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[Tyrone Slothrop]

Andrew Sullivan posted this excerpt from a 1982 press conference. This sort of exchange would be inconceivable now.

• Q: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?
  MR. SPEAKES: What's AIDS?
  Q: Over a third of them have died. It's known as "gay plague." (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean it's a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?
  MR. SPEAKES: I don't have it. Do you? (Laughter.)
  Q: No, I don't.
  MR. SPEAKES: You didn't answer my question.
  Q: Well, I just wondered, does the President ...
  MR. SPEAKES: How do you know? (Laughter.)
  Q: In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?
  MR. SPEAKES: No, I don't know anything about it, Lester.
  Q: Does the President, does anyone in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?
  MR. SPEAKES: I don't think so. I don't think there's been any ...
  Q: Nobody knows?
  MR. SPEAKES: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.
  Q: No, I mean, I thought you were keeping ...
  MR. SPEAKES: I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he's had no - (laughter) - no patients suffering from AIDS or whatever it is.
  Q: The President doesn't have gay plague, is that what you're saying or what?
  MR. SPEAKES: No, I didn't say that.
  Q: Didn't say that?
  MR. SPEAKES: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn't you stay there? (Laughter.)
  Q: Because I love you Larry, that's why (Laughter.)
  MR. SPEAKES: Oh I see. Just don't put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)
  Q: Oh, I retract that.
  MR. SPEAKES: I hope so.
  Q: It's too late.