Words from the White House: Words and Phrases Coined or Popularized by America's Presidents

by Paul Dickson

Overview

"A compendious, entertaining look at our nation's leaders through words and turns of phrase." — Kirkus Reviews

From George Washington's "New Yorker" and Thomas Jefferson's "pedicure" to Theodore Roosevelt's "lunatic fringe," Richard Nixon's "silent majority," and Donald Trump's "covfefe," this entertaining and eminently readable volume compiles words and phrases that were coined or popularized by American presidents. Discover the origins of "bloviate" (Warren G. Harding), "military-industrial complex" (Dwight D. Eisenhower), "misunderestimate" (George W. Bush), "squatter" (James Madison), and other terms that have helped define American culture. The entries are listed alphabetically, featuring a definition and — in most cases — a brief discussion that places them in historical context.

"Thoroughly enjoyable." — The Washington Post

"The author is an essayist and lexicographer who presents this entertaining look at how presidents have used and shaped our language." — The Dispatch (Columbus)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486846101
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	01/15/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Paul Dickson is a prolific freelance writer who lives in Garrett Park, Maryland. In addition to his books on baseball history and space exploration, Paul has written extensively on language in such books as Slang: The Topical Dictionary of Americanisms, Journalese: A Dictionary for Deciphering the News (with Robert Skole), and Drunk: The Definitive Drinker's Dictionary. With Dover, Paul has published War Slang: American Fighting Words and Phrases Since the Civil War, The Official Rules: 5,427 Laws, Principles, and Axioms to Help You Cope with Crises, Deadlines, Bad Luck, Rude Behavior, Red Tape, and Attacks by Inanimate Objects, and Baseball Is . . . Defining the National Pastime, among other books.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Dover Edition v

Charting the Presidents and their Nonlexical Firsts 1

I Introduction: Brave New Words 7

II Hail to the White House: Words, Phrases, and Slogans-A to Z 19

III The Neologist in Chief? 175

Acknowledgements 181

Notes 183

Bibliography 193

An Index of Proper Names 198

Editorial Reviews

…thoroughly enjoyable…Thumbing through this compact lexicon turns up some real treats.

The Washington Post - Steven Levingston

Paul Dickson is the most prolific writer I know. While I have met authors who seem to publish a new book every other week (James Patterson and Nora Roberts come to mind), Dickson's books cover such a wide range of subjects and topics that I consider him to be that one true Vesuvius of books. He never stops writing. Dickson has written his share of dictionaries and word books. The latest, "Words From the White House," examines a plethora of words, terms and expressions that have emanated from the most exalted office in the land, the presidency of the United States. Some of these expressions are now in common usage. Others have languished and faded into obscurity. The book is written in dictionary form, in alphabetical order. Each entry has an explanation of how a word or term was used during a particular presidency. Dickson writes that "using the Oxford English Dictionary and its ‘first evidence for word' credits Thomas Jefferson with 110 new words and 382 new senses for older words." Jefferson was adept at creating new ones. It was Jefferson who concocted the impressive word "neologize." It means: "to coin or use new words or phrases." Here are some "words from the White House" and the presidents who popularized them: George Washington gave us "administration," "average" and "hatchet man." Warren Harding came up with the term "founding fathers." Theodore Roosevelt coined many classics including "loose cannon," "frazzle," "pack rat," "lunatic fringe," "pussyfooter" and "muckraker." Presidents love a catchy phrase. When William Henry Harrison won the presidency in 1840 he employed the slogan "as Maine goes … so goes the nation." Back then the voters of Maine cast ballots in September, six weeks ahead of time, to get their votes counted before winter came. That same 1840 Harrison campaign engendered the expression "keep the ball rolling." Dickson explains that "an immense steel-ribbed ball covered in canvas and plastered with this and other slogans was pushed from town to town … ." George W. Bush was often ridiculed for his word inventions. He was mocked for using the word "analyzation" in a speech. Dickson notes that "this is a respectable word dating to 1698." In another speech he declared "this issue doesn't resignate with the people." His use of "resignate" was derided, too. Dickson shows this obscure usage actually dated from the 16th century. Some expressions were quickly forgotten. Here are some examples: "Angloman. Bomfog. Floogie bird. Innocuous desuetude." Dickson explains them all. He closes his entertaining and informative book with a list of "the top ten words invented or promoted by presidents." George W. Bush made the list with this memorable word invention: "misunderestimate.” —Vick Mickunas, Dayton Daily News

“A compendious, entertaining look at our nation's leaders through words and turns of phrase.” —Kirkus Reviews

“….thoroughly enjoyable.” —Steven Levingston, The Washington Post

“The author is an essayist and lexicographer who presents this entertaining look at how presidents have used and shaped our language.” —The Dispatch (Columbus)

From the Publisher

A prolific wordsmith dignifies our presidents' unique rhetoric. Dickson (Drunk: The Definitive Drinker's Dictionary, 2009), a lexicographer and noted language expert, amusingly presents administrations who minted new ways of political expression; their range is variable, and corresponding histories evoke the best (and arguably the worst) of their time on Pennsylvania Avenue. Though Thomas Jefferson has become the darling linguist of the Oxford English Dictionary, it's Theodore Roosevelt whom Dickson considers the grandest of the presidential neologists through a sequence of expressive offerings like "loose cannon," "lunatic fringe," "bully pulpit" and "muckraker." Though not created by him, George W. Bush's use of terminology like "axis of evil" was nonetheless effective, as was Ronald Reagan's "Reaganomics." Abraham Lincoln's creative demonyms ("Michigander") pale in comparison to the heft of the word "sockdolager" ("a decisive blow"), which was one of the last things heard before his assassination. A boon for history buffs, the author's insightful section on Franklin D. Roosevelt's "new deal" and James Polk's "manifest destiny" are prime reminders of many presidents' dedication to their esteemed posts. Still, the JFK portmanteau word "moondoggle" laughingly mocked a well-intentioned space program, and George W. Bush's "misunderestimate" malapropism went on to become prime media fodder. A compendious, entertaining look at our nation's leaders through words and turns of phrase.

Kirkus Reviews