# Where did "thumb pointing" come from **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 15, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-thumb-pointing-come-from/404197 "2007-05-15T16:17:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-thumb-pointing-come-from/404197/21 "2007-05-16T05:58:27Z")
I’ve always said that “thumb pointing” comes from sexual “fisting”. The set and angle of Clinton’s fist when he does the “thumb pointing” thing is **exactly** like the forearm and clenched fist fisting dildo you can find at any of your popular adult book/DVD/toy shops. Bill was just conveying his desire to “fist” America whenever he used the gesture. I think it’s charming. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-thumb-pointing-come-from/404197/22 "2007-05-16T06:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] They didn’t even \*have \* TV when John Kennedy was a child! 😉 [/QUOTE] Not correct! John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Mass., on May 29, 1917. The first public demonstration of television took place (in a department store, Selfridges, in London England) in 1925. So when TV was first demonstrated JFK was 8 years old – clearly a child. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-thumb-pointing-come-from/404197/23 "2007-05-16T12:34:20Z")
Here’s a link to a youtube video of a [Kennedy speech](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz9OXE91fP0&mode=related&search=), he makes the fist gesture described by the OP, starting at about :20, when he says “That goal …” Later, he switches to a fist with more of a pronounced point, when he says “That challenge …” (In case I mess up the youtube link, you could search for “John F. Kennedy 's speech (Apollo program)”) To echo **Mater Sammich** , I have often heard that Clinton intentionally created a style similar to JFK’s. I don’t know if his _intentions_ can be proven, but there’s no doubt that Clinton (based on his age if nothing else) would be extremely familiar with Kennedy’s public speaking persona and the Kennedy connection was played up very heavily in his first presidential campaign. I really don’t think Kennedy was all that PC, either. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-thumb-pointing-come-from/404197/24 "2007-05-16T13:56:21Z")
[QUOTE=DanBlather] You need to do something with your hands other than the fig leaf or reverse fig leaf. [/QUOTE] OKay. So… What’s a “fig leaf” and “reverse fig leaf” in this context? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you. 😛 -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-thumb-pointing-come-from/404197/25 "2007-05-16T16:14:13Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] OKay. So… What’s a “fig leaf” and “reverse fig leaf” in this context? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you. 😛 -FrL- [/QUOTE] Fig leaf is both hands held together in front, as though you are protecting your genitals. Reverse fig leaf is hands together in back. Yes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-thumb-pointing-come-from/404197/26 "2007-05-16T16:17:21Z")
[QUOTE=DanBlather] Fig leaf is both hands held together in front, as though you are protecting your genitals. Reverse fig leaf is hands together in back. Yes. 🙂 [/QUOTE] More [here](http://www.presentation-pointers.com/showarticle/articleid/587/) . > [@](#): > > Resist the urge to fold your arms across the chest or hold them together in front. The latter is called the “fig leaf” and none of us is Adam or Eve requiring a fig leaf for coverage. Neutral body language sends the message that even though you’re knowledgeable you are approachable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-thumb-pointing-come-from/404197.md?page=1)