Harry S. Truman is with Franklin D. Roosevelt.

It is 1945 and The Vice President Harry S. Truman is with Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States.


Roosevelt was having issues with his health and they were discussing the prospect of Truman assuming the Office, should Roosevelt pass away.

Truman: "Mr. President, any tips you can give me to succeed in office, the way you have for so long?"

"Well" said the President, "The most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people."

Truman frowned and then asked, "But how do I know the people around me are intelligent?"

The President: "Easy, you just ask them to answer an intelligent riddle."

The President pushed a button on his intercom. "Chief of Staff, would you come in here, please?"

Chief of Staff walked into the room and said, "Yes, sir?"

The President smiled and said, "Answer me this please. Your mother and father have a child. It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

Without pausing for a moment, Chief of Staff answered, "That would be me, sir."

"Very good! Thank you!" said the President.

Then he turned to Truman with a smile and said "See?"


Now it's Truman's turn to apply the same logic...
Truman went back to his office and asked his assistant: "Answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child. It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

"I'm not sure." said the assistant. "Let me get back to you on that one..."

The assistant went to the staff and asked every one, but no one could give him an answer. Finally, he ran into Albert Einstein, who was visiting the White House.

The assistant was aware of Einstein's reputation as a man of great intelligence, and asked: "Hey, Mr. Einstein, can you answer this for me? Your mother and father have a child and it's not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"

Einstein answered, "That's easy, it's me!"

Assistant said, "Thanks!"

Then he went back to Truman: "I did some thinking and I have the answer to that riddle. That child's name? Albert Einstein"

Truman fainted.