A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House

Starred review from April 28, 2008
In this charming anecdotal history, author and CBS Sunday Morning anchor Osgood presents 56 years of quips in presidential campaigning: "Politicians say funny things all the time," writes Osgood, but presidential campaigns bring out "their best-and worst-behavior." Organized chronologically and dedicated to fair time-including commentators, running mates and the occasional third-party candidate-the collection covers many famous quotes (Nixon's "I know winning is a lot more fun," the first Bush's "I'll try to hold my charisma in check," Lloyd Bensen to Dan Qualye: "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy"), but the real gems are the ones Osgood unearths, which show these larger-than-life historical figures in a fresh-often more intimate-light. They also show that presidential politics has always been in large part a nasty, petty business, even for iconic leaders like Truman, Kennedy and Johnson. Anyone remotely interested in U.S. history or politics will find this an enjoyable tour, and those who want some insight into the current contest will get a quick, quirky lesson from his coverage of the 2000 and 2004 elections. Given the familial Bush tendency to misspeak, readers may detect a slight imbalance in the latter part of the collection; still, Osgood's latest should still have wide appeal.

Starred review from May 5, 2008
In this charming anecdotal history, author and CBS Sunday Morning anchor Osgood presents 56 years of quips in presidential campaigning: "Politicians say funny things all the time," writes Osgood, but presidential campaigns bring out "their best-and worst-behavior." Organized chronologically and dedicated to fair time-including commentators, running mates and the occasional third-party candidate-the collection covers many famous quotes (Nixon's "I know winning is a lot more fun," the first Bush's "I'll try to hold my charisma in check," Lloyd Bensen to Dan Qualye: "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy"), but the real gems are the ones Osgood unearths, which show these larger-than-life historical figures in a fresh-often more intimate-light. They also show that presidential politics has always been in large part a nasty, petty business, even for iconic leaders like Truman, Kennedy and Johnson. Anyone remotely interested in U.S. history or politics will find this an enjoyable tour, and those who want some insight into the current contest will get a quick, quirky lesson from his coverage of the 2000 and 2004 elections. Given the familial Bush tendency to misspeak, readers may detect a slight imbalance in the latter part of the collection; still, Osgood's latest should still have wide appeal.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2008
Osgood, a soothing voice on the radio anda comforting visage on Sunday-morning television, here compiles campaign quotations for his sizable audience. Picked from presidential campaigns between 1948 and 2004, the speakers lines promptchuckles that are sometimes intentional, frequently unwitting, and always amusing. Osgoods eye for the political funny bone covers the myriad ways a politician gets a laugh, including self-deprecation, ridiculing the opposition, satirizing the carnival aspects of campaigning, and foot-in-the-mouth goofs. Some pols probably would have been better stand-up comics than presidents, such as1976 also-ran Morris Udall, who quipped: The voters have spokenthe bastards! Osgoods nomination for the funniest candidate is two-time loser Adlai Stevenson, who furnished this collections title and a string of wry remarks about his egghead image and hopeless chances against the popular Eisenhower. For each campaign, Osgood thumbnails the issues and the candidates use of humor, noting their reliance on the risible with the increasing political influence of comedy shows. From Richard Nixons Sock it to me delivery on Laugh-In to appearances on the shows of Leno and Letterman, presidential hopefuls have used jokes to connect with folks. Well-stocked with verbal pratfalls (Republicans understand the importance of the bondage between parent and child. Dan Quayle), Osgoods collection provides welcome comedic relief during this years silly season.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)