To the tune of a catchy jingle, a blaring "Cal Worthington and his dog, Spot" would introduce the car dealer's zany late-night television commercials featuring the salesman accompanied -- never by his dog, Spot -- but by an uncommon pet, such as a tiger, seal, bear, chimpanzee, or an elephant.
"If you're looking for a better set of wheels, I will stand up on my head to beat all deals, I will stand up on my head till my ears are turning red. Go see Cal, Go see Cal, Go see Cal," was one of the many rewritten refrains of the children's rhyme, "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands."
For decades, Calvin Coolidge Worthington (1920-2013), who at one time owned 29 dealerships in the southwestern and western United States, was a television fixture.
On March 11, to the chagrin of millions of television viewers around the world, United States President Donald Trump aped Worthington's style on the White House lawn in a 36-minute free infomercial under the guise of news.
Elon Musk was Trump's sidekick.
Tesla vehicles flanked the two. Trump commended the electric cars as well as Musk, the CEO of Tesla.
Shares of Tesla have crashed 48 percent since peaking in mid-December, reported Business Insider (March 13).
In the U.S., there have been so-called Tesla Takedown protests to show displeasure with the role of the engineer in sweeping cuts to the federal workforce and cancellation of contracts funding global humanitarian programs, reported Reuters (March 11). Trump named Musk, the richest person in the world, as the head of the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, which he created after his inauguration in January.
At the White House car lot, Trump bought one of the Teslas.
Cal Worthington never owned his own personal car, driving used cars which were for sale at his dealerships, according to The New York Times (September 10, 2013).
Cal Worthington sold cars.
Trump is selling out the honor and prestige of his office.
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