# 99 little-known things invented by politicians

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-little-known-things-invented-by-politicians/463860>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 16, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-little-known-things-invented-by-politicians/463860 "2008-09-16T17:04:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-little-known-things-invented-by-politicians/463860/21 "2008-09-17T00:39:05Z")

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> [@HongKongFooey](#):
>
> Hey, no fair slipping in a real one.

My humblest of apologies. To replace that one:

Oral sex - Ben Franklin.

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**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-little-known-things-invented-by-politicians/463860/22 "2008-09-17T00:50:52Z")

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Theodore Roosevelt - manliness.

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**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-little-known-things-invented-by-politicians/463860/23 "2008-09-17T01:02:23Z")

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FDR invented the vodka martini during the Yalta conference, when the Russians turned out not only not to have gin around, but never even to have heard of it.

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**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-little-known-things-invented-by-politicians/463860/24 "2008-09-17T01:08:05Z")

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Nudist Camp- George McClellan Senior and Junior

Sousaphone- Herbert Lehman

Bikini- Elihu Root

Arson-for-profit- Fiorello LaGuardia

Fez- Earl Warren

Singing Telegram- Scoop Jackson

Dictaphone- William Hale Thompson

Polo- Martin Van Buren

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-little-known-things-invented-by-politicians/463860/25 "2008-09-17T01:14:16Z")

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The Standard Dominatrix Outfit: Lyndon Johnson

Fire: Strom Thurmond

The Tutu: William Howard Taft

Cliff Notes: George W. Bush and Dan Quayle

Peek-a-Boo Jockey Shorts: Barry Goldwater

Dimples: Margaret Thatcher

The Siamese Porta-Potty: Larry Craig

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**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-little-known-things-invented-by-politicians/463860/26 "2008-09-17T01:39:19Z")

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Lobster Newburg: Mackenzie Bowell  
[‘Big things’ roadside attractions](http://www.bigthings.ca/): Agnes MacPhail  
Insulin: John Diefenbaker  
Triticale: Tommy Douglas  
MayWests: Louis-Alexandre Taschereau  
The Heritage Minute: Flora McDonald  
Adobe Photoshop: Sheila Copps  
Interac Direct Payment: Audrey McLaughlin

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