Looking Back on Dad's Day

Which Was Yesterday

Richard Nixon declared Father’s Day a national holiday in 1972. Part of the official proclamation was, “To have a father -- to be a father -- is to come very near the heart of life itself.”

You wouldn’t know that from “dad jokes,” which are purposely lame and generally sad:

“Don’t trust atoms. They make up everything.”

“What do you call cheese that is not yours? Nacho cheese.”

“My dad tried to talk to a dolphin once. They never really clicked.”