There are many reasons to mourn the passing of Bob Hope, who died at his California home Monday, two months after his 100th birthday. He was the master of the one-liner, a prolific performer whose comic profile sporting a "ski jump" nose was recognizable across generations of Americans. He was generous with an autograph and with his wealth, contributing to a variety of charities.
But Hope was most beloved for his untiring effort to boost the morale of soldiers at war. He appeared so many times close to the front that he had a standing joke for when gunfire interrupted one of his monologues. "I wonder which one of my pictures they saw?" he would quip, exemplifying a brand of humor that mixed cockiness with self-deprecation.
From World War II to the first Persian Gulf War, his USO tours brought soldiers a taste of home, with jokes, music and guest appearances by stars who tended to be attractive women. His annual Christmas shows for the troops, from Berlin to Saigon, spanned four decades. Novelist John Steinbeck, covering a Hope visit to wounded soldiers in 1943, witnessed the comedian's power to "lift spirits up out of the black water" of war. "There's a man for you," Steinbeck concluded.
The only serious controversy involving Hope grew out of his early support of the Vietnam War. At times heckled by protesters, Hope later spoke out for an "honorable" end to the conflict. "I've seen too many wars," he said.
Although a political conservative who developed a close friendship with Republican President Ronald Reagan, Hope mostly avoided partisan politics. His comedy was topical but broad and never mean-spirited. Typical was this jab at golf buddy and former President Gerald Ford. "If you beat him (at golf), he pardons you," Hope said.
He would have earned success and fame many times over even without his patriotic service. Born in England, Hope moved with his family to Cleveland when he was 4, later changing his first name from Leslie to Bob to avoid teasing from classmates. A dancer and musician, he got his start in vaudeville but soon discovered a talent for comedy. After successful Broadway performances, Hope was offered a radio show in 1938 and became a fixture on NBC radio and TV for 60 years.
He appeared in more than 50 movies, memorably co-starring with crooner Bing Crosby in seven "Road to. . ." movies, and wrote or co-wrote 10 books, including his autobiography Don't Shoot, It's Only Me. His awards and honors were lengthy, including a knighthood for his service to the British military and Distinguished Service Medals from every branch of the U.S. armed forces.
A good businessman with extensive real estate holdings, Hope was thought to be worth as much as $500-million, which helped to fund the charitable Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation, formed with his wife of 70 years.
Bob Hope's signature tune Thanks for the Memory could also be his epitaph. During war and peace, he gave Americans an opportunity to laugh and momentarily forget their troubles.
