Joseph Verner Reed Jr., Protocol Chief Who Presided Over Colorful Gaffe, Dies at 78 While under President George Bush, Mr. Reed was part of ‘the talking hat’ affair, a slip-up that entered the annals of diplomatic history. Share: Facebook Twitter Google+ Stumble Digg Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to Facebook Related Posts:Southeast Asia Replaces Africa as the World’s Hotbed of PiracyKremlin Says it Wants a Spotless Election, but Locally It Is MarredU.S. Admits to Strike in Syria That Russia Says Killed 62 Syrian TroopsTurkey’s Islamic Fashion Revolution17 Indian Soldiers Killed by Militants in KashmirFilm Shines Light on South Korean Spy Agency’s Fabrication of Enemies