George H. W. Bush broccoli comments

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Photographic portrait of George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush in 1989

During his tenure as the 41st president of the United States, George H. W. Bush frequently mentioned his distaste for broccoli, famously saying: "I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid. And my mother made me eat it. Now I'm president of the United States. And I'm not gonna eat any more broccoli!"[1] Bush's views on broccoli were seen as out of touch with Americans, as broccoli was becoming more popular and was referred to as the "vegetable of the 80s".[2]

Hillary Clinton and Tipper Gore, wives of Democratic nominees for president and vice president Bill Clinton and Al Gore, were seen holding a sign which stated: "Let's put broccoli in the White House again".[3] After Bush left office, he occasionally mentioned his dislike of broccoli. Bush's son, George W. Bush, mentioned his father's dislike of broccoli in a eulogy at his father's funeral.[4]

Comments and analysis

George H. W. Bush served as the 41st president of the United States from 1989 to 1993.[5] During his presidency, he frequently mentioned his distaste for broccoli. The first mention was made in March 1990, when Bush joked that the workers in the Office of Personnel Management would get their merit pay "in broccoli".[6] Soon after, U.S. News & World Report reported a story stating that Bush had banned broccoli from Air Force One.[7] On March 22,[8] when asked if he had "lost the broccoli vote",[6] Bush said:

I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli! ... For the broccoli vote out there, Barbara [Bush's wife] loves broccoli. She's tried to make me eat it. She eats it all the time herself. So, she can go out and meet the caravan of broccoli that's coming in [from Washington].[9][10]

In response, the broccoli-growers of California, who produced over 90 percent of America's broccoli,

Poland's protest against totalitarianism with his "rebellion against broccoli".[14] Following Bush's comments, broccoli saw an increase in popularity, with its sale rising by 10 percent.[12] A supermarket sales director told the Los Angeles Times that "Broccoli has never enjoyed so much publicity".[12]

Broccoli was becoming popular in the United States and had been referred by Gary Lucier of the Department of Agriculture as the "vegetable of the 80s".[2][15] Consumption of broccoli had doubled in that decade, increasing from an annual average of 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) per person in 1980 to 6.8 pounds (3.1 kilograms) per person in 1988.[16] Because of Bush's comments, broccoli was frequently referred to as a "political vegetable".[17][18]

When asked about the effect of Bush's comments on children, Barbara Bush replied that: "He [Bush] ate broccoli until he was 60. Tell them [children] to eat it until they are 60."

beef jerky.[21][22] Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, referred to Bush's statements as "a stupid joke that undermines a serious effort to promote better nutrition ...".[23] Campbell Soup Company and Woman's Day magazine organized a recipe contest titled: "How to Get President Bush to Eat Broccoli"; the winner received $7,500 (equivalent to $16,777 in 2023).[24][25]

Eric Ostermeier, a researcher at the

prime minister of Japan, Kiichi Miyazawa, were seen as examples of Bush's tendency for political gaffes.[28]

Aftermath

George Bush Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird
@GeorgeHWBush

June 25, 2016[29]

thumbs-down to broccoli on a state visit to Mexico; Mexico's president Vicente Fox was a keen broccoli-grower.[31][32]

At an anti-obesity event for children in 2013, Barack Obama, the 44th president, announced that his favorite food was broccoli.[33] These remarks were contrasted with those of Bush.[34]

After leaving the office, Bush occasionally mentioned his dislike of broccoli.[35][36][37] George W. Bush mentioned his father's dislike of broccoli in a eulogy at his 2018 funeral.[38]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b Duston, Diane (March 24, 1990). "Bush out of step on broccoli". The Gettysburg Times. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Google News.
  3. ^ a b Bhat, Devika (July 11, 2013). "Obama Puts Broccoli Before Burgers In New Greens Policy". The Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "Read George W. Bush's full eulogy for his father". NBC News. 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  5. ^ Dionne Jr., E. J. (November 9, 1988). "The 1988 Elections". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Ostermeier, Eric (July 9, 2013). "George H.W. Bush: Hater of Broccoli". Smart Politics. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Dowd, Maureen (March 23, 1990). "'I'm President,' So No More Broccoli!". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
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  12. ^ a b c Lauter, David (March 27, 1990). "Broccoli Stalks Bush on White House Lawn : Veggies: First Lady accepts California gift, but most of it goes to charity. Flap gives pundits food for thought". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Carman, Tim (December 5, 2018). "As President, George H. W. Bush Never Wavered From His Hard Line On Broccoli". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
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  15. ^ "The U.S. President Who Hated 'The Vegetable Of The '80s'". CBS News. March 26, 2020. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
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  17. ^ Neporent, Liz (July 10, 2013). "Obama's Favorite Food Quip Rekindles Broccoli Debate". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  18. ^ Newman, Dodi; Nelton, Sharon (April 20, 1994). "On the Broccoli Bandwagon". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
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  25. ^ "Try It, You'll Like It". United Press International. August 28, 1991. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  26. ^ Okie, Susan (May 10, 1991). "Bush's Thyroid Condition Diagnosed As Graves' Disease". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
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  29. ^ George Bush [@GeorgeHWBush] (June 25, 2016). "Proud of young Cooper's interest in healthy eating. His declared love of broccoli is genuine, if also unpersuasive". Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
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  32. ^ Walker, Tim (July 10, 2013). "How Broccoli became a Political Hot Potato: Provocative Remarks By President Obama About His Favourite Vegetable Have Reignited a Bitter Ideological Debate". The Independent. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  33. ^ Kliff, Sarah (July 9, 2013). "Barack Obama Loves Broccoli. So Does America!". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  34. ^ "Obama Claims Broccoli Is His Favorite Food". Reuters. July 9, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
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  36. ^ Walsh, Kenneth T. (June 27, 2016). "Bush 41 Still Battling Broccoli". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 2019-04-11. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  37. ^ Stump, Scott (June 27, 2016). "George H. W. Bush Politely Shoots Down 5-Year-Old's Case For Him To Eat Broccoli". Today. NBC News. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  38. ^ Smith, David (December 6, 2018). "Washington mourns George H. W. Bush As Trump Gives Cold Shoulder To Clintons". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.

External links

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