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Did Woodrow Wilson murder his first wife? Of course not. Did Hillary Clinton throw the lamp? Maybe. From Thomas Jefferson to William Jefferson Clinton, Scorpion Tongues is a popular history of gossip in American politics. Complete with wickedly delightful anecdotes of major and minor politicians and entertainers over the last 200 years, Gail Collins examines the evolving relationship between politicians and the press and the blurring of the lines between politicians and celebrities. Supported by extensive research and written with an entertaining flair, she speculates on how gossip reflects the current moral compass of the time, noting how a rumor, like an unpredictable summer tornado, can flatten one reputation while a similar story passes over another with hardly a rustle. "Hilariously readable" (The Economist), Scorpion Tongues offers sinful scandals and mild hearsay for every taste.

"The timing is perfect. Today there's a journalistic feeding frenzy every time a new scandal pops up--especially a political scandal--and, lo and behold, Gail Collins has written a lively, informative history of gossip in which she assesses a celebrity culture gone haywire."

Patricia Bosworth, New York Times, 04/15/1998

"Like pornography, 'Scorpion Tongues' doesn't really need to be perused in a linear fashion to entertain; open it at any page and you can savor a juicy tidbit."

Diana Postlethwaite, Nation, 05/11/1998

Scorpion Tongues: The Irresistible History of Gossip in American Politics: Search Results