Although Hope made an effort to keep his material up to date , he never adapted his comic persona or his routines to any great degree . As Hollywood began to transition to the " New Hollywood " era in the 1960s , he reacted negatively , such as when he hosted the 40th Academy Awards in 1968 and voiced his contempt by mocking the show 's delay because of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and condescendingly greeted attending younger actors on stage — such as Dustin Hoffman , who was 30 at the time — as children . By the 1970s , his popularity was beginning to wane with military personnel and with the movie-going public in general . However , he continued doing USO tours into the 1980s , and continued to appear on television into the 1990s . Former First Lady Nancy Reagan , a close friend and frequent host to him at the White House , called Hope " America 's most honored citizen and our favorite clown . " Hope was well known as an avid golfer , playing in as many as 150 charity tournaments a year . Introduced to the game in the 1930s while performing in Winnipeg , Canada , he eventually played to a four handicap . His love for the game — and the humor he could find in it — made him a sought-after foursome member . He once remarked that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave up golf for painting -- " Fewer strokes , you know . " He also was quoted as saying , " It 's wonderful how you can start out with three strangers in the morning , play 18 holes , and by the time the day is over you have three solid enemies . " A golf club became an integral prop for Hope during the standup segments of his television specials and USO shows . In 1978 he putted against the then-two-year-old Tiger Woods in a television appearance with the actor Jimmy Stewart on '' The Mike Douglas Show ''
40th Academy Awards
40th Academy Awards
Bob Hope