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
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Page 9
... aide Richard Moore, acting as an investigative counsel, drafted a memo dated March 22, 1973, detailing what he found in interviews with Gordon Strachan and Dwight Chapin about the dis- ruptive activities of Donald Segretti: “They made ...
... aide Richard Moore, acting as an investigative counsel, drafted a memo dated March 22, 1973, detailing what he found in interviews with Gordon Strachan and Dwight Chapin about the dis- ruptive activities of Donald Segretti: “They made ...
Page 10
... aide”; ( 4) military personnel dispatched to a friendly government to train its army, or a euphemism for those armed forces to con- ceal their combat role. “strategists.” affirmative action See QUOTA . affluent society A semi-critical ...
... aide”; ( 4) military personnel dispatched to a friendly government to train its army, or a euphemism for those armed forces to con- ceal their combat role. “strategists.” affirmative action See QUOTA . affluent society A semi-critical ...
Page 12
... See WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEED ; ROOT AND BRANCH . aide-mémoire See POSITION PAPER . Alliance for Progress John F. Kennedy's Latin American policy, first labeled by him alliteration 13 in a campaign speech at Tampa, Florida, in.
... See WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEED ; ROOT AND BRANCH . aide-mémoire See POSITION PAPER . Alliance for Progress John F. Kennedy's Latin American policy, first labeled by him alliteration 13 in a campaign speech at Tampa, Florida, in.
Page 27
... aide to farewell in 2007: “I was, and remain, as a Thomas, Anita Hill, accused the nominee person and a prime minister, an optimist. Politics may be 'the art of the possible,' but at least in life—give the impossible a go.” of sexual ...
... aide to farewell in 2007: “I was, and remain, as a Thomas, Anita Hill, accused the nominee person and a prime minister, an optimist. Politics may be 'the art of the possible,' but at least in life—give the impossible a go.” of sexual ...
Page 31
... aide from staking an instant claim of authorship.) Head speechwriter Michael Gerson, often credited with drafting religious themes and phrases in Bush speeches, was reported (with no source named) to have changed The famous phrase also ...
... aide from staking an instant claim of authorship.) Head speechwriter Michael Gerson, often credited with drafting religious themes and phrases in Bush speeches, was reported (with no source named) to have changed The famous phrase also ...
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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