Mugwump
"Mugwump" burst upon the political scene in the spring of 1884 after being used and explained in the New York Sun. A "mugwump" is a person from one party who supports a…
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“We Are the People!” (1888-1889 champion baseball Giants)
The New York Giants won the National League championship in 1888 and again in 1889. The slogan, used and perhaps coined by Giants manager Jim Mutrie, was "We are the people!" Some sources…
“East Side Story” into “West Side Story” (1957)
West Side Story (1957) was originally East Side Story. The story of the Broadway musical and film West Side Story is detailed on the official website (see below). There is no grand song that says…
Crime Stoppers (577-TIPS); 267-RAPE; 374-DRUG; NYC-SAFE; COP-SHOT & more
"Crime Stoppers" began in the 1980s to fight crime. Crimes were re-enacted and publicized in the media, and a tips line (577-TIPS) was set up. People who gave helpful tips were rewarded.…
Republican Party (1854)
Wikipedia: Republican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by…
Tammany Tiger
Thomas Nast is also given credit for the Tammany tiger, and again, this is incorrect. Certainly, his November 11, 1871 Harper's Weekly political cartoon is perhaps the most famous in American…
Democratic Donkey
Thomas Nast, a cartoonist of Harper's Weekly, gets credit for the "Democratic Donkey," but credit should go to the New York Daily Graphic. The Daily Graphic's artist was Philip…
Republican Elephant
I generally agree that cartoonist Thomas Nast should get credit for the Republican elephant. His November 1874 Harper's Weekly illustrations are the clearest exaqmples we have. However, the…
GOP
"G.O.P." (or "GOP") for "Grand Old Party" (the Republican Party) was printed in the Wichita (KS) Weekly Beacon on November 39, 1881. There is some debate about who…
Grand Old Party
Both Democrats and Republican used "Grand Old Party." By 1876 and 1880, the nickname "Grand Old Party" shifted into Republican hands. The Democratic Party is older, however.…
“Downtown Train” (1985)
"Downtrown Train" became a big hit for Rod Stewart in 1990, and the song has been recorded by others. It was written and first recorded by Thomas Alan (Tom) Waits for his album Rain Dogs…
“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” (“It’s not over until it’s over”)
Baseball is not played against a clock; there are nine innings and 27 outs before a game is over. Until those 27 outs are recorded, no lead is insurmountable. "There is an old adage that says…
Repeater
A "repeater" is someone who votes more than once. The term was used frequently in the election of 1867. With electronic voting, it is hoped that the term is now historical. The…
Nets (proposed Brooklyn NBA team)
The New Jersey Nets basketball team is proposed to become the Brooklyn Nets in a few years. A new arena is being planned. The same "Nets" team nickname will be used. No new logo has been…
Guantanamo on the Hudson (Little Gitmo) or Club Med on the Hudson (Pier 57)
Arrests were made during the 2004 Republican National Convention. Some (by no means all) protesters were arrested and taken to Pier 57 -- a place some called "Guantanamo on the Hudson"…
Eustace Tilley (The New Yorker)
The New Yorker magazine was first published on February 19, 1925. On that first cover was a "dude" or "dandy" who looked at a butterfly through a monocle. His name was…
Baby Ruth (candy bar)
There has been some dispute about the naming of the Baby Ruth candy bar, introduced in 1921. The candy company has claimed that it was named after Grover Cleveland's daughter, Ruth, who died…
“If I played there, they’d name a candy bar after me” (Reggie!)
There's a candy bar called "Baby Ruth" and another called "Oh, Henry!" It was widely believe in baseball circles that these were named after the home run hitters Babe Ruth…
“Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for U.S. Steel” (1950)
The Yankees always win. U.S. Steel (or General Motors) - in the 1950s and not today, of course - represented big business. Who could root for that. Ben Zimmer pulled up the 1966 citation that…
“Is Brooklyn still in the league?” (1934)
"Is Brooklyn still in the league?" or "Are the Dodgers still in the league?" is the famous remark by New York Giants manager Bill Terry on January 24, 1934. The exact wording is…