Politicians Love National Ice Cream Day, Too

Sunday is National Ice Cream Day, and it's a holiday that most of us are celebrating every day or, at least, as much as we can. No matter the weather, ice cream's a fantastic dessert and loved by millions. It truly is the people's dessert, so it makes perfect sense that this sweet treat is just as beloved by the country's elected officials as its citizens. Politicians love eating ice cream just like you and I do. In fact, National Ice Cream Day even got its start through politics. In 1984, then-president Ronald Reagan proclaimed the third Sunday in July National Ice Cream Day and even went so far as to make all of July National Ice Cream Month.

In his grand decree, Reagan called ice cream "a nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States. It enjoys a reputation as the perfect dessert and snack food." Politicians the world over readily agreed with Reagan, and photos have surfaced of everyone from former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to Fidel Castro enjoying a bit of frozen goodness. Perhaps the most iconic politically-inclined ice cream photos that have surfaced as of late came courtesy of Joe Biden, who donned aviator shades and brandished two $10 bills while indulging in an ice cream cone in 2014.

Ice cream has already played a part in 2016 presidential campaign stops, it seems. When fielding questions from reporters in New Hampshire earlier this month, Hillary Clinton was asked what her favorite ice cream flavor was, to which she replied, "I like nearly everything." She was seen later that week at the Derry, New Hampshire, ice cream shop Moos Place, indulging in whichever flavor her heart desired. If we're going by sheer love of ice cream alone this election cycle, Clinton may already be a front-runner given her stance that almost any ice cream is good ice cream.

Even better, ice cream can send a political message. Earlier this year, Ben and Jerry's unveiled the flavor Save Our Swirled, a climate conscious mix of raspberries, marshmallow, dark chocolate, and fudge. The flavor was unveiled with an accompanying online petition to urge world leaders toward an entirely clean energy future. While you enjoy your ice cream on Sunday, consider just how monumental the dessert is, and keep on indulging.

Image: Mor/Flickr (1)