REAL LIFE DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN POLITICS: What They're Saying and What It Really Means

A reference book of political words, phrases and language, from historical concepts to current issues. The dictionary section includes entries on legal terms, political buzz words, organizations, the political process, publications, and historical events. Appendices include the complete texts of imp

The Hills have defined more than 1,300 terms that they deem important in the world of U.S. politics. The subtitle notwithstanding, the definitions are short and to the point with a minimum of anecdotes and history. Words or phrases included are the expected political terms (muckraker, by-election, spoils system); numerous associations, agencies, and acts (AARP, OAS, Civil Rights Acts); newspapers (LA Times, Chicago Tribune); books (The Other America, Rights of Man); and words of the nineties (Generation X, outerclass, Packwood diaries). Addresses and phone numbers are provided for organizations. Interspersed throughout the text are sketches, photographs, and cartoons. Appendixes include important American documents, election returns for all presidential elections through 1992, brief biographies of the presidents, addresses and phone numbers for the president and members of Congress, Democratic and Republican state party chairs, and governors.

Although the majority of the information is current and correct, the 1970 membership of the National Rifle Association, 1.1 million, is given rather than the 1993 figure of 2.5 million. Also, the Times is distinguished as the oldest New York City newspaper rather than the Post.

Safires' New Political Dictionary (4th ed. [RBB Ja 15 94]) will continue to be the standard, comprehensive dictionary in this field. The Real Life Dictionary may be considered as a supplementary source for public and academic libraries.

A mixture of historical and contemporary standard terminology and jargon is explained in this newcomer to political dictionaries. New Clinton administration terms such as "Whitewater" make their debut appearance here, and some of the slang expressions included are not found in other popular dictionaries of politics, e.g., "Governor Moonbeam," "jingo journalist," and "politbabble." However, most of the 1400 words defined here are common political terms, agencies, or historical events. The appendixes include common historical documents, a list of all presidents with election results and brief biographical information, a directory of the 103rd Congress, Cabinet officers, state party chairs, and state governors. Jack Plano and Milton Greenberg's American Political Dictionary (Harcourt College Pub., 1989. 8th ed.) also provides definitions and explains the significance of 1300 terms, laws, agencies, and court cases but includes little jargon and is arranged in subject area chapters, requiring the additional step of using the index to find a specific term. Jay Shafritz's HarperCollins Dictionary of American Government and Politics (LJ 6/1/92) is far more comprehensive in its coverage of more than 5000 official terms and political jargon and has enhanced features, such as a table of presidential succession, not just a history. The 1800 terms in Safire's New Political Dictionary (LJ 11/15/93) are primarily jargon. The Real Life Dictionary is a good, basic, up-to-date, economical dictionary suitable for most collections.
Louise A. Treff, Univ. of Colorado at Denver
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.