News From East Tennessee. (Or, Could This Be Fred Thompson? )

A young farmboy from Tennesee goes off to college, but half way through
the semester, he has foolishly squandered all his money.

He calls home. "Dad," he says, "You won't believe what modern education
is developing! They actually have a program here in Knoxville that will
teach our dog, Ol' Blue how to talk!"

"That's amazing," his Dad says. "How do I get Ol' Blue in that program?"

"Just send him down here with $1,000" the young cowboy says. "I'll get
him in the course." So, his father sends the dog and $1,000.

About two-thirds through the semester, the money again runs out. The boy
calls home. "So how's Ol' Blue doing, son," his father asks. "Awesome,
Dad, he's talking up a storm," he says, "but you just won't believe this
- they've had such good results they have started to teach the animals
how to read!"

"Read!" says his father, "No kidding! How do we get Blue in that
program?" "Just send $2,500, I'll get him in the class."
The money promptly arrives. But our hero has a problem. At the end of
the year, his father will find out the dog can neither talk, nor read.
So he shoots the dog.

When he arrives home at the end of the year, his father is all excited.
"Where's Ol' Blue? I just can't wait to see him read something and talk!"

"Dad," the boy says, "I have some grim news. Yesterday morning, just
before we left to drive home, Ol' Blue was in the living room, kicked
back in the recliner, reading the Wall Street Journal, like he usually
does. Then he turned to me and asked, 'So, is your daddy still messing'
around with that little redhead who lives in town?' "

The father exclaimed, "I hope you shot that dog before he talks to your
Mother!" "I sure did, Dad!" "That's my boy!"

The kid went on to be a successful lawyer...eventually giving up his
practice and going into politics.