Word: offending
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Dates: during 1980-1980
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...assured the Soviets, who apparently were as much surprised by the outbreak of war as the Americans, that Baghdad's goals were limited, but he also pressed unsuccessfully for fast military resupply. Like Washington, Moscow was quick to proclaim its neutrality-understandable since it could not afford to offend either party. For the Soviets to openly back the Iranian regime would be to go against their ties and friendship treaty with Iraq. To back Iraq could mean the loss of a carefully nurtured Iranian connection. Thus Moscow contented itself with asking both countries to stop the fighting quickly...
There are even press laws which prescribe stiff penalties for those who offend the "honour and dignity" of the president. That these laws date from 1881 did not deter de Gaulle from invoking them 118 times while in office. So when Giscard deigned to hold a press conference over the Bokassa affair, he had little difficulty dodging uncomfortable questions. With such an arsenal of press restrictions, Giscard worries far less than Jimmy Carter about public invective. The press' lack of freedom directly enhances the president's power, permitting him to play up the laudable and tone down the culpable...
...beaming important speeches to the whole nation, TV has also ensured that most politicians and their committees of advisers will orchestrate all oratory to offend the least number of voters. William Jennings Bryan, whose 1896 "cross of gold" speech was one of the last to get Americans out of a chair and make them do something (they gave him the Democratic nomination on the spot), once described eloquence as "thought on fire." Today, in an age of single-issue politics, the ambitious are careful to see that they do not get burned. Says NBC-TV's Edwin Newman: "Advertising...
...absolutely convinced we could have won...I have no idea what the federal judge (W. Arthur Garrity) was thinking of when he said there was 'no way' they could be convicted..."Hardoon insisted even after the deal was drawn up. But all along, Hardoon was very careful never to offend anybody--crammed into the Quincy House phone booth to speak with a federal judge who was considering blocking the arrests, Hardoon's first words were: "Judge Tauro, sir. Hello. I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure of meeting...
Ford began his day with an appearance on NBC's Today show that intrigued his early-rising aides and cheered the Reagan staff. When asked the obvious question of whether taking the second spot would offend his pride, he said: "Honestly, if I thought the situation would work, if all the other questions could be resolved, the problem of pride would not bother...