Full Ginsburg
The “full Ginsburg” refers to an appearance by one person on all five major Sunday-morning interview shows on the same day:
- This Week on ABC
- Face the Nation on CBS
Scandal
Gaffe
A “gaffe” is an unintentional comment that causes a politician embarrassment.
The term is often used to describe a inartful comment or a misstatement that is embarrassing or damaging to
cover-up is worse than the crime
“The cover-up is worse than the crime” refers to the idea that attempts to conceal or obscure wrongdoing can lead to more severe consequences than the original misdeed.
This principle …
Nobody drowned at Watergate
“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 point to scandals in the …
CREEP
The acronym CREEP is short for The Committee for the Re-election of the President, which in 1972 was the fundraising organization of then-president Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign.
The committee officially …
third-rate burglary
“Third-rate burglary” is a phrase which President Richard Nixon’s press secretary used to describe the Watergate break-in.
In June 1972, five men were arrested while trying to break in to …
Mission Accomplished moment
A “Mission Accomplished moment” has come to mean any grandiose declaration of success which later rings false.
On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush delivered a speech announcing the …
Saturday Night Massacre
The Saturday Night Massacre refers to October 20, 1973, the Saturday night when then-President Richard Nixon gave the order to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox, leading to the …
hiking the Appalachian Trail
“Hiking the Appalachian Trail” is a euphemism for a politician who claims to be doing one thing but in reality went to meet with his mistress.
The term was coined …
Akinize
To “Akinize” is to try to diminish a political foe by likening his or her words to remarks on “legitimate rape” made by former Missouri Rep. Todd Akin …