I heard this one from my father; I think he was working for Social Security at the time (this was during the Nixon administration). A new president had been elected, and during the changing of the Cabinet, the former Secretary of (choose one) was showing his successor around the office. On leaving, the former secretary gave the new one three sealed envelopes, saying that when a crisis came up, as of course it would, he should open the first envelope. If a second crisis came up later, he should open the second, etc. The new fellow thanked him politely, put the envelopes in the desk, and forgot about them..until the crisis came. After doing everything he could think of to cope with it, racking his brains, etc., he opened the first envelope. The note said,"Blame your predecessor." He did, and the crisis died down. When the second crisis came, unable to think of anything else, he opened the second envelope, which said,"Lay low until the situation blows over." He did, and it did. When the third crisis came, he fairly dived for the envelope. The note said,"Prepare three envelopes." sometimes this is too close to the truth to be classed as a joke.