What are the qualifications for White House press secretary?

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Apparently, a basic knowledge of U.S. history is not one of them.

According to the Washington Post, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino shared an embarrassing moment she had previously kept to herself. At a press briefing, a reporter mentioned the Cuban Missile Crisis and Perino wasn't sure what it was.

The press secretary had this to say on NPR's "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me" quiz show:

I was panicked a bit because I really don't know about... the Cuban Missile Crisis. It had to do with Cuba and missiles, I'm pretty sure.

Going strictly by the name of famous historical events is probably a high-percentage guessing strategy, but it probably wouldn't help Perino figure out what the Boxer Rebellion or the Hundred Years' War was all about, nor would it provide much insight into the War of 1812.

(Hat tip: PoliticalWire.com)