplish his goals for the people. The press complicates the wielding of that power by using its own great power. That makes for friction. Every president will try to use the press to his best advantage, and to avoid those situations that are not to his advantage. To do otherwise results in a diminution of his leadership powers. The press is not a week system. It has more freedom, more influence than ever in our history. The press can take care of itself quite nicely. And a president should be able to take care of himself as well. So what i hope my epitaph will be with the White House Correspondents, what every president s epitaph should be with the press is this he gave as good as he got. [laughter] that i think will make for a [applause] that, i think, will make for a healthy press and a healthy presidency. And i think all that is left to say is to thank you for inviting me, and thank you for your hospitality. [applause] [applause] George Hw Bush thank you all very much. Thank you, charles. And please, be seated. Tonight is a night for relaxation and fun. And barbara and i are just delighted to be here. This is a strange and ugly year in politics. There is a lot of namecalling out there. Candidates calling out terrible epithets like corrupt, liar, hypocrite, fascist, racist, incumbent, and [laughter] , my ableally relaxed right hand got a little hotheaded a while ago. But i will be honest and i do not want to be critical of the White House Press. But you went a little far when you referred to that simple flare up as global warming. Let me i hope you will excuse me , that if my normally hilarious oneliners are set aside for just a few minutes here, because [laughter] i really have i am just back from l. A. And i would seldom deign to speak for White House Correspondents, but i think all of them were with me on this trip and were moved. At least for me, it was a very emotional and moving trip. And the scenes of the wanton destruction will not go away, nor will the hurt of the people i met with. Nor will the vivid pictures on television of the firefighters and the Police Officers stepping in harms way, or neighbors coming to the rescue of friends. And yesterday, i talked to a woman who used to go to our church in houston, Saint Martins church. And her son and her brother climbed on a motorcycle and set out to see a friend, a young afroamerican, living in an area that they were concerned about. An area that became a gang members riot zone. And their motorcycle was upended by a gang of these thugs. The womans son was beaten. A pistol held up to his head, and a trigger pulled it did not go off. And her brother, a guy that had been deeply offended by the king verdict, and felt very close to the black community itself, was savagely beaten, and then from close range, shot right through the head. Now that same terror gunned down , the now paralyzed firefighter that i went to see in cedars hospital yesterday. Justice, you might say. What does any of this have to do with justice . But the point i want to make tonight is that out of the fear and desolation there, there was , i really felt, something stirring positively. The people i met with. The Wonderful Church service, the church leaders, the civic leaders, the kids the boys club, the ministers all projected a sense of determination and hope. And it was genuine, it was pervasive. Some of the reporters know that one of the really tough and in some ways most moving moments was when we met with the korean community. I dont korean, afterward in a , place where it had been totally wiped out, said i am staying. I want the american dream. Southcentral will be restored. Now, we will find many ways to help everybody. Local, state, federal, private sector. To help not only in the restoration, but giving those people there a real shot at the american dream. And some out there, it was ugly. The scene made a profound impression on all of us. And yet there is that certain hard to that is very describe. The spirit says, we will come back. We will make it back. So i wanted to share that with you. And i am sorry for being so somber. And now there is an expression , you do not hear much of, anymore, perk up. Perk up. The best is yet to come. Charles b or bauer beerbau agher brought Paula Poundstone to the white house this a. M. , i said, how are you . She immediately turned to me and said, stop being political. It is that kind of year. I know it. She knows it. I told her not to hold back any of the shots. Paula and i are both funny people. [laughter] but she is funny on purpose. Thank you very, very much. [laughter] [applause] [applause] bill clinton good evening, ladies and gentlemen. President page, president elect willis, distinguished guests. I am really happy to be here. [laughter] happy to be reunited, at long last, with the White House Press corps. [laughter] if i may, let me direct your attention to a photograph. [laughter] taken just moments ago. [laughter] it proves beyond a doubt that i am, indeed, happy to be here. [laughter] now, wait a minute. It seems that my hair in that photo it is a little longer than it is tonight. [laughter] [applause] so maybe i am happy to be here, and maybe i am not. [laughter] feel free to speculate. [laughter] admittedly, looks and photos can be deceiving. Now, look at this photo. It is a recent one of the Vice President applauding one of my policy initiatives. [laughter] but look a little closer. Those are not his real hands. [laughter] [applause] now this photo [laughter] it made all of the papers, but i have to tell you something i am almost certain this is not the real easter bunny. [laughter] the next one is my favorite, i really like it. Lets see the next photo. [laughter] [applause] ah, isnt it grand . [laughter] [laughter] [applause] i thought it was too good to be true. But there is one thing beyond dispute tonight this is really me. I am really here. And the record on that count is clear, in good days and bad, and in times of great confidence or great controversy, i have actually shown up here for eight straight years. [applause] looking back, that was probably a mistake. [laughter] just eight years, i have given you enough material for 20 years. [laughter] this is a special night for me for a lot of reasons. Jay leno is here. [applause] now [applause] no matter how mean he is to me, [laughter] i just love this guy. Because together, together, we give hope to grayhaired, chunky, baby boomers everywhere. [laughter] [applause] hold tonight marks the end of an era. The after dinner party hosted by vanity fair. [laughter] as you may have heard, it has canceled. Every year for eight years and, the Vanity Fair Party became more and more exclusive. So it has arrived at the inevitable conclusion. This year, no one made the guest list. [laughter] acally, i hear the Bloomberg Party will be even harder to get into than the Vanity Fair Party, but i am not worried. I am going with janet reno. [laughter] [applause] now, the Bloomberg Party is also a test party for the stars of the west wing, who are celebrating the end of their first season. You will have to forgive me if i am not as excited as everyone else is that the thought of a west wing finale party, but i have got to give them credit. Their first season got a lot more ratings and minded. [laughter] not to mention the reviews. The critics just hated might travel log. [laughter] [applause] cameoat david gergen completely flat. Speaking of reallife drama, i am so glad senator mccain is back tonight. I welcome him especially. [applause] know, as you all know, he just made a difficult journey back to a place where he significantndured abuse at the hands of his oppressors, the republican caucus. [laughter] [applause] , i am glad to see senator mccain and governor bush talking about hearing healing their rift three at the talking about healing their rift. And you know, i would really like to help them. [laughter] i mean, i have got a lot of breach. Ce repairing the i work with catholics and protestants in northern ireland, israelis and palestinians, joe lockhart and david westin. [laughter] but the differences between bush and mccain may be too vast. Mccain is bushs running mate, hasnt he suffered enough . [laughter] [applause] he, george w. Bush has got a brand spanking new campaign strategy. He is moving toward a political center, distancing himself from his own party, stealing ideas from the other party [laughter] i am so glad deck morris has found work again. [laughter] [applause] i, you know, the clock is moving down on the republicans in congress too. I feel for them, i do. They only have seven more months to investigate me. That is a lot of pressure. [laughter] so little time. So many unanswered questions. [laughter] example, over the last few months, i have lost 10 pounds. Where did they go . [laughter] why havent i produced a them to the independent counsel . How did some of the managed to wind up on tim russet . [laughter] [applause] now, some of you might think i have been busy writing my memoirs. I am not concerned about my memoirs, i am concerned about my resume. Here is what i have got so far. , tuesdayjective president. To stay president. But realistic lee, i would consider another position in another country. [laughter] of course, i would prefer to stay in the g8. [laughter] resumerking hard on this , getting a lot of tips on how to write it, mostly from my staff, because they really seem to be up on this stuff. [laughter] and they tell me i have to use the active voice on the resume, things like commanded the u. S. Armed forces. Ordered airstrikes. Served three terms as president. Everybody in ballast is a little. M ballast is a little. [laughter] asigned, built and painted bridge for the 21st century. [laughter] supervised the Vice President invention of the internet. [laughter] [applause] generated, attracted, and maintained controversy. I know lately i havent done a very good job at creating controversy. And i am sorry for that. [laughter] you all have so much less report. I guess that is why you are covering and commenting on white on my mood, my quiet contemplative mood. My feeling during this final months in office. [laughter] and in that case, you might be interested to note a film crew has been following me around the white house. Documenting my remaining time there. This is a strange time in the life of any administration, but i think this short film will show that i have come to terms with it. Could we see the film . What with the Vice President and the first lady out on the trail, things are not as exciting as that used to be. It is really trying to wind down. There is bipartisan support in congress, and it needs the state of the union. If a bill in its present form, i will sign it. Ok, any questions . [laughter] no one . Ears . Ou have no radio just doesnt capture the isolation of it all, so i am not reporting it. I am out reporting it. Anybody home . Me just you and [frank sinatra singing] john . Set em up joe ive got a little story i think you should know he is yesterdays news. Who is next . White house, hold please. President clinton hello, white house. Please hold. Hello, white house. White house, hello . Hold please. Hes not here. Would you like his voicemail . Has nothing to do. [laughter] i am a little bit worried about him. This morning, he came into the oval office for our meeting. I said, mr. President , are you all right . He said, yeah, whats the matter . I said, mr. President , youre wearing your pajama bottoms. I really have nothing to say about that. I wish i could be here, but i know he has everything under control. President clinton wait, wait [laughter] [applause] i think his legacy is going to be the natural environment. Improving the green spaces of our country. I have urged him to spend more time on that. [laughter] his schedule is as busy as ever, he just is doing different things. One more for the road [laughter] you would never know it but funny how im kind of a poet and ive got a lot of things i would like to say and when i am gloomy i feel bad for him. I wish there was something that would cheer him up. [upbeat music] hahaha president clinton yes there you are. Come on in. Ready to start . President clinton yeah. Lets light this candle. Just like that, you are riding the wave of the future, my man. How many are you going to buy . President clinton wait a minute. Chicken . What does it cost . Name your own price. Lets do it. You did it, my man. [laughter] b9. President clinton you sunk my battleship. [laughter] yes [laughter] president clinton i want to thank the academy for this tremendous honor. This may be the greatest moment of my life. I mean ever since i was a little , boy, i have wanted to be a real actor. [laughter] [traveling music] keep your money in your pocket. Pretty good, huh . Whatever you want. [laughter] [applause] oh, you likenton me, you really like me [laughter] [applause] [laughter] president clinton now, you know, i may complain about coming here. [laughter] president clinton but a year from now, i will have to watch someone else give this speech and i will feel an onset of that rare affliction unique to former president s agdd. Attentiongetting deficit disorder. [laughter] plus, i will really be burned up when al gore turns out to be funnier than me. [laughter] [applause] president bush president clinton but let me say to all of you, i have loved these eight years. You know, i read in the history books how other president s say the white house is like a penitentiary and every motive they have is suspect. Even George Washington complained he was treated like a common thief. They all say they cannot wait to get away. I dont know what the heck they are talking about. [laughter] i have had a wonderful time. It has been an honor to serve and fun to laugh. I only wish we had even laughed more these last eight years because power is not the most , important thing in life. It only counts for what you use it. I thank you for what you do every day. Thank you for all of the fun times that hillary and i have had. Keep at it. It is a great country. It deserves our best. Thank you and god bless you. [applause] [applause] president bush thank you, all. [applause] thank you very much. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Please excuse me if i am a little sleepy. [laughter] 3 00 a. M. This morning, the red phone rang. [laughter] the damn wedding planner. [laughter] two weeks from tonight is jennas wedding, so i am a little wistful this evening. Plus, this is my last White House Correspondents dinner as president. I am not sure what i am going to do next. After he left office, Vice President gore won an oscar and a nobel peace prize. [laughter] i dont know. I might win a prize, Publishers Clearing House or something. [laughter] but thanks for inviting me. Our entertainment tonight is craig ferguson. [applause] you know, this is a small world. Craig was once in a punk band called bastards from hell, which is what dick and i are going to call our band. Craig is scottish by birth, so is barney. Two months ago, craig became an american citizen. [applause] im honored to call you a fellow american. Ladies and gentlemen, surprisingly, i have enjoyed these dinners. [laughter] so tonight, i thought we would reminisce a bit. The first couple of years i came to this dinner, i was really into slideshows. [laughter] [video clip] president bush my mother has put together at least 70 scrapbooks about our life as a family. What i have done is pull out some of the actual, never before seen photos from these scrapbooks. [laughter] [applause] this was during the great drought of 1953. [laughter] dad, neil, doro, and jeb. In my family with all those kids in the tub, it is not arsenic in the water i would be worried about. [laughter] people have asked me if the recount has left any hard feelings between my brother jeb and me. Not a bit. In fact, heres a picture of the governor of florida. [laughter] [applause] [laughter] we have two dogs. This is our dog, barney. I tell him with eyebrows like that, he ought to be a senator. [laughter] [applause] this is our dog spot. People often ask me how i came up with that name. [laughter] i dont know. I am just kind of a creative guy. [laughter] the truth is the door to the oval office has a little peephole. [laughter] this is karen hughes peeping in on me. This is karl rove peeping in on me. This is condi rice peeping in on me. Spot has her own peephole. [laughter] [applause] this is andy card peeping in on me. [laughter] and ladies and gentlemen, this is the Vice President of the United States looking through a peephole. And dick, i hope you are not doing what it looks like you are doing. [laughter] next year, a new president will be standing up here. I have to say i am kind of surprised we dont have more president ial candidates here tonight like any. [laughter] senator mccain is not here. He probably wanted to distance himself from me a little bit. [laughter] you know he is not alone. , jenna is moving out, too. [laughter] the two Democratic Candidates are not here either. Senator clinton could not get into the building because of sniper fire and senator obama is at church. [laughter] [applause] but i am sure whoever the next president is will show up at these dinners, especially like the dinners in 2005 and 2006 when we had a couple of surprises up our sleeve. [video clip] the city slicker asked the to the how to get nearest town. Not that old joke, not again. [laughter] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, i have been attending these dinners for years. [laughter] and just quietly sitting there. [laughter] well, i have got a few things i want to say for a change. [laughter] [applause] i am married to the president of the United States, and here is our typical evening. [laughter] 9 00, mr. Excitement here is sound asleep. [laughter] and i am watching desperate housewives. [laughter] ladies and gentlemen, i am a desperate housewife. [laughter] [applause] president bush i want to talk about some serious issues such as ok. [laughter] here it comes. Nuclear proliferation. [laughter] nuclear proliferation. [laughter] nuclear proliferation. Nucular proliberation. [laughter] all right, all right. Maintain. Stay cool. Lets give this a try. We must enhance noncompliance protocols sanctioned not only at iaea formal sessions but through intersessional contact. [laughter] we must enhance noncompliance protocols sanctioned not only at eieio formal sessions. But through intersexual conduct. [laughter] [applause] president bush nailed it. [laughter] president bush we have had a lot of fun over the years. Remember the year i mentioned ozzy osbourne, and he stood up on a chair and blew me a kiss . [laughter] so few leaders get that kind of experience. [laughter] you know, i love the crowds here. It is an interesting crowd. Just think, Pamela Anderson and mitt romney in the same room. [laughter] isnt that one of the signs of the apocalypse . [laughter] which brings me to dick. [laughter] for eight years as Vice President , dick has ridden shotgun. Probably not the best analogy. [laughter] but he is a dear friend, and he has been the greatest straightman in the history of the world. Dick, i dont know what i would have done for material without you. [laughter] get out and get a little fresh air and exercise. Let me show you what he has been up to. [laughter] walk down the street [laughter] president bush lynne and laura were out of town recently, so i called up dick and said, why dont we go to a movie . He said, great idea. Lets go to a cowboy movie. [laughter] yep, finally went to see brokeback mountain. Let me tell you whooeee yippee kiyay. Dick sat through the movie. He did not say a word. We come out. After a while he says, nice horses. [laughter] i said, yep. He became real quiet again, kind of serious like. I knew something was on his mind. Finally turned to me and said, you dont suppose the lone ranger and tonto . [laughter] down the lane i look dick cheney is struggling with documents he has been withholding it is good to touch the brown, brown grass of home yes, you are all going to miss me the way you used to diss me but soon i will touch the brown, brown grass of home [laughter] [applause] president bush what i like best about these evenings is the laughter and the chance to thank you for the work you do for the country. I also knew this was a good chance to put aside our differences for a few hours. One thing we all share whether we are native citizens or new citizens like craig, is a tremendous appreciation for our people in uniform. An appreciation symbolized by the United States marine band, which is celebrating its 210th anniversary this year. [applause] i love the band. And so im going to say my farewell to you by doing something i have always wanted to do. And i do it in the spirit of our shared love for this country. [crowd murmuring] [applause] [drums beating] [band playing] [laughter] [applause] [crowd rhythmically clapping] [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] [crowd rhythmically clapping with the music] [cheers and applause] [drums rolling] our coverage of the White House Correspondents dinner is a few minutes away credit we will show you guest arrivals followed later by speeches from the president and comedian larry wilmore. In the meantime, here is a look at other humor brought to the dinner in past years. This is amazing, you know, the first black president. I know that you are b iracial. But the first black president. We are proud to be able to say that. Well, that is unless you screw up. [laughter] then it will be, what is up with a half white guy . Huh . [laughter] [applause]