267. “Nixon Makes Big Stink in Russia”

January 6, 2011

Q: Sometime in the early 1970s, Richard Nixon made a trip to the Soviet Union. National Lampoon did a spoof on the visit. What I remember is either a picture of Nixon in a kitchen, washroom or near a bathroom. The headline read “Nixon Makes Big Stink In Russia”. I believe there were bubble captions on Russians saying “Who farted?” and “Old Russian proverb—make no difference if water fresh or salt, shit still float”.

A: I think Steve got it: “Nixon Causes Stink in Paris” (The audience is saying “Who farted?” in 22 different languages.)—“News on the March”, June 1974 (Food) issue. Or maybe Wendy got it: “I’m not so sure… The June ’72 (Science Fiction) issue might be the one. ‘News on the March’ has an old news pic of Nixon (as Veep) examining a laundry display—one washing machine and two packets of detergent—amid a crowd of Russians. Nobody is saying “Who farted?” but Nixon’s thinking: ‘Next time I come here I’ll be President.’ Brezhnev is thinking: ‘Next time he comes here I’ll be Premier’, and that slapheaded commie who wasn’t allowed in Disneyland (his name eludes me) is mulling over the old Russian proverb.”

Comments

"Nixon Causes Stink in Paris" (The audience is saying "Who farted?" in 22 different languages.)- "News on the March", June 1974 "Food" issue

—Steve_O

January 28, 2011 12:32 am

Thanks, Steve!

—Mark

February 3, 2011 12:47 pm

I'm not so sure...the June '72 (Science Fiction) issue might be the one. 'News on the March' has an old news pic of Nixon (as Veep) examining a laundry display - one washing machine and two packets of detergent - amid a crowd of Russians. Nobody is saying "Who farted?" but Nixon's thinking: "Next time I come here I'll be President." Brezhnev is thinking: "Next time he comes here I'll be Premier", and that slapheaded commie who wasn't allowed in Disneyland (his name eludes me) is mulling over the old Russian proverb. Maybe this is the one?

—Wendy Timecomes

February 27, 2011 6:54 am

Ooh, good point, Wendy. I remembered seeing that, but was unable to recall which issue when pondering the query before posting it here. I think it's possible that the questioner merged the two items in his mind. Thanks!

—Mark

February 28, 2011 8:40 pm

The "slapheaded commie" was Khrushchev, by the way.

—Mark

February 28, 2011 8:44 pm

Original material (excluding quoted material) © 1997-2024 Mark Simonson.
Mark's Very Large National Lampoon Site is not affiliated with National Lampoon or National Lampoon Inc.
Click here for the real thing.