An individual with strong political opinions who does not hesitate to express them. Typically, a park bench orator speaks out about their views in public. …
A “mossback” is an extreme conservative, one so bound up in the past and resistant to forward motion that it (figuratively speaking) is covered in …
“Effete snobs” was a phrase used by Vice President Spiro Agnew to denounce anti-war protesters, and young intellectuals in general, during the Vietnam …
An armchair strategist is a person who creates plans and military strategy without being directly involved in the area.
The term is often used in …
The “fireside chat” was a series of radio addresses which President Franklin Roosevelt carried out over the course of his presidency.
Roosevelt delivered a total …
“Camelot” is a reference to President John F. Kennedy’s administration.
Kennedy’s brief, ill-fated presidency has been highly mythologized; some people point to it …
“Weasel words” are used to evade a question or an issue.
They are a way to avoid direct statements of fact or principle. It’s similar …
“Twenty years of treason” was a prominent catchphrase employed by Sen. Joseph McCarthy to vehemently denounce and criticize alleged communist sympathizers actively serving in various …
A “maiden speech” is the first speech that an elected official makes in front of a legislature.
The term is most commonly used in the …
NIMBY is an acronym meaning “Not In My Back Yard.”
NIMBY refers to people who resist having potentially dangerous or disruptive projects carried out in …
“Missile gap” is a phrase used during the Cold War, referring to the theory that the US lagged behind the Soviet Union in terms of …
Despite a storied career as a lawmaker and diplomat, Henry Clay is probably best-remembered for a speech in which he said, “I’d rather be right …
“Mistakes were made” is a phrase used in politics intentionally in the passive voice.
This specific usage, typically adopted by politicians or high-ranking officials, serves …
“Wilderness years” are a period of time in a politician’s career when he or she is not holding a position of power. This may happen …
“Machine politics” is a phenomenon sometimes seen in an urban political context, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Political machines are characterized …
“Trickle down theory” is a derisive term for the idea that giving benefits to large, powerful people and companies can yield benefits for society as …
“Kitchen cabinet” refers to a president’s informal, trusted circle of advisers, distinct from the official, formally appointed members of his actual cabinet.
In 2017, President Donald Trump announced plans for an “Infrastructure Week,” a series of high-profile events which were aimed at building support for the president’s …
A pecking order is a social hierarchy which spells out the specifics of how the power structure operates.
The term was …
“Man in the street” is commonly used to evoke the idea of the average voter, characterized by mainstream political opinions and interests, and representing the …
Pinko is a pejorative word for someone with left-wing views.
Over time, the term has evolved and is now often used in a slightly comical …
An influence peddler is one who uses their political influence to try and win favors for others.
An influence peddler is a bit of a …
“Evil empire” was President Ronald Reagan’s name for the Soviet Union.
Reagan often portrayed the struggle between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. as a moral …
A gag rule restricts members of a legislative body from discussing a specific issue, typically because it is deemed too controversial or divisive to address …
“The torch has been passed” is one of the most famous lines of John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
In 1961, in his inaugural speech, Kennedy …
The “old guard” is the more conservative, often older, branch of any political grouping.
The old guard of a party might not be politically more …
“Little old ladies in tennis shoes” is a derisive reference to members of the John Birch society.
In 1961, the California Attorney General’s offices …
A “power broker” is someone who wields indirect political power, either by influencing the outcomes of elections or by exercising influence over key decision …
The “lunatic fringe” is the wing of a political or social group that holds more extreme views than the rest of that group.
The lunatic …
“Salami tactics” refers to a divide and conquer approach, which aims to split up the opposition.
The expression evokes the idea of slicing up one’s …
The Byrd rule is a parliamentary tripwire that prevents tangential material from being included in a budget reconciliation bill in the Senate.
Reconciliation legislation is …
“Hizzoner” is a nickname used by journalists to refer to big city mayors, especially in New York City.
Hizzoner is a contraction of “his honor,” …
A quorum call is a procedure used in both houses of Congress to bring to the floor the number of members who must be present …
“Nobody drowned at Watergate” was a phrase used, especially by supporters of President Richard Nixon, to minimize the impact of the Watergate scandal and to …
Throwing one’s “hat in the ring” means announcing one’s intention to compete in a contest.
In politics, it means running for political office in an …
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events …
An “off-year election” is one which takes place in a year when a presidential or midterm election does not also take place.
It’s typically when …
The Dixiecrats were a group of Southern Democrats who broke away from their party in 1948 because they objected to the Democratic Party’s stance on …
The “madman theory” is a political theory commonly associated with President Richard Nixon’s foreign policy during the Cold War.
Nixon tried to make the leaders …
In June of 1934, Adolph Hitler ordered his troops to carry out a large-scale purge of suspected dissidents within the Nazi party.
It actually took …
“Grass will grow in the streets” is a gloom-and-doom phrase sometimes used by politicians to imply that the country will go to economic ruin if …