In 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced that it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.
Comments
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.

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I remember when this prank came out. Too funny.
Posted by Laura  on  Thu Mar 31, 2005  at  10:48 PM

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You certainly know that the Clinton administration was in power then. Poor old Bush would have believed it.
Posted by aac  in  georgia  on  Wed Apr 06, 2005  at  05:12 PM

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hahahaha!! my told me about that story and here it is on this site! she told me she actually beleived it to...so embarrasing
Posted by Allie Jr.  in  earth  on  Thu Apr 07, 2005  at  05:23 AM

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Man their right how could any1 actually belive that... I mean did they really serious think that the goverment would sell it? and by the way the whole ford lincon mercury memorial was great but what would a car comp. need it for?
Posted by glenn  in  Mi.  on  Thu Apr 07, 2005  at  01:34 PM

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"Americans are sooo gulible"?

Number one, it is GULLIBLE. Number two, how about the German people under the leadership of Adolf Hitler and the rest of Europe?

At least the Americans being "gulible" didn't lead to the deaths of tens of millions of people.
Posted by William Jenkins  in  Milwaukee, WI  on  Sat May 07, 2005  at  09:14 AM

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I remember this story. What was not written about here, is that the National Park Service was in on the gag, answered the phones at the Bell offices, "Thank you for calling the Taco Liberty Bell"
The National Park Service, for their part also got a sizeable donation to a fund for maintaining the bell.
Posted by jeff  in  Texas  on  Mon Jul 11, 2005  at  04:18 PM

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LOL....nice, and the comeback was great!
Posted by ExMagus  on  Sat Apr 01, 2006  at  12:45 PM

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That is sooo hilarious! I can't believe people believed that!
Posted by Elizabeth  in  Memphis,Tennessee  on  Sat Apr 01, 2006  at  06:15 PM

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Actually, the story didnt end there. The Director of Parks and Recreation in Philly was particularly miffed at the hoax. Mayor Ed Rendell's response? 'Lighten up'. Mayor (now Governor) Rendell has always had a knack for extracting a buck, so he said that it would be a fantastic end to the joke if Taco Bell contributed $50,000 to help restore the pavilion in which the Liberty Bell is housed. Pretty much a happy ending all around.
Posted by The Lone Gunman  in  Philadelphia, PA  on  Mon Apr 03, 2006  at  07:58 PM

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I worked at the Liberty Bell at the time and visitors came so upset that the NPS would sell it!
Eventually, Taco Bell donated $ to the NPS to ease all the trouble.
Posted by ranger  on  Sun Apr 09, 2006  at  04:17 PM

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Not only gullible, Americans can be DEFENSIVE. Geez, Jenkins, nice downer to immediately bring up Hitler.

Anyway, a Taco Bell endorsement that is actually real is rather funny too: say the last two words fast of this newly-named stadium in Boise: Taco BELL ARENA. They should have statues of dancers in TuTus holding Chalupas.
Posted by Reddyredd  in  Chicago  on  Wed Jun 21, 2006  at  09:05 AM

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According to their website:

"In 2005, Taco Bell® generated sales of $1.8 billion in company restaurants and $4.4 billion in franchise restaurants"

I can't imagine they would care about, much less notice, a half million dollar's increase in sales in a week. That part of the article makes no sens.
Posted by Frogstein  in  Noo Yawk  on  Thu Sep 07, 2006  at  08:57 AM

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i luv the liberty bell its so kool i've seen it in person before it was so beatiful????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Posted by ashley  in  united states  on  Mon Oct 30, 2006  at  06:52 AM

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Noticed how when its some other nation getting messed up, they're gullible, but when its the Americans, its a great prank.


Posted by MrScribbles  on  Tue Oct 31, 2006  at  04:37 PM

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luv u ganim ....................LOOOOOL
Posted by mimi  in  lincoln  on  Tue Jan 16, 2007  at  08:15 AM

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omg this is funny!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Angelikiss  on  Tue Jan 16, 2007  at  08:58 AM

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i just luv da liberty bell!!!!!!!!!!no lol or joke!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by kiss!!!!!!!!!!  on  Tue Jan 16, 2007  at  09:00 AM

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this joke is pretty stupid so i would think you should think of a new one
Posted by will  in  pierce county, GA  on  Wed Feb 07, 2007  at  06:01 AM

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Thats amazing. I can't believe our government had a sense of humor...Wow...Anyway...Who was the president again? Lolz.
Posted by Sam  in  Wisconsin, USA  on  Mon Mar 26, 2007  at  07:01 AM

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Classics never die ...
It was a joke people, and a pretty good one; lighten up and enjoy it; some of you guys take yourselves wayyyyy to seriously!
Posted by Julie  in  Phoenix  on  Fri Mar 30, 2007  at  10:25 AM

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