1995 | Whoops & Squawks

"Parents have two jobs: parenting, and protecting their children from our culture."--Peggy Noonan, journalist and former Reagan speech writer, quoted in a three-part PBS television series (February 21, 1995)

"If you're conservative, you start with the premise (that) the hedonistic, the immediate, the gratifying and potentially the dangerous will all dominate and that you need civilization because it's how we tame people who otherwise would be uncivilized."--The Prophet Newtie, March, 1995)

"Children learn by example as well as by precept, and they have only to look at Times Square and Disneyland, or consider the triumphs of Roseanne (Barr) or Ronald Perlman, to know that society bestows its rewards on the talent for figuring a market, not on a knowledge of Thucydides."--Lewis Lapham, writing in Harper's magazine, March, 1995)

Yeah, But What About Tomorrow?

"I'm not looking for the future. I'm looking for next year."--Ron Schueler, Chicago White Sox general manager, in a Chicago Tribune interview August 27, actually uttered this puzzling statement when discussing his decisions to dump some "rented" free agents (Jim Abbott, Rob Dibble, Chris Sabo, and Mike Devereaux) this summer and give their roster spots to some young (and lower-priced) prospects for the rest of the season. (August 27, 1995)

"We all make mistakes in life and I'm not trying to atone for mine." (Robert McNamara, to Associated Press reporter Kathy Wilhelm, who asked about his motive for his trip to Hanoi to meet General Giap, in the Indianapolis Star November 12, 1995.

Why Don't More of Them Realize and Admit It?

"I am not fit for this office and should never have been here."--Warren Gamaliel Harding, President of the United States, describing his qualifications for office.

"There's nothing wrong with John whatsoever other than he killed a couple people."--John Christo, quoted by Associated Press January 2, 1995, defending his friend, John C. Salvi III, who was arrested and charged with shooting two receptionists to death and wounding five other people at a Brookline, Mass. abortion clinic.Christo also attacked the media for portraying Salvi as a "serial killer" instead of a "nice guy."

"If we had God booked and O. J. was available, we'd move God. There's nobody who wouldn't take a figure of this magnitude."--Larry King, CNN talk show host, when asked if he'd like to have O. J. Simpson for an interview.