
From the December 1, 1170, press gaggle with Henry, King of England, Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, Count of Aquitaine, et al.:
PRESS: Your Highness, I was wondering if I could ask you specifically about your current relationship with Thomas Beckett, the Archbishop of Canterbury –
KING OF ENGLAND: Yeah, I know what his title is, okay? Archbishop of whatever, yes. I know. I was the one who gave him that title, okay? I’m very very big on loyalty and I was hoping it was a two-way street. Apparently not, which is one of the things I’ve learned since becoming King of England and all of the other things, all of which are terrific, believe me.
PRESS: What is the state of your current relationship with the Archbishop? Are you about to have him executed? You’ve made statements that suggest that you’re displeased –
KOE: Displeased? I’ll say. Had I known he was going to be such a pain in the you-know-what about this and that, would I have made him the A of C? Not likely.
PRESS: I have a follow-up. Given that Thomas Beckett is the Archbishop of Canterbury, and given that your recent statements have made it clear you’d like him to resign, what plans do you have for the contingency that he doesn’t, in fact, offer his resignation?
KOE: Okay, this is the last question I’m taking on this because, well, there are so many amazing things I’ve done since becoming King of the Thing that it’s crazy, really, people are saying this, not me, it’s crazy that we’re talking about this stuff instead of the really serious stuff I’ve done as regards the whole situation with the common-law issues, which truly, and this is not me saying this, this is lots of people, which truly boggle the mind. Is what I’m saying.
PRESS: So in other words, you’d prefer it if –
KOE: Someone would rid me of this turbulent priest? Yeah, yeah. That’s the nutshell, sure.
From the November 2, 1862, press conference with President Abraham Lincoln:
PRESS: If I could ask one about General George McClellan –
POTUS: Oy. Really?
PRESS: You’ve made statements both in public and in letters regarding your feelings about General McClellan and his use of the Army of the Potomac –
POTUS: Oh, um, is he using it? I was unaware. I was under the impression that the Army was at this juncture utterly inactive.
PRESS: See, there’s comments like that. What I’m asking is –
POTUS: Like what? Like my pointing out, quite calmly if I may add, that the Army of the Potomac seems like a nice group of guys, out there having terrific nature walks, while the Army of Northern Virginia strolls northward to become the Army of Northern Virginia plus Western Maryland and Also Probably Pennsylvania and (Fingers Crossed) Lower New Jersey. Stuff like that? Comments along those lines?
PRESS: Sorta, yeah.
POTUS: Got it. Okay. Please continue with your question.
PRESS: You seem angry, Mr. President.
POTUS: Why should I be angry? Just because a political appointee refuses to follow my orders?
PRESS: If I may, sir, do you have any plans to fire General McClellan?
POTUS: No! No, no, no, no, no, no. Of course not. Zero plans to do that. Zero. Nada.
PRESS: Sir?
POTUS: Obviously I’m going to fire him. Probably today. I mean, hello?
From the June 21, 1941, press availability with Chancellor Adolf Hitler, Der Führer:
DF: Yes, Jurg, you in the back, you have a question?
PRESS: Yeah, sir, I was wondering about recent troop movements along the Polish–Russian border and how these might seem to contradict the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, which you have previously suggested was the cornerstone to peace in the region.
DF: So glad you asked that. Jurg, was it? Well, Jurg, see, the thing is, we have a non-aggression pact with Russia which is really predicated on the whole idea that, Hey! Let Germany pay for it, let the German volk just suck it up and take this crap when the truth is, those countries are kinda second-rate, if you ask me. So are we rethinking a lot of really bad treaties done by people who are really bad at negotiating? Yes. That’s a definite ja.
PRESS: So we’re going to war with Russia? A country that you signed a treaty with?
DF: Did I sign it? A lot of people are saying I didn’t, and that I shouldn’t have.
PRESS: Wait, so you did?
DF: Aren’t you tired of losing, Jurg?
PRESS: I don’t see how we’re losing, sir, by living up to our treaties.
DF: This is why people hate the media, Jurg. Next question.