Did Bob Hope die yesterday or was he at home in California having his breakfast? He was too weak to get out of his car at the parade marking his 95th birthday last month and was seen to nod off but there had been no indication he was on the road to join Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour on the other side.
But Congressman Bob Stump of Arizona paid tribute to the British-born comedian on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon assuming that he had just died.
Later Hope's puzzled daughter Linda said: "It's not true. He's happily having his breakfast" at his home in Toluca Lake, a wealthy enclave in the San Fernando Valley.
Back in Washington, 2,500 miles away, Capitol Hill was thrown into confusion over prematurely killing off the nation's once most popular comedian.
After all, it was only a few weeks earlier that Bob Hope had come to Washington to receive a knighthood from the British ambassador on behalf of Queen Elizabeth. Although clearly very frail, he managed to quip: "I am literally speechless. Where are my writers when I need them?"
Poor Congressman Stump (71) was deeply embarrassed by his gaffe, but it wasn't his fault. The confusion arose over an erroneous agency report which announced the entertainer's death. Mr Stump, as chairman of the veterans' committee, last year made Hope an honorary second World War veteran in recognition of his services as an entertainer of the troops. Understandably, Mr Stump was asked by the House Majority Leader, Mr Dick Armey, to pay tribute to the supposedly deceased comedian in the House.
This Mr Stump did and then all hell broke loose. His office was deluged with calls from the media and admirers of Bob Hope asking for more details.
An aide said: "It was a horrible situation. The congressman does not even put out press releases so you can imagine the chaos." A stumped Mr Stump later telephoned Linda Hope to apologise.
Mr Armey also apologised. "The floor announcement was based on a story which briefly appeared on an Associated Press Internet news page this afternoon. They have since removed the story.
"Again, I regret this announcement and look forward to many more happy memories from a wonderful entertainer and distinguished American," Mr Armey said contritely.
As a former newspaper reporter, Bob Hope would take a dim view of a news agency prematurely announcing his death. Up to fairly recently, Hope had continued to make public appearances and crack jokes.
Asked in 1989 why he didn't retire and go fishing, he replied: "Fish don't applaud". But he did go fishing on the Chesapeake last month when visiting Washington.