Pershing didn’t exactly walk away with the trophy so needless to say the Friars had a field day. What they didn’t expect was to perform the skit in front of the President himself—who took a hilarious hit or two from the Friars.

When the tour hit Baltimore, the president had a ringside seat to his own comic destiny. He loved it and Friars Abbot George M. Cohan made him a Friar—the first president to have the honor.

In 1925 the Friars gave a dinner for N.Y. Gov. Alfred E. Smith. He was introduced by Dean William Collier with, "It is the Friars great good fortune to meet here tonight, to do honor to possibly the greatest name and the greatest figure in the United States, the Honorable Governor, Alfred E…." and here Mr. Collier hesitated, looked blank, reached into his pocket for a piece of paper and read: "…Smith."

There was also, in 1925, a dinner for President Calvin Coolidge. Now, here’s a group of guys who can keep records how their Club was formed over a century ago; that they once had their own brand of cigarettes; and how many billiard tables they had in a clubhouse they haven’t owned in over sixty years. But ask them for information about a dinner honoring the thirtieth president of the United States and they just shrug and say, "No idea, but did you hear the one about the First Lady and the Congressional Page?"

I suppose in their defense, Coolidge was known for being a man of few words and high moral standards. The Friars figured if the guy’s not funny it’s not worth remembering him.

Abraham Beame stood about five foot two and graced the dais of many Friars events. Every introduction brought attention to his height: "The former mayor of New York City is going back into politics. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has hired him as his own personal Mini-Me." (Jerry Stiller Roast, 1999)

"He is the former mayor of New York, but what you may not know is since then he has found part-time work as a Beanie Baby." (Drew Carey Roast 1998)

"Yet another former mayor who has gone into television—he just signed on to be a Muppet." (Danny Aiello Roast 1997)

When NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared New York City Friars Club Day at their centennial celebration he proclaimed, "New Yorkers always know where to look for a laugh, and who to hide from when they are due for a good roasting. Here's hoping they survive for another hundred years. Unless they decide to roast the mayor, in which case their lease will mysteriously expire."

I should probably end the politician commentary here so I still have a place to go every morning.