I believe this was in response to Bush the First's declaration that he did not like broccoli and, since he was the President, did not have to eat it anymore. If I were President, I would make the same statement about celery and brussels sprouts, so I had some sympathy.
It was first published well before then (1928), but it certainly could have resurfaced in connection with the Bush I stated aversion to broccoli. Interestingly, the original caption was the one below. E.B. White, who among his many talents, also wrote and edited captions for "The New Yorker," reportedly changed it to the two-line classic we've known for the last 96 years.
“Mother, if I eat my spinach, may I have some chocolate pudding?”
“No, dear, there isn’t any chocolate pudding today.”
Speaking of broccoli, the classic Carl Rose cartoon from "The New Yorker:" https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/its-broccoli-carl-rose.jpg
I believe this was in response to Bush the First's declaration that he did not like broccoli and, since he was the President, did not have to eat it anymore. If I were President, I would make the same statement about celery and brussels sprouts, so I had some sympathy.
It was first published well before then (1928), but it certainly could have resurfaced in connection with the Bush I stated aversion to broccoli. Interestingly, the original caption was the one below. E.B. White, who among his many talents, also wrote and edited captions for "The New Yorker," reportedly changed it to the two-line classic we've known for the last 96 years.
“Mother, if I eat my spinach, may I have some chocolate pudding?”
“No, dear, there isn’t any chocolate pudding today.”
“Well, then, the hell with the spinach.”