Query - Walk and Chew Gum

[Jerome Foster]

I don't know the origin of the phrase but I know Lyndon Johnson said it of
Ford when he (Ford)was a congressman.

jfoster
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathleen E. Miller" <millerk at NYTIMES.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 12:40 PM
Subject: Query - Walk and Chew Gum


> ---------------------- Information from the mail
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Kathleen E. Miller" <millerk at NYTIMES.COM>
> Subject:      Query - Walk and Chew Gum
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>
> As I remember Ford fell down a lot, hit people in the head with wayward
> golf swings, etc. and he comes to mind when I think of the phrase, "walk
> and chew gum at the same time." Anybody know the origin?
>
>
> Kathleen E. Miller
> Research Assistant to William Safire
> The New York Times
>
> DISCLAIMER: Since Jan. 12th I have been doing his editorial work and not
> allowed to do the language work in his regular secretary's absence. I
> therefore take no responsibility for any errors that might occur in the
> language column as he is "doing his own research" for the time being.
>