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Words From The White House
Paul Dickson
Words and Phrases Coined or Popularized by America's Presidents
Walker & Co.
January 2013
On Sale: January 8, 2013
188 pages
ISBN: 0802743803
EAN: 9780802743800
Kindle: B009K4ZP3Y
Hardcover / e-Book
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Non-Fiction
The founding fathers (a term created by Warren G. Harding
for his "front porch campaign" of 1920) felt that coining
words and creating new uses for old ones was part of their
role in creating a new American culture and language,
distinct from the proscriptive King's English. Noah Webster
called the creation of such Americanisms "acts of defiance,"
along with such radical ideas as universal literacy and
public libraries. Ever since, American presidents have
enriched our vocabulary with words, phrases, and concepts
that weve put to general use. Acclaimed lexicographer Paul Dickson has compiled the first
collection of new words and lexical curiosities originating
on Pennsylvania Avenue. Organized chronologically, each
entry contains the definition, etymology, and a brief essay
placing the word or phrase in its cultural context. From
Washington (tin can) and Jefferson (who alone gets
credit for some one hundred coinages, including
belittle and the expression holding the bag),
to Lincoln (relocate) and Teddy Roosevelt (bully
pulpit), to Ike (mulligan) and Obama
(Snowmageddon), they collectively provide an
illuminating tour of more than two centuries of our history. Bloviate ... lunatic fringe ... iffy ... military industrial
complex ... Anglophobia ... kitchen cabinet ... public
relations ... ottoman ... pedicure ... point well taken ...
personal shopper ... normalcy
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