(J. Daniel Smith's East German joke the other day reminded of this one.
Bill Fason told it to me a few years ago. --DG)
One night, Erich Honnecker was in the bedchamber having some pillow talk
with his mistress. He was in a magnanimous mood and offered her a
present of her choice.
She thought about his offer for a moment and then replied, "Oh, Erich,
if there is one thing I would like you to do for me, it is this: open
the borders just for one day."
Honnecker said, "Of course, my dear," but was a bit puzzled by her
request. He asked, "But why would you have me do such a thing?"
The mistress replied, "I want to be alone with you."