Posted January 05, 2018 at 07:10 AM | Updated January 05, 2018 at 07:10 AM
TRBYRN31 1 MUNSON
Munson, John
Gov. Brendan Byrne and Gov. Jon Corzine laugh during an 85th birthday roast for Byrne at the Garden State Cancer Center Annual Gala in March 2009. (John Munson | The Star-Ledger)
Compiled by Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Gov. Brendan Byrne was never known for his speeches, but knew how to tell a joke and could bring down the house with his observations of power and politics in New Jersey.
The Center on the American Governor at the Eagleton Institute of Politics collected a list of Byrne's best lines. Here are some of them.
Laughing about his age
"At my age, before I buy anything in the supermarket, I look at the expiration dates on the products. Milk is usually a safe bet."
How many quarts to a gallon...
"Governor Dick Hughes used to tell the story of Barney Doyle, a long-time Hudson County hanger-on whom Hughes finally appointed as director of weights and measures. At his swearing in, a reporter asked Barney 'how many ounces in a pound?' to which Barney responded: 'Give me a break boys, I just got this job...'"
LD D2 NEWS WYCKOFF BRENDN1 BR.1
Amanda Brown | Star-Ledger file photo
Swimming lessons
Expressing his frustration at negative media coverage.