Nattering Nabobs of Negativism
A phrase used by Vice President Spiro Agnew to refer to the members of the media with whom he had a very acrimonious …
N
Netroots
“Netroots” is grassroots political activism organized through blogs and other online social media.
Netroots activism emerged as a powerful force in U.S. politics during the …
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of government programs created during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
It was designed to bring immediate economic …
New Frontier
The New Frontier was the slogan which President John F. Kennedy used when setting out his vision of America’s future.
Origin of
…
Night Mayor
The Night Mayor is the informal name for a city official charged with taking care of issues that arise in a city after dark.
A …
Night of the Long Knives
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 …
NIMBY
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 …
Nixon in China
The phrase “Nixon in China” refers to the paradoxical phenomenon where a leader takes an action that is unexpected or contrary to their established ideological …
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 …
Nose Count
A “nose count” is a tally of people to see how many are present.
This process is conducted by party whips or other designated individuals …
Not for Attribution
“Not for attribution” refers to a specific, discreet kind of arrangement where a journalist and a politician, or any other individual providing information to that …
Nuclear Option
The “nuclear option” is a metaphorical term that refers to a parliamentary procedure in the U.S. Senate allowing for a significant change to the rules …
Nut-Cutting Time
“Nut-cutting time” is when drastic actions are required, because all other methods have failed. The phrase is used in sports as well as in politics.…
The Next Eugene McCarthy
“The next Eugene McCarthy” refers to a politician or candidate who, like Senator McCarthy did during the 1968 presidential campaign, galvanizes a significant grassroots movement …