Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Video: Phyllis Diller roasts Ronald Reagan

Phyllis Diller died today at age 95. The Los Angeles Times remembers: “When I realized I looked like Olive Oyl and wanted to look like Jean Harlow, I knew something had…

  • Share
By Caitlin Shamberg • Aug 20, 2012 • 1 min read

Phyllis Diller died today at age 95. The Los Angeles Times remembers:

“When I realized I looked like Olive Oyl and wanted to look like Jean Harlow, I knew something had to be done,” she once said. “From 12 on, the only way to handle the terror of social situations was comedy — break the ice, make everybody laugh. I did it to make people feel more relaxed, including myself.”

There a so many amazing videos of Diller on YouTube, but here’s one that is particularly close to home. Watch her roast Ronald Reagan before he was president.

“If you ever get to be president, and I think you may, and there’s a depression. Try not to have it at a bad time, like when everybody’s out of work,” she told the then-governor.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Caitlin Shamberg

    KCRW

    Arts & Culture StoriesArtsPolitics