Safire's Political DictionaryWhen it comes to the vagaries of language in American politics, its uses and abuses, its absurdities and ever-shifting nuances, its power to confound, obscure, and occasionally to inspire, William Safire is the language maven we most readily turn to for clarity, guidance, and penetrating, sometimes lacerating, wit. Safire's Political Dictionary is a stem-to-stern updating and expansion of the Language of Politics, which was first published in 1968 and last revised in 1993, long before such terms as Hanging Chads, 9/11 and the War on Terror became part of our everyday vocabulary. Nearly every entry in that renowned work has been revised and updated and scores of completely new entries have been added to produce an indispensable guide to the political language being used and abused in America today. Safire's definitions--discursive, historically aware, and often anecdotal--bring a savvy perspective to our colorful political lingo. Indeed, a Safire definition often reads like a mini-essay in political history, and readers will come away not only with a fuller understanding of particular words but also a richer knowledge of how politics works, and fails to work, in America. From Axis of Evil, Blame Game, Bridge to Nowhere, Triangulation, and Compassionate Conservatism to Islamofascism, Netroots, Earmark, Wingnuts and Moonbats, Slam Dunk, Doughnut Hole, and many others, this language maven explains the origin of each term, how and by whom and for what purposes it has been used or twisted, as well as its perceived and real significance. For anyone who wants to cut through the verbal haze that surrounds so much of American political discourse, Safire's Political Dictionary offers a work of scholarship, wit, insiderhood and resolute bipartisanship. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 75
Page 5
... Secretary of State Dean Acheson on a visit to England in 1952 to apologize for an administrative error: “It is only as the result of what in the United States is known as a snafu that you were not consulted about it.” (Churchill ...
... Secretary of State Dean Acheson on a visit to England in 1952 to apologize for an administrative error: “It is only as the result of what in the United States is known as a snafu that you were not consulted about it.” (Churchill ...
Page 6
... Secretary of Defense.” (“young, urban preppie”) flourished in the late 1980s, and the administration of the elder George Bush helped introduce spookspeak initialese. Acronyms of security Political acronyms are designed to cause a smile ...
... Secretary of Defense.” (“young, urban preppie”) flourished in the late 1980s, and the administration of the elder George Bush helped introduce spookspeak initialese. Acronyms of security Political acronyms are designed to cause a smile ...
Page 10
... Secretary of Commerce was a surprising defeat. In 1969, the Senate rejection of President Nixon's Supreme Court nominees, Clement Haynsworth and then G. Harrold Carswell, was widely interpreted as a reassertion of the “advice” function ...
... Secretary of Commerce was a surprising defeat. In 1969, the Senate rejection of President Nixon's Supreme Court nominees, Clement Haynsworth and then G. Harrold Carswell, was widely interpreted as a reassertion of the “advice” function ...
Page 12
... Secretary of State John Foster Dulles in December 1953, hinting at a possible change in American policy toward its European allies. attributed to Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac, French lawyer and revolutionist who defended the Terror. It ...
... Secretary of State John Foster Dulles in December 1953, hinting at a possible change in American policy toward its European allies. attributed to Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac, French lawyer and revolutionist who defended the Terror. It ...
Page 34
... be given. Presidential press secretary Ronald Ziegler promptly agreed: “over the years, to some degree, government has misused backgrounders.” Newsmen were cautious in bafflegab 35 area. their criticism, however, lest the pendulum swing.
... be given. Presidential press secretary Ronald Ziegler promptly agreed: “over the years, to some degree, government has misused backgrounders.” Newsmen were cautious in bafflegab 35 area. their criticism, however, lest the pendulum swing.
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Common terms and phrases
action Administration aide American appeared applied asked attack became become began bill Bush called campaign candidate century charge City civil columnist Communist Congress conservative convention criticism deal defense Democratic described early economic Eisenhower election expression forces foreign former George give Governor head House idea included interest issue John Johnson Kennedy known later leader liberal major meaning ment metaphor military never Nixon nomination noted original party peace person phrase play political politicians popular position Post President presidential referred reported Republican Robert Roosevelt rule Secretary Senator sense speech talk term thing tion told took turn United usage usually Vice vote voters Washington White House word writer wrote York