“Peace through strength” is the accumulation of military power and security assets by a country to encourage an amenable diplomatic atmosphere with other countries. Origin …
A “three martini lunch” is a long, leisurely lunch, usually associated with either business or backroom political dealings.
The three martini lunch had its heyday …
A “one-house bill” is a bill introduced by a lawmaker for the purpose of grandstanding or to demonstrate their effort to fulfill political promises without …
Karl Marx famously declared that religion is the opiate of the people.
There are a few conflicting translations of the quote, so that sometimes religion …
A “Mission Accomplished moment” has come to mean any grandiose declaration of success by a politician or political leader which later proves false.
It’s an …
A balanced ticket is a paring of political party candidates designed to appeal to a broad swathe of the electorate. A balanced ticket normally includes …
“Chicken in every pot” was Republican campaign slogan of the late 1920s.
The slogan is often incorrectly attributed to Herbert Hoover; it became a means …
A “captive candidate” is one who is allegedly “owned” by special interests or political groups. Calling someone a “captive candidate” is similar to saying that …
“Every Man a King” is the title of a speech delivered in 1934 by Senator Huey Long of Louisiana.
The speech, which Long delivered on …
The “great debates” were a series of public debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A, Douglas.
In 1858, Douglas, an Illinois Democrat, was running for …
“Give ’em hell Harry” is a reference to President Harry Truman’s 1948 re-election campaign. It’s also the name of a very successful play and movie.…
The “Era of Good Feeling” refers to a period in U.S. history from about 1815 until about 1825, characterized by a sense of optimism and …
The phrase “fuck around and find out” conveys a challenge or warning.
It’s often directed towards a political opponent, indicating that certain actions …
“Five o’clock follies” is a familiar and derogatory nickname for the daily press briefings that the U.S. military held for American reporters during the Vietnam …
A sit-in is a form of peaceful protest that involves sitting down and occupying space, often preventing access to a business or public space.
Sit-ins …
A whistleblower refers to an individual who exposes illicit activities, misconduct, or unethical practices occurring within a political entity, government institution, or related organizations.
Whistleblowers …
“Retail politics” refers to a style of political campaigning where candidates focus on direct, personal engagement with individual voters rather than relying on mass media …
A “backgrounder” is an off-the-record briefing for members of the news media.
Reporters are free to report on what they learn at a background briefing …
“Eight millionaires and a plumber” is a dismissive reference to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first cabinet.
Eisenhower’s critics complained that the president’s top advisers were …
To “play in Peoria” is a phrase meaning how well something will appeal to the heartland or mainstream America.
Peoria is an actual city in …
The Chatham House Rule is a system for holding discussions on potentially controversial topics, particularly in politics and public affairs.
At a meeting held under …
The “Compact of Fifth Avenue” resulted from a meeting in 1960 between aspiring presidential candidate Richard Nixon met Nelson Rockefeller in Rockefeller’s New York City …
A “blue state” is one whose voters elect primarily Democratic candidates.
It is the opposite of a red state, which elects primarily Republican candidates.…
To “rattle the cage” is an attempt to get attention, often through annoying, angering, or protesting.
This tactic is employed to challenge complacency, stir public …
“Ballot box stuffing” is a term that refers to the practice of illegally submitting more than one vote in a ballot in which …
A “clothespin vote” is a colorful term referring to a vote given to the “less objectionable” candidate despite a distaste for him or her. It’s …
In politics, a “bellwether” refers to a geographic area whose political beliefs and voting preferences reflect that of a wider area.
For example, a county …
The “enemies list” was a tally of political opponents kept by the Nixon administration.
The phrase is now used as shorthand to refer …
Broadly speaking, “big government” is a political term that refers to how much influence the federal government has on the day-to-day lives of American citizens.…
A “contested convention,” sometimes also referred to as a “brokered convention,” occurs when no single candidate for president secures the majority of delegates …
The “deep state” is a conspiracy theory which suggests that collusion exists within the U.S. political system and a hidden government within the legitimately elected …
The term “bleeding hearts” refers to people who care deeply — so deeply that their hearts bleed — about the suffering of the needy. The …
“Dirty tricks” are actions taken by a political campaign or candidate to damage their opponents that may involve unethical, distasteful, or illegal behaviors.
Political candidates …
A “city on a hill” is used to refer to America’s supposed standing in the world, as a “beacon of hope” which other nations can …
Ronald Reagan’s critics often referred to the president as an “amiable dunce.”
The phrase was meant to suggest that Reagan was friendly and likeable, but …
“Death panels” was a political term which falsely referred to the supposed dangers posed by the Affordable Care Act.
Some opponents of the law, better …
The term “sharp-elbowed” refers in politics to being aggressive and assertive when it comes to pursuing a political agenda or pushing one’s point of view.…
“Separate but equal” was the infamous justification for the decision in Plessy v Ferguson, the case that formally legalized segregation.
The justification …
A smear campaign is repeated uses of smears in an attempt to try to damage someone’s reputation, typically to make them lose an election.
The …
“Under suspension of the rules” refers to a process in the House of Representatives where a bill or resolution is considered without following all the …
A “chilling effect” is a situation in which rights are restricted, often because of indirect political pressure or overbroad legislation.
Chilling effect is usually used …