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The following is a chronological list of political catchphrases throughout the history of the
United Statesgovernment. This is not necessarily a list of historical quotes, but phrases that have been commonly referenced or repeated within various political contexts.
"Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable!", a famous excerpt from the "
Second Reply to Hayne" speech given by Senator
Daniel Webster during the
Nullification Crisis. The full speech is generally regarded as the most eloquent ever delivered in
Congress. The slogan itself would later become the
state motto for North Dakota.
"Our Federal Union. It must be preserved", toast famously made by
Andrew Jackson during a formal gala commemorating Thomas Jefferson's birthday on April 13, 1830. The toast refers to the secessionist dispute that began during the
Nullification Crisis and it became a slogan against nullification in the ensuing political affair.
"You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a
cross of gold."
William Jennings Bryan in 1896, expressing his opposition to the
gold standard.
"I shall return." U.S. General
Douglas MacArthur after leaving the Philippines.[7]
"Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now."
Eleanor Roosevelt to
Harry Truman, upon Truman learning President
Franklin D. Roosevelt had died. Truman had asked Mrs. Roosevelt on hearing the news, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Clean as a hound's tooth", the standard promised by Republican candidate
Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 campaign, which gained attention when
Richard Nixon, campaigning for vice president on the same ticket was accused of using campaign funds for personal use.
"And you know, the kids, like all kids, love the dog and I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we're gonna keep it." – famous line from the
Checkers speech delivered by Richard Nixon.
“In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say
segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” — Said by
Alabama Governor
George Wallace during his
1963 inaugural address in
Montgomery, defending the institution of segregation in the
southern United States and characterizing the
federal government's
civil rights initiatives as authoritarian. Wallace emerged afterwards as one of the strongest defenders of segregation in the South during the 1960s.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." Said by
Barry Goldwater in his acceptance speech at the
1964 Republican National Convention.[12]
"
I'm not a crook", said by
Richard Nixon in reference to his never having profited through his government service. (Often misquoted as "I am not a crook.")[14]
"Voodoo Economics", a term used by
George H. W. Bush in reference to President
Ronald Reagan's economic policies, which came to be known as "
Reaganomics," during the
1980 Republican Party presidential primaries. Before President Bush became Reagan's vice president, he viewed his eventual running mate's economic policies with great skepticism. Reagan was a proponent of
supply-side economics, favoring reduced
income and
capital gains tax rates, which supporters claim actually increase government revenue over time. It was the last point that Bush initially took objection to.[15]
"Are you better off now than you were four years ago?", a question posed by Ronald Reagan at the end of his debate with Jimmy Carter in 1980. Often invoked by future presidential candidates.
"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help", said by Ronald Reagan referring to the "most terrifying words in the
English language" in opposition to
welfare policies.[17]
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem", said by
Ronald Reagan.[18]
"I will not exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience", said by Ronald Reagan in the second debate with
Walter Mondale, defusing the age issue.
"
Where's the beef?", said by presidential hopeful and former Democratic Vice President
Walter Mondale, when attacking Colorado Senator
Gary Hart in a 1984 Democratic primary debate. Mondale meant that Hart was only doing lip service. The phrase was derived from a popular television ad for
Wendy's hamburgers.
"
It's the economy, stupid" was a phrase in
American politics widely used during Bill Clinton's successful
1992 presidential campaign against George H. W. Bush. Widely attributed to Clinton advisor
James Carville.[28] The phrase, although now almost always quoted in its current form, is actually an incorrect quotation: Carville's original slogan, which he first wrote as part of a poster displayed in candidate Clinton's campaign headquarters, was "The Economy, Stupid", with no "It's".[29]
"
You didn't build that", used by Barack Obama referring to federal infrastructure. The phrase was used by his opponents to suggest that Obama meant there is no individual success in the United States.[33]
War on Women, a slogan used by the Democratic Party in attacks from 2010 onward.[34]
"I like people who weren't captured", a phrase used by
Donald Trump in reference to Sen.
John McCain of Arizona at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa.[38]
"
But her emails", a phrase used primarily by critics of Donald Trump to mock the abundance of attention paid to Hillary Clinton's email controversy during the 2016 election.[41] Clinton later began selling merchandise featuring the phrase.[42]
"
Covfefe", an apparent typo used by President
Donald Trump in 2017 in a Twitter post which read "Despite the constant negative press covfefe". The phrase became an internet meme, and a bill named the
COVFEFE Act, meant to preserve social media posts made by the president, was later introduced in the House of Representatives.[54]
Rainbow wave, a phrase to describe the record number of openly LGBT candidates for office in the 2018 midterm elections (over 400),[55] and in increasing numbers since that year (over 1,000 each in 2020 and 2022).[56][57]