Jimmy Carter's Polish Misstep

In 1977, during a welcome ceremony in Poland, the interpreter for President Jimmy Carter committed a major blunder by translating innocuous remarks into scandalous ones. Carter reportedly said he had just left the U.S., but the translator rendered it as "I left the United States … never to return." Further, Carter's desire to understand the Polish people was mistranslated as "I desire the Poles carnally," and another line about being "happy to be in Poland" was rendered as "happy to grasp Poland's private parts."

Previous Fact Next Fact