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= Ronald Reagan's Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson =


= Ronald Reagan's Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 3/1/1975 =
On December 24, 2024, Elon Musk [[xpost:1871520121212346496|posted on X]] (formerly Twitter) a short video of Ronald Reagan talking to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, adding only "Very Wise Words." The 7:43 clip went viral.<BR/>
(The portions of the full video that are included in the clip will be emphasized in the transcript below.)


On December 24, 2024, Elon Musk [https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1871520121212346496 posted on X] (formerly Twitter) a short video of Ronald Reagan talking to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, adding only "Very Wise Words." The 7:43 clip went viral.
This clip was a portion of a 20+ minute [[yt:xrNKguJLUYE|Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]. Reagan had just recently ended his terms as governor of California and would have just started recording his short-form radio show, as well as writing a syndicated newspaper column.


This clip was a portion of a 20+ minute [[yt:xrNKguJLUYE|Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 3/1/1975]]. Reagan had just recently ended his terms as governor of California (January 6, 1975) and would have just started recording his short-form radio show, as well as writing a newspaper column.
There seems to be some confusion in the Youtube video as to when this occurred. The video from the Reagan Foundation claims it was January 3, 1975, but sources such as [[wikipedia:List_of_The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Johnny_Carson_episodes_(1975)#March|Wikipedia]], [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2983692/?ref_=ttep_ep IMDB] and the [https://www.youtube.com/@johnnycarson Johnny Carson Youtube channel], indicate the video is from March 13, 1975. This fits the early discussion, in which Reagan jokes about having been "unemployed" for a couple months.


<!--
== Transcript ==
== Transcript ==
Johnny: My first guest tonight is, uh, rather a phenomenon on a political scene as a citizen politician. Making his first try for public office, he was elected California's 33rd governor in 1966 by a majority of something around over a million votes. And he held that office you know for eight years. And he used to joke that in his earlier profession he used to ride off in a sunset with the words "The End" on his back. But there are those who would say that Ronald Reagan the 1975 may only be the beginning. Would you all complete the former governor of
California, Ronald Reagan.


<DIV STYLE="padding-left: 7ch; text-indent: -7ch;">
Carson: My first guest tonight is, uh, rather a phenomenon on a political scene as a citizen politician. Making his first try for public office, he was elected California's 33rd governor in 1966 by a majority of something around over a million votes. And he held that office, as you know, for eight years. And he used to joke that in his earlier profession he used to ride off in a sunset with the words "The End" on his back. But there are those who would say that Ronald Reagan... that 1975 may only be the beginning. Would you all complete the former governor of California, Ronald Reagan.<BR />
<BR />
''(Applause)''<BR />
<BR />
Nice to see you.
Nice to see you.


Nice to be here John. Nice of you to have me here after a little more than two months unemployment.
Reagan: Nice to be here John. Nice of you to have me here after a little more than two months unemployment.
 
Carson: That's right, uh, how does it feel to be, uh, well you're not really unemployed now because I know you're doing a syndicated column and, um, for many who's been around 120 papers I think, and the radio show and on the lecture tour but how does it feel to be, I don't want to use the word, temporarily out of politics or not but we'll get into that later, uh, how's it feel to be away from Sacramento?
 
Reagan: Well it's doing what I'm doing I wanted to for a long time, it's very exciting and um there's mixed emotions when you step down there's always things that you had left undone that you'd like to have done but then uh all of a sudden the curtain's pulled and that chapter's over and uh...


That's right uh how does it feel to be uh well you're not really unemployed now because I know you're doing a syndicated column and um for many who's been around 120 papers I think in the radio show and on the lecture tour but how does it feel to be, I don't know they use the word, temporarily out of politics or not but we'll get into that later uh how's it feel to be away from Sacramento?
Carson: Somebody else takes over. Did you have any major disappointments? What would you like to have done, your biggest disappointment, maybe your biggest highlight in office as you look back on it.


well it's doing what I'm doing I wanted to for a long time. it's very exciting and um there's mixed emotions when you step down there's always things that you had left undone that you'd like to have done but then uh all of a sudden the curtain's pulled and that chapter's over and uh somebody else takes over.
Reagan: Well, uh, I'll start with the biggest highlight. The first of all... was proving that some things I'd long believed as a citizen would work. That you could introduce common sense in government and after the first traumatic shock you kind of made some of it work. We, um, we came into quite a... a mess and at the end of eight years... You know government, in the United States, federal, state and local, has been growing for 20 years, in size, about two and a half times as fast as the increase in population... except for the last eight years in California.<BR />
yeah did you have any major disappointments? what would you like to have done or your biggest disappointment maybe your biggest
We turned over a government that was the same size as the one we inherited eight years ago. There'd been no growth and in some departments this meant an increase of as much as 66 percent in the workload. But, um, part of that was the welfare reforms.
highlight in office as you look back on it.


well uh I'll start with the biggest highlight. the first of all was proving that some
Carson: Right.
things I'd long believed as a citizen
 
would work that you could introduce
Reagan: Welfare was increasing here in California 40,000 cases a month and we left with about 400,000 fewer
common sense in government and after the
people on welfare than there were four years ago. This saved the taxpayers about a billion dollars but what was equally important we were spread so thin we couldn't do what we should have done for, uh, the really needy, the really deserving and we were able to increase their grants by way of those reforms 43 percent.<BR />
first traumatic shock
Now you asked for what was the greatest disappointment the people handed it to us when, I think they were deceived, but when they voted down the tax limitation plan. I still say that the answer to our problems in this country even at the National level is to have a law that says there is a percentage limit of the people's earnings that government cannot go beyond without the consent of the people.<BR />
you kind of made some of it work we
<BR />
we came into quite a a mess and at the
''(Applause)''<BR />
end of eight years
 
you know government in the united states
Carson: You're talking about... You're talking about the gross income of the country and how much they can appropriate for us...
federal state and local has been growing
 
for 20 years
Reagan: That's right.
in size about two and a half times as
 
fast as the
Carson: ... for federal projects.
increase in population except for the
 
last eight years in California
Reagan: See... when, um, when you and I were boys back in the Midwest...
we turned over a government that was the
 
same size as the one we inherited eight
Carson: Right....
years ago
 
there'd been no growth and in some
Reagan: Governments, federal state and local were only taking about 15 cents out of every dollar earned. Today, they're
departments this meant an increase of as
taking almost half of every dollar earned in the United States and most people don't realize it because the taxes are hidden in the so-called business taxes, you know, the politician that stands up and yells, "Oh let's save the little man, let's tax business" and everybody yells "hurray". They haven't figured out that every tax on business is just a part of the cost of production and the customer winds up paying it when he buys the product. It's a hidden sales tax. There's 116 of them in a... the suit of clothes that each one of us is wearing.
much as 66 percent
 
in the workload but um part of that was
Carson: Uh-huh. So a lot of economists have suggested, and I don't know they'll ever come to be in this country, that they're if they closed all of the loopholes and corporations and maybe tax loopholes and even on the rich certain loopholes and and made a percentage income and made a flat fee without all of the deductions that the government might raise as much money as they do now.
the welfare reforms
 
right welfare was increasing here in
Reagan: Oh sure and really the loopholes, this has been overdone by the politicians too. The bulk of the money that is taken by what are called loopholes are the legitimate deductions with which if the people didn't have them they couldn't pay their income tax; interest on their mortgage, interest on the installments on their... on their car, their property taxes on their home, if they have one and so forth. These are, in politicians eyes, loopholes. But we ought to have tax reform and we ought to start by making it so simple that you don't have to hire a lawyer to find out how much you owe every year.
California 40 000 cases a month
 
and we left with about 400 000 fewer
Carson: That's for sure it used to be uh it used to be a little simplified but not anymore.
people on welfare than there were four
 
years ago
Reagan: We... Johnny, we live in the only country in a world where it takes more brains to figure out your income tax than it does to earn the income.
this saved the taxpayers about a billion
 
dollars but what was
Carson: [Laughs] You might be right.<BR />
equally important we were spread so thin
Why do you think people are so they seem to be so disheartened now?<BR />
we couldn't do what we should have done
I know... Let's not get into the Watergate thing but that certainly had something to do with the, uh, the antipathy, I think, of a lot of people toward government, now we we see these revelations, of whether their revelations, or at least accusations that possibly the C.I.A. has been involved in some operations that they shouldn't have been involved in, certainly domestically, and people regularly get turned off. How do you... How do you turn people around and say "All right now, we're not going to do this anymore," and every day you see more of these things and I think people withdraw further and further and that's too bad.
for uh the really needy they really
 
deserve and we were able to increase
Reagan: I know and I think part of it is because we're being bludgeoned every day... it's news... bad things are news we just every day we pick up and they read and record another tenth of a percent unemployment and so forth.<BR />
their grants by way of those reforms percent
We keep hearing the the bad things... we hear the accusations and we're kind of used to accepting the accusation as proof of guilt. Now I'm [[wikipedia:United_States_President%27s_Commission_on_CIA_Activities_within_the_United_States|on the C.I.A. Commission]], so I'm rather limited... I cannot talk at this stage...
now you asked for what was the greatest
 
disappointment
Carson: True.
the people handed it to us when I think
 
they were deceived
Reagan: But I think one of the sad things is that the American people cannot know instead, frankly, we have to have a counter intelligence organization for our own safety. If the American people knew the extent to which were being spied on by the Russians, they'd throw détente out the window and Brezhnev and a few fellows with it.
but when they voted down the tax
 
limitation plan I still say that the
Carson: Well, obviously, I agree that... that has to go on internationally to protect your national security but when they start looking at, you know, their own their own congressmen and own private citizens who's only a threat to national security seem to be to voice some difference of opinions that's going a little over the line isn't it.
answer to our problems in this country
 
even at the national level
Reagan: No because... well again as I say we...
is to have a law that says there is a
 
percentage limit
Carson: Oh that's right you can't...
of the people's earnings that government
 
cannot go beyond without the consent of
Reagan: We can't... we can't give any progress report for you...
the people
 
you're talking about whether you're
Carson: You want to speak into the ashtray here and tell me privately.
talking about the gross income of the
 
country and how much
Reagan: All I'd say to the people is wait until the report comes in and I think when a report comes in, uh um, maybe they might be greatly reassured.
they can appropriate for us that's right
 
for federal policy
Carson: I didn't mean to put you behind the eight ball there I realize of course you're on that commission and you couldn't expand on that. Let's take a brief break and we'll come right back and get on another subject
when um when you and I were boys back in
 
the midwest
''(Commercial Break, 7:27)''
right governments federal state and
<!--
local were only taking about 15 cents
Carson: We're talking with, uh, former governor Reagan and uh during the break we were discussing what I mentioned, uh, that I thought most people uh were not apathetic I think they're confused, basically, because you hear intelligent people from both political parties or in the middle, conservatives and liberals, and they all seem to have different answers as to what is going wrong in the country. Some people say well let's let the government spend billions of dollars and then other people say no no more federal spending, uh, let's give the tax rebates, and the other intelligent people say no tax rebates we've got to do this and do that so everybody is confused how do you see the thing what how are we going to get out of this?
out of every dollar earned today they're
 
taking almost half of every dollar
Reagan: Well, Johnny I think that one of the things is that people keep looking to government for the answer and government's the problem. ''(Applause)'' You... A moment ago you asked you know about people and feeling not only confused but low and and down in America.<BR />
earned in the united states
First of all, the American people, if they would just take a little inventory and look around... you triple our troubles and we're better off than any other people on Earth. And we've asked so much of government and we've gotten in the habit over the last 40 years of thinking the government has the answers. There's very little that government can do as efficiently and as economically as the people can do themselves and if government would shut the doors and sneak away for about three weeks we'd never miss them.<BR />
and most people don't realize it because
Now the... if the people...
the taxes are hidden in the
 
so-called business taxes you know the
Carson: Anybody you had in mind, particularly?
politician that stands up and yells oh
 
let's save the little man let's tax
Reagan: No, I said this while I was in government.
business and everybody else hurray
 
they haven't figured out that every tax
Carson: Okay.
on business
 
is just a part of the cost of production
Reagan: Our biggest problem is that we have built a permanent structure of government, federal state and local, the permanent employees and they've come to the place that they actually determine policy in this country more than does the Congress of the United States. There are 14 and a half million public employees in the United States, that's quite a voting bloc, and the bureaus and agencies not in Washington...<BR />
and the customer winds up
I heard you talking earlier about some of the research programs. Well there was a senator the other day, and he took up some pages of the Congressional Record. He was doing the same thing you were, listing all these crazy research programs and how much they were costing and wound up his speech by introducing his own. He wants a study in a research of transcendental meditation.<BR />
paying it when he buys the product it's
So you know there's a state senator in Michigan, and he just found out the other day, they got a $93,000 study on whether chitlins are bad for you, and and he said that as a fourth generation chitlin eater he figured that he could tell you how for 93 cents you can find out the answer to that.
a hidden sales tax
 
there's 116 of them in a the suit of
Carson: No we laugh at those things but they do happen, I guess.
clothes that each one of us has
 
right so a lot of economists have
Reagan: Oh, listen there, you had... you had some beauties, and there's some others. What would you say if I told you about one, a study, in which... this was called the um, the [[75-01-A4|Demography of Happiness]]. And in this study the government found out that young people are happier than old people; they found out that people that earn more are happier than people that earn less; and they found out that well people are happier than sick people.
suggested and
 
i don't know they'll ever come to be in
Carson: That's good. Glad to know that.
this country that they're if they closed
 
all of the
Reagan: $249,000 to find out it's better to be rich, young, and healthy than old, poor, and sick.
loopholes and corporations and maybe tax
 
loopholes and even on the rich certain
''(Laughter and Applause)''
loopholes and
 
and made a percentage income and made a
Carson: So, when you say now that it's the government may be the problem, so... so what do people do?<BR />
flat fee without all of the deductions
They have to look to somebody and you say if they look for themselves that's uh... It may be good advice, but how
that the government might raise as much
about somebody who's on a, you know a social security pension or a pension they're trying to live on a $150 per month you know, they have to look to somebody, I guess...
money as they do now oh
 
sure and really the loopholes this has
Reagan: Yeah.
been overdone by the politicians too
 
the bulk of the money that is taken by
Carson: They're saying "Hey we can't make it, we can't afford to go to a doctor."
what are called loopholes are the
 
legitimate deductions with which if the
11:20
people didn't have them they couldn't
 
pay their income tax
Reagan: Well 62% of the people can't stay home in an election and cure things as we did in the last election. I just read this the week on... I heard this week on the radio they dropped 300,000 voters from the Los Angeles roll because they didn't take the time to go to the polls in the last election. Three hundred thousand people! The lowest percentage in history only percent of the people voted in the
interest on their mortgage interest on
national election and this means that people aren't paying any attention to what...
the installments on their
 
on their car their property taxes on
well here a poll was taken recently that found out that only 46 percent of the people in the poll could name their United States Congressman
their home if they have one and so forth
but what was worse 86 of those who could name him couldn't tell you a single thing that he represented or stood for, they just knew that he represented the state he was a congressman but what's he doing while he's up there and the same is true at the at the local levels of government and... and all the rest.
these are in politicians eyes loopholes
 
but we ought to have tax reform and we
but uh so you're saying
ought to start by making it so simple
that you don't have to hire a lawyer to
find out how much you owe every year
that's for sure it used to be uh it used
to be a little simplified but not
anymore
we johnny we live in the only country in
a world where it takes more brains to
figure out your income tax than it does
to earn the income
you might be right why do you think
people are so they seem to be so
disheartened now I i know
let's not get into the watergate thing
but that certainly had something to do
with the
uh the antipathy I think of a lot of
people toward government no we we
see these revelations of whether their
revelations or at least accusations that
possibly the cia has been involved in
some operations that they shouldn't have
been involved in certainly domestically
and people regularly get turned off how
do you how do you turn people around and
say all right now
we're not going to do this anymore and
every day you see more of these things
and I think people withdraw further and
further and that's too bad
i know and I think part of it is because
we're being bludgeoned every day it's
news
bad things are news we just every day we
pick up and they read and record another
tenth of a percent unemployment and so
forth
we keep hearing the the bad things we
hear the accusations and we're kind of
used to accepting the accusation as
proof of guilt
now I'm on the cia commission so I'm
rather limited I cannot talk
at this stage true but I think
one of the sad things is that the
american people
cannot know instead frankly we have to
have
a counter intelligence organization for
our own safety if the american people
knew
the extent to which were being spied on
by the russians
they'd throw data out the window and
regenerate a few fellows with it
well obviously I agree that that has to
go on internationally to protect your
national security but
when they start looking at you know
their own their own congressmen and own
private citizens who's only a
threat to national security seem to be
to voice some difference of opinions
that's going a little over the line
isn't it no because
well again as I say we oh you're with me
we can't
we can't give any progress for you you
want to speak into this right here and
tell me privately
all I'd say to the people is wait until
the report comes in
and I think when a report comes in uh um
maybe they might be greatly reassured i
didn't mean to put you behind the eight
ball there I realize of course you're on
that commission and you
couldn't expand on that let's take a
brief break and we'll come right back
and get on another subject
we're talking with uh former governor
reagan and uh during the break we were
discussing what I mentioned uh
that I thought most people uh were not
apathetic I think they're confused
basically because you hear intelligent
people from
both political parties or in the middle
conservatives and liberals and they all
seem to have
different answers as to what is going
wrong in the country some people say
well let's let the government spend
billions of dollars and then other
people say no no more federal spending
uh let's give the tax rebates and the
other intelligent people say no tax
rebates we've got to do this and do that
so everybody is confused how do you see
the thing what how are we going to get
out of this
well johnny I think that one of the
things is that people keep looking to
government for the answer and
government's the problem
you a moment ago you asked you know
about
people and feeling not only confused but
right low and and down in america
first of all the american people if they
would just take a little inventory and
look around
you triple our troubles and we're better
off than any other people on earth
and we've asked so much of government
and we've gotten in the habit over the
last 40 years of thinking the government
has the answers
there's very little that government can
do as efficiently and as economically as
the people can do themselves and if
government would shut the doors and
sneak away for about three weeks we'd
never miss them
now the
if the people anybody had in mind
particularly
no I said this while I was in government
okay our biggest problem is
that we have built a permanent structure
of government federal state and local
the permanent employees and they've come
to the place that they actually
determine policy in this country
more than does the congress of the
united states there are 14 and a half
million
public employees in the united states
that's quite a voting bloc
and the bureaus and agencies not in
washington
i heard you talking earlier about some
of the research programs
well there was a senator the other day
and he took up some pages of the
congressional record he was doing the
same thing you were listing all these
crazy research programs
and how much they were costing and wound
up his speech by introducing his own he
wants a study in a research of
transcendental meditation
[Music]
so you know there's a state senator in
michigan
and he just found out the other day they
got a 93 000 study
on whether chitlins are bad for you and
and he said that as a fourth generation
chitlin eater he figured that he could
tell you how for 93 cents
you can find out the answer to that no
we laugh at those things but they do
happen I guess
oh listen there you had you had some
beauties and there's some others
what would you say if I told you about
one a study in which
this was called the the demography of
happiness
and in this study the government found
out that young people are happier than
old people found out that people that
earn more are happier than people that
earn less
and they found out that well people are
happier than six people that's good
249 000 to find out it's better to be
rich young and healthy than old porns
so when you say now that it's the
government may be the problem
so so what do people do
they have to look to somebody and you
say if they look for themselves
that's uh it may be good advice but how
about somebody who's on a you know a
social security pension or a pension
they're trying to live on a month you know they have to look to
somebody I guess yeah they're saying hey
we can't make it we can't afford to go
to a doctor
well 62 of the people can't stay home in
an election and cure things
as we did in the last election I just
read this the week on I heard this week
on the radio they dropped 300 000 voters
from the los angeles rule because they
didn't take the
time to go to the polls in the last
election three hundred thousand people
the lowest percentage in history only percent of the people voted in the
national election
and this means that people aren't paying
any attention to what
well here a poll was taken recently
that found out that only 46 percent of
the people in the poll could name their
united states congressman
but what was worse 86 of those who could
name him
couldn't tell you a single thing that he
represented or stood for
they just knew that he represented the
state he was a congressman but what's he
doing
while he's up there and the same is true
at the at the local levels of government
and
and all the rest but uh so you're saying
people really have to take an active
people really have to take an active
interest and you have to have con uh
interest and you have to have con uh
Line 344: Line 132:
and let them know it's concerning
and let them know it's concerning
special interest groups
special interest groups
now the special interest groups aren't
now the special interest groups aren't
as everyone thought big powerful
as everyone thought big powerful
Line 356: Line 145:
you can't have a power plant because it
you can't have a power plant because it
might interfere with
might interfere with
the seagulls now I think I'm an
the seagulls.
environmentalist
 
and I do not agree with those people way
Now I think I'm an environmentalist and I do not agree with those people way over the edge who paved the whole country over in the name of progress, but also I don't like those on the other extreme that won't let you build a house unless it looks like a bird's nest someplace in the middle we got to allow people are ecology too.
over the edge who paved the whole
 
country over in the name of progress
right well this kind of group and they want their particular program hundreds of dollars have been added to the cost of an automobile putting gadgets on it to to clear up the air we're the only country in the world that set out to do it that way. The automobile industry over and over again told government if they give them more time the answer lay in making the motor more efficient and making it burn the fuel better and then when they were given the limited time there was only one within they could turn to that was the add-ons that you had to go and uh the verdict is really kind of still out on on those whether they're going to add more sulfuric acid to the to the air or not.
but also I don't like those on the other
 
extreme that won't let you build a house
yeah what do you think
unless it looks like a bird's nest
someplace in the middle we got to allow
people are ecology too
right well this kind of group and they
want their particular program
hundreds of dollars have been added to
the cost of an automobile putting
gadgets on it to
to clear up the air we're the only
country in the world that set out to do
it that way
the automobile industry over and over
again told government
if they give them more time the answer
lay in making the motor more efficient
and making it burn the fuel better
and then when they were given the
limited time there was only one within
they could turn to that was the add-ons
that you had to go and uh
the verdict is really kind of still out
on on those whether they're going to add
more sulfuric acid to the
to the air or not yeah what do you think
is going to happen now you've been asked
is going to happen now you've been asked
this question I'm sure you knew that i
this question I'm sure you knew that I
was
was
would might possibly bring it up tonight
would might possibly bring it up tonight
Line 396: Line 161:
you're speaking and as I say you're
you're speaking and as I say you're
going around the country
going around the country
you envision a possibility say in 76 if
you envision a possibility say in '76 if
the
the
convention say was deadlocked I'm giving
convention say was deadlocked I'm giving
Line 405: Line 170:
couldn't quite make a decision
couldn't quite make a decision
and they came to you and said governor
and they came to you and said governor
reagan
Reagan
uh we can't decide between mr uh ford mr
uh we can't decide between mr. uh Ford mr.
rockefeller we're divided
Rockefeller we're divided
um would you like to uh would you like
um would you like to uh would you like
to go to the white house
to go to the white house
uh you remember that answer I gave you
uh you remember that answer I gave you
about the cia yeah
about the C.I.A. yeah
come on I know I hope I'm not gonna buy
come on I know I hope I'm not gonna buy
them
them
now I can understand the cia now but uh
now I can understand the C.I.A. now but uh
no I thought that was delicately phrased
no I thought that was delicately phrased
yes
yes
Line 420: Line 185:
that one I um
that one I um
no I think it's an unanswerable question
no I think it's an unanswerable question
i don't think anyone in view of the
I don't think anyone in view of the
things that are going on the last few
things that are going on the last few
years knows what's going to happen in
years knows what's going to happen in
the
the
in the next two years down the road i
in the next two years down the road I
think that everyone should hope and pray
think that everyone should hope and pray
that
that
Line 440: Line 205:
inflation I don't see that there's any
inflation I don't see that there's any
room
room
to be on either side of that argument i
to be on either side of that argument I
think the answer to
think the answer to
curing inflation is a balanced budget
curing inflation is a balanced budget
Line 469: Line 234:
words weren't quoted everybody else's
words weren't quoted everybody else's
words got in the paper all the
words got in the paper all the
hellers and the gall breaths and all the
[[wikipedia:Walter_Heller|Hellers]] and the [[wikipedia:John_Kenneth_Galbraith|Galbraiths]] and all the
so-called economists
so-called economists
and I had I have a degree in economics
and I had I have a degree in economics
so I can say this
so I can say this
i think an economist is someone who has
I think an economist is someone who has
a phi beta kappa key on one end of his
a [[75-10-A2|phi beta kappa key on one end of his
watch chain and no watch on the other
watch chain and no watch on the other]]
uh this woman said that you go to the
uh this woman said that you go to the
polls and you ask the people do they
polls and you ask the people do they
Line 499: Line 264:
and and they they multiply all of those
and and they they multiply all of those
things that you were
things that you were
the office of management and budget in
the Office of Management and Budget in
washington that's responsible for the
Washington that's responsible for the
budget putting up putting the budget
budget putting up putting the budget
together
together
cannot even tell you how many boards
cannot even tell you how many boards,
commissions agencies bureaus and
commissions, agencies, bureaus, and
departments there are in the federal
departments there are in the federal
government
government
Line 523: Line 288:
the world
the world
you uh now you took
you uh now you took
they took a poll of the american people
they took a poll of the American people
the past week and I think or something around 75 percent were
the past week and I think or something around 75 percent were
opposed to more military
opposed to more military
aid to vietnam and cambodia and
aid to Vietnam and Cambodia and
southeast asia in general
southeast Asia in general
and yet the administration uh was
and yet the administration uh was
trying to tell the american people that
trying to tell the American people that
a couple hundred million or 222 million
a couple hundred million or 222 million
dollars
dollars
Line 537: Line 302:
lost cause in a way I think people can
lost cause in a way I think people can
see humanitarian
see humanitarian
you know for children hospitals etc and
you know for children hospitals et cetera and
medical supplies and food
medical supplies and food
but it seems that the public has just
but it seems that the public has just
Line 548: Line 313:
a long and badly fought war
a long and badly fought war
on the other hand and this is one where
on the other hand and this is one where
i'll probably lose a lot of people
I'll probably lose a lot of people
because it isn't popular or political to
because it isn't popular or political to
say this
say this
Line 555: Line 320:
and
and
it was based on uh supporting
it was based on uh supporting
the non-communist forces in indochina
the non-communist forces in Indochina
on a basis of one-for-one replacement
on a basis of one-for-one replacement
every bullet they expended a bullet to
every bullet they expended a bullet to
replace it if the communists violated
replace it if the communists violated
the ceasefire
the ceasefire
the communists have violated the
the Communists have violated the
ceasefire 72 thousand times
ceasefire 72 thousand times
since it was instituted and we brought
since it was instituted and we brought
our men home
our men home
and I think for the united states to
and I think for the United States to
break its word
break its word
we're in that agreement we pledge
we're in that agreement we pledge
something and the congress is now
something and the Congress is now
saying that the united states reserves
saying that the United States reserves
the right to just break its word and not
the right to just break its word and not
what other allies ever going to trust us
what other allies ever going to trust us
and i
and I
um there's no question that backed by
um there's no question that backed by
red china and the soviet union
red china and the soviet union
the communist forces in vietnam and
the communist forces in Vietnam and
cambodia
Cambodia
are on their way to take those over they
are on their way to take those over they
do of course laos just automatically
do of course Laos just automatically
falls
falls
then they're on the edge of indonesia
then they're on the edge of Indonesia
140 million people which comes within miles at its nearest point of the
140 million people which comes within miles at its nearest point of the
philippines
Philippines
the domino theory is is still a viable
the domino theory is is still a viable
theory
theory
and yes it is and I i could see the
and yes it is and I... I could see the
united states
United States
one day being very very lonely
one day being very very lonely
now it's a very funny thing that the
now it's a very funny thing that the
Line 596: Line 361:
and every time it doesn't work they just
and every time it doesn't work they just
impose a more expensive program on top
impose a more expensive program on top
of it I think the american people if
of it I think the American people if
they
they
really look at all the facts uh yes we
really look at all the facts uh yes we
Line 615: Line 380:
your interest is involved
your interest is involved
10 000 miles away
10 000 miles away
but russia seems concerned that their
but Russia seems concerned that their
interests extend all the way to cuba
interests extend all the way to Cuba
and to south america to chile and to
and to South America to Chile and to
other countries of that kind and
other countries of that kind and
they're the ones that have said they're
they're the ones that have said they're
Line 645: Line 410:
started
started
it actually wasn't it was a second party
it actually wasn't it was a second party
the whig party had
the Whig party had
shrunk and shrunk and then the remainder
shrunk and shrunk and then the remainder
of the wig party said the two other
of the Whig party said the two other
groups that had foreign parties hey
groups that had foreign parties hey
want to get together with us they
want to get together with us they
Line 659: Line 424:
be find themselves in the wrong parties
be find themselves in the wrong parties
maybe there are some people still voting
maybe there are some people still voting
i was a democrat most of my life i
I was a democrat most of my life I
became a republican only
became a republican only
not too many years ago and
not too many years ago and
i had the pleasure of telling some of
I had the pleasure of telling some of
those people that are saying the
those people that are saying the
republican
republican
Line 669: Line 434:
when I switched parties I didn't do it
when I switched parties I didn't do it
because the two parties were alike
because the two parties were alike
i did it because they were different and
I did it because they were different and
i think that the two parties ought to
I think that the two parties ought to
stand up as to what they represent
stand up as to what they represent
what they stand for a third party i
what they stand for a third party I
they have a way of electing the wrong
they have a way of electing the wrong
people they because they simply divide
people they because they simply divide
Line 684: Line 449:
people would take some action do
people would take some action do
something about it but
something about it but
i'd I'd rather devote our effort to see
I'd I'd rather devote our effort to see
and if we can't
and if we can't
find out what the present two parties
find out what the present two parties
Line 692: Line 457:
actively
actively
active politically again uh I certainly
active politically again uh I certainly
don't give up do i
don't give up do I
uh yeah you you you sure sure don't i
uh yeah you you you sure sure don't I
wish I could think of a good get offline
wish I could think of a good get offline
i have lauren spivak's old questions you
I have Lauren Spivak's old questions you
know for that nancy
know for that Nancy
nancy you know said to say hello tonight
Nancy you know said to say hello tonight
she thought it was great that we're both
she thought it was great that we're both
in town at the same time
in town at the same time
Line 703: Line 468:
us tonight really
us tonight really
it's a pleasure to see you again
it's a pleasure to see you again
</DIV>
-->
-->

Latest revision as of 14:23, 25 March 2026

Ronald Reagan's Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson[edit]

On December 24, 2024, Elon Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) a short video of Ronald Reagan talking to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, adding only "Very Wise Words." The 7:43 clip went viral.
(The portions of the full video that are included in the clip will be emphasized in the transcript below.)

This clip was a portion of a 20+ minute Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Reagan had just recently ended his terms as governor of California and would have just started recording his short-form radio show, as well as writing a syndicated newspaper column.

There seems to be some confusion in the Youtube video as to when this occurred. The video from the Reagan Foundation claims it was January 3, 1975, but sources such as Wikipedia, IMDB and the Johnny Carson Youtube channel, indicate the video is from March 13, 1975. This fits the early discussion, in which Reagan jokes about having been "unemployed" for a couple months.

Transcript[edit]

Carson: My first guest tonight is, uh, rather a phenomenon on a political scene as a citizen politician. Making his first try for public office, he was elected California's 33rd governor in 1966 by a majority of something around over a million votes. And he held that office, as you know, for eight years. And he used to joke that in his earlier profession he used to ride off in a sunset with the words "The End" on his back. But there are those who would say that Ronald Reagan... that 1975 may only be the beginning. Would you all complete the former governor of California, Ronald Reagan.

(Applause)

Nice to see you.

Reagan: Nice to be here John. Nice of you to have me here after a little more than two months unemployment.

Carson: That's right, uh, how does it feel to be, uh, well you're not really unemployed now because I know you're doing a syndicated column and, um, for many who's been around 120 papers I think, and the radio show and on the lecture tour but how does it feel to be, I don't want to use the word, temporarily out of politics or not but we'll get into that later, uh, how's it feel to be away from Sacramento?

Reagan: Well it's doing what I'm doing I wanted to for a long time, it's very exciting and um there's mixed emotions when you step down there's always things that you had left undone that you'd like to have done but then uh all of a sudden the curtain's pulled and that chapter's over and uh...

Carson: Somebody else takes over. Did you have any major disappointments? What would you like to have done, your biggest disappointment, maybe your biggest highlight in office as you look back on it.

Reagan: Well, uh, I'll start with the biggest highlight. The first of all... was proving that some things I'd long believed as a citizen would work. That you could introduce common sense in government and after the first traumatic shock you kind of made some of it work. We, um, we came into quite a... a mess and at the end of eight years... You know government, in the United States, federal, state and local, has been growing for 20 years, in size, about two and a half times as fast as the increase in population... except for the last eight years in California.
We turned over a government that was the same size as the one we inherited eight years ago. There'd been no growth and in some departments this meant an increase of as much as 66 percent in the workload. But, um, part of that was the welfare reforms.

Carson: Right.

Reagan: Welfare was increasing here in California 40,000 cases a month and we left with about 400,000 fewer people on welfare than there were four years ago. This saved the taxpayers about a billion dollars but what was equally important we were spread so thin we couldn't do what we should have done for, uh, the really needy, the really deserving and we were able to increase their grants by way of those reforms 43 percent.
Now you asked for what was the greatest disappointment the people handed it to us when, I think they were deceived, but when they voted down the tax limitation plan. I still say that the answer to our problems in this country even at the National level is to have a law that says there is a percentage limit of the people's earnings that government cannot go beyond without the consent of the people.

(Applause)

Carson: You're talking about... You're talking about the gross income of the country and how much they can appropriate for us...

Reagan: That's right.

Carson: ... for federal projects.

Reagan: See... when, um, when you and I were boys back in the Midwest...

Carson: Right....

Reagan: Governments, federal state and local were only taking about 15 cents out of every dollar earned. Today, they're taking almost half of every dollar earned in the United States and most people don't realize it because the taxes are hidden in the so-called business taxes, you know, the politician that stands up and yells, "Oh let's save the little man, let's tax business" and everybody yells "hurray". They haven't figured out that every tax on business is just a part of the cost of production and the customer winds up paying it when he buys the product. It's a hidden sales tax. There's 116 of them in a... the suit of clothes that each one of us is wearing.

Carson: Uh-huh. So a lot of economists have suggested, and I don't know they'll ever come to be in this country, that they're if they closed all of the loopholes and corporations and maybe tax loopholes and even on the rich certain loopholes and and made a percentage income and made a flat fee without all of the deductions that the government might raise as much money as they do now.

Reagan: Oh sure and really the loopholes, this has been overdone by the politicians too. The bulk of the money that is taken by what are called loopholes are the legitimate deductions with which if the people didn't have them they couldn't pay their income tax; interest on their mortgage, interest on the installments on their... on their car, their property taxes on their home, if they have one and so forth. These are, in politicians eyes, loopholes. But we ought to have tax reform and we ought to start by making it so simple that you don't have to hire a lawyer to find out how much you owe every year.

Carson: That's for sure it used to be uh it used to be a little simplified but not anymore.

Reagan: We... Johnny, we live in the only country in a world where it takes more brains to figure out your income tax than it does to earn the income.

Carson: [Laughs] You might be right.
Why do you think people are so they seem to be so disheartened now?
I know... Let's not get into the Watergate thing but that certainly had something to do with the, uh, the antipathy, I think, of a lot of people toward government, now we we see these revelations, of whether their revelations, or at least accusations that possibly the C.I.A. has been involved in some operations that they shouldn't have been involved in, certainly domestically, and people regularly get turned off. How do you... How do you turn people around and say "All right now, we're not going to do this anymore," and every day you see more of these things and I think people withdraw further and further and that's too bad.

Reagan: I know and I think part of it is because we're being bludgeoned every day... it's news... bad things are news we just every day we pick up and they read and record another tenth of a percent unemployment and so forth.
We keep hearing the the bad things... we hear the accusations and we're kind of used to accepting the accusation as proof of guilt. Now I'm on the C.I.A. Commission, so I'm rather limited... I cannot talk at this stage...

Carson: True.

Reagan: But I think one of the sad things is that the American people cannot know instead, frankly, we have to have a counter intelligence organization for our own safety. If the American people knew the extent to which were being spied on by the Russians, they'd throw détente out the window and Brezhnev and a few fellows with it.

Carson: Well, obviously, I agree that... that has to go on internationally to protect your national security but when they start looking at, you know, their own their own congressmen and own private citizens who's only a threat to national security seem to be to voice some difference of opinions that's going a little over the line isn't it.

Reagan: No because... well again as I say we...

Carson: Oh that's right you can't...

Reagan: We can't... we can't give any progress report for you...

Carson: You want to speak into the ashtray here and tell me privately.

Reagan: All I'd say to the people is wait until the report comes in and I think when a report comes in, uh um, maybe they might be greatly reassured.

Carson: I didn't mean to put you behind the eight ball there I realize of course you're on that commission and you couldn't expand on that. Let's take a brief break and we'll come right back and get on another subject

(Commercial Break, 7:27)

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