If you've ever wondered why there's a day dedicated to presidential humor, the answer traces back to one very specific, very unplanned moment in 1984. National Presidential Joke Day falls on Aug. 11 each year, and unlike most holidays with murky or contested origins, this one has a clear starting point: a single sentence President Ronald Reagan never meant for anyone to hear. The Joke That Started It AllOn Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan was preparing for his regular Saturday evening radio address, broadcast through National Public Radio. The observance is more specifically framed around presidential humor itself, the wit, timing and occasional blunders of the people who've held the office. A Day With No Official StatusLike many similar novelty observances, National Presidential Joke Day has never received formal recognition as a federal holiday.