Spring 2020 from Chronicle Books

From editors Chris Lamb and Will Moredock comes a clever new collection of great political comebacks, putdowns, and ripostes.

As we reflect on the previous year in politics, it’s easy to recall all the ugly rancor, the insults, the partisan bickering, the division. Sadly, it’s not likely to let up. Wouldn’t it be nice to read a light-hearted, measured, and humorous antidote to all this? How about a bi-partisan book showcasing the best of political wit through a collection of spontaneous comebacks, insightful essays, and delightful political cartoons that celebrate great statesmen and women from the founding fathers to Hilary Clinton? This book is exactly that.

Lamb and Moredock have compiled more than 300 memorable comebacks for this book. They aren’t scripted jokes, but off-the-cuff responses. Some are famous, such as VP candidate Lloyd Bentson’s remark to Dan Quayle: “Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.” Or Ann Richard’s quip about George H.W. Bush: “Poor George. He can’t help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.”

Others are less well known: During a stop in the 1992 presidential campaign, Bill Clinton was introduced as the most intelligent of the candidates. Clinton observed wryly, “Isn’t that like calling Moe the most intelligent of The Stooges?”

The editors have discovered other hidden gems. Take for example Lady Astor’s response during a debate on agriculture in the House of Commons when Winston Churchill interrupted to question her knowledge of farming. “I’ll make a bet she doesn’t even know how many toes a pig has,” Churchill said.
“Why don’t you take off your little shoesies and we’ll count them together?” Astor replied.

But the book is more than a compilation of witty remarks. Also included are essays that examine the value and risk of humor in politics. Some politicians, like Abraham Lincoln, used their humor to advance their political careers, others were able to permanently silence their rivals, while others were hated for their acid wit. In some cases, their sharp words may have changed history.