cuff links gang
According to Time, this refers to the group of friends who helped Franklin D. Roosevelt run for Vice President in 1920 “and to whom he gave sets of cuff links in remembrance of that unfortunate political campaign.” The gift of cuff links to political operatives has since become a sign of being an early insider [...]
inside baseball
The intricate knowledge of a process not normally known to the public and only of interest to insiders. William Safire: “From its sports context comes its political or professional denotation: minutiae savored by the cognoscenti, delicious details, nuances discussed and dissected by aficionados. In politics, candidates who say they want to discuss larger issues look [...]
advance man
A staffer sent ahead to prepare for the arrival of a politician at a campaign rally, media appearance or other large event. Time: “There is no such thing as a spontaneous campaign appearance. Every candidate has his advance men, the harried unsung experts who go from town to town to make as sure as humanly [...]
body man
A body man assists an executive branch official or political candidate by shadowing him at virtually all times. The term was first used in a 1988 Boston Globe article, which said that body men “fulfill a kind of mothering role,” securing their bosses accommodations and ensuring he always has his favorite breakfast. Past body men [...]