Editing Will Rogers (section)

=== 1928 presidential campaign ===
Rogers thought all campaigning was "bunk." To prove the point, he mounted a mock campaign in 1928 for the presidency. His only vehicle was ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'', which was then a weekly humor magazine. The campaign was in large part an effort to boost circulation for the struggling periodical.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Saavedra|first=Scott |date=August 2020|title=Celebrities for President|journal=RetroFan|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |location=United States|issue=10|page=14}}</ref> Rogers ran as the "bunkless candidate" of the Anti-Bunk Party. His campaign promise was that, if elected, he would resign. Every week, from Memorial Day through Election Day, Rogers caricatured campaign politics. On Election Day he declared victory and resigned (he did not actually receive any state electoral votes).

{{blockquote|Asked what issues would motivate voters? Prohibition: "What's on your hip is bound to be on your mind" (July 26).

Asked if there should be presidential debates? Yes: "Joint debate—in any joint you name" (August 9).

How about appeals to the common man? Easy: "You can't make any commoner appeal than I can" (August 16).

What does the farmer need? Obvious: "He needs a punch in the jaw if he believes that either of the parties cares a damn about him after the election" (August 23).

Can voters be fooled? Darn tootin': "Of all the bunk handed out during a campaign the biggest one of all is to try and compliment the knowledge of the voter" (September 21).

What about a candidate's image? Ballyhoo: "I hope there is some sane people who will appreciate dignity and not showmanship in their choice for the presidency" (October 5).

What of ugly campaign rumors? Don't worry: "The things they whisper aren't as bad as what they say out loud" (October 12).<ref>James E. Combs and Dan Nimmo, ''The Comedy of Democracy'' (1996) pp. 60–61</ref>}}