Obama Jokes: Twitter Could Replace "Red Phone" Calls to Russia

By: Jaywon Choe
Topics: In The News

(Credit: AP)

At a joint press conference today with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, President Obama joked about how one popular technology might help the two countries move past traditional Cold War-style diplomacy.

The technology in question was Twitter - or as Mr. Obama put it, signaling he might be less familiar with the technology than he let on, "Twitters." During his speech, Mr. Obama made reference to the fact that Medvedev "visited the headquarters of Twitters where he opened his own account."

Speaking of Medvedev starting a Twitter account, Mr. Obama said, "I have one, as well, so we may be able to finally throw away those red phones that have been sitting around for so long." The comment garnered titters from the assembled guests and press corps at the White House.

(Credit: Columbia Pictures)

The "red phone" Mr. Obama was referring to was the direct line that ostensibly connected the White House to the Kremlin during the Cold War, made famous in movies like 1964's "Fail Safe," starring Henry Fonda as the president (see left). In popular culture, the image of the red phone has become synonymous with U.S.-Russia relations during the era. But the reality today is a bit more complicated.

Former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, who served under President George W. Bush, told CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller that in his time there was a direct connection phone between the White House Situation Room and the Kremlin, but that it wasn't red.

As for today?

"Nowadays, they just pick up a phone and call the Kremlin," a White House spokesman told Knoller.

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by IndepTex22 June 25, 2010 9:20 AM EDT: "Obama Jokes: Twitter Could Replace "Red Phone" Calls to Russia.........I like Twitter.....and clouds."; Reply to this comment


by dadirt June 25, 2010 9:20 AM EDT: Another stupid thing he has said or done! This guy is not presidential, not a leader, and definately not Patriot. It is all me, me, me, I. I, I.; Reply to this comment


by D0ntTread0nMe June 25, 2010 9:04 AM EDT: Strange that we know so much more about Obama's family than we know about the man himself. Thanks CBS, NBC, CNN, NYT, WP, MSNBC, LAT, ABC et al. for your aggressive insightful analysis of Obama before the election. With "watchdogs" like these who needs a lapdog? The Liberal media commiserates with themselves about how they failed to report the Edwards affair, and yet they still cover up for Obama. The lifeblood of the modern news ? the scandal ? has been consistently ignored. Do you remember the frenzy of media coverage for the simplest of issues during the Bush years? Now sensational scandal after sensational scandal has been determined to be not newsworthy by the self appointed watchdogs. Why does Mr. Obama continue to deploy legions of lawyers to defend his claim that he was born in Hawaii? All he has to do is show a five dollar certified copy of his real BIRTH CERTIFICATE. The one with the Hospital and a signature of the doctor and the little footprint. Where there is smoke, there is fire. This is a raging inferno in the living room and the media is still sipping tea. The fact is Mr. Obama, in addition to having a mental disorder, is not a Natural Born Citizen and is not qualified to be the President. Nancy Pelosi is one of those who ?certified? for the Democrat Party that Mr. Obama was qualified. The establishment media, The Democrat Party, Mr. Obama, and Ms. Pelosi must pay dearly for this usurping of power.; Reply to this comment