"Grass Roots"

[Fred Shapiro]

Michael Quinion, I believe, asked about this recently.  I searched
ProQuest Historical Newspapers/American Periodical Series, and the hits
there seem to start in July 1912, the same month as the OED's first use.
It does seem that the term started then in connection with the Roosevelt
"Bull Moose" candidacy for president.

Fred Shapiro


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
Associate Librarian for Collections and     YALE DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS
  Access and Lecturer in Legal Research     Yale University Press,
Yale Law School                             forthcoming
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