Political figure resigning to spend more time with his family (1972 Sept 2) (was Margaret Thatcher Quotes)

[Garson O'Toole]

Thanks to Fred Shapiro for the challenges. (On a different topic: I
have made some progress on the quote about World War 4 being fought
with primitive implements like stones, spears, bows, and arrows
mentioned on the NYT blog. The Einstein attribution can be pushed back
to June of 1948, i.e., before the first attribution to P. W. Slosson.
But Einstein is still unlikely as the coiner because the saying can be
pushed back to 1946. Library trips are needed to verify some details
and attempt make further progress.)

The Thatcher quotes are difficult because the databases I am using are
weak in UK newspaper coverage, but I'll try to allocate some time.

Regarding task 2: Here is an example in 1972 of a political figure,
John N. Mitchell, resigning during a major scandal. Some journalists
expressed incredulity at the reason Mitchell offered for resigning:

1972 September 2, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Mitchell Denies Knowledge
Of Bugging, Page 11-A (GN Page 31), Column 3, Sarasota, Florida.
(Google News Archive)

Mitchell himself left the campaign two weeks after the "Watergate
caper," but has denied the affair had anything to do with his
departure. He told reporters again Friday "the only reason" he stepped
down was to spend more time with his family.

Here is an example in 1973 referring to the same incident to show that
the phrase "more time with his family" was salient in the narrative.

Cite: 1973 May 7, Wilmington Morning Star, John Mitchell Says Don't
Take Martha Seriously, Page 2, Column 6, Wilmington, North Carolina.
(Google News archive)

Mitchell resigned as attorney general in March, 1972, to become
manager of Nixon's reelection campaign. Two weeks after the June 17
Watergate break-in, he announced he was leaving the campaign to spend
more time with his family.

This particular quote tracing task is interesting but appears to be
somewhat complicated and subjective: Is a politician really quitting
principally because of a scandal? Here is an example in 1947 of a
politician quitting and giving the "time with family" rationale. But
further research would be needed to construct the back-story and then
a subjective judgment would be required to decide if the reason given
is spurious. I have no idea why Finerty quit. People have been
mentioning "time with the family" as a reason for quitting for
decades:

1947 March 15, Chicago Daily Tribune, Mayor Finerty Quits Primary Race
in Gary, Page 6, Chicago, Illinois. (ProQuest Historical Newspapers)

Mayor Joseph E. Finerty of Gary announced yesterday that he would not
seek renomination and reelection. He has been mayor since 1943.
...
Mayor Finerty explained his actions as a wish to spend more time with
his family and a desire to help solve the public school race problem.

Garson

On Fri, Jun 11, 2010 at 9:24 PM, Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
> Subject:      Margaret Thatcher Quotes
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I have three questions concerning Margaret Thatcher quotes.  Perhaps Garson or Victor or others on this list might enjoy the challenge of answering some of them:
>
> 1.  The Yale Book of Quotations sources Margaret Thatcher saying "In politics if you want anything said, ask a man.  If you want anything done, ask a woman," as "Quoted in People Weekly, 15 Sept. 1975," with the note "Thatcher is said to have used this in a 1965 speech."  Can anyone provide any precise pre-15 Sept. 1975 citations quoting Thatcher saying this?
>
> 2.  British politician Norman Fowler wrote in his resignation letter to Thatcher, Jan. 4, 1990, that "I have a young family and for the next few years I should like to devote more time to them."  Thatcher responded, "I am naturally very sorry to see you go, but understand ... your wish to be able to spend more time with your family."  Was this really the first instance of a resigning politician referring to spending more time with his or her family as an excuse for resigning?
>
> 3.  The Cat's Pyjamas: The Penguin Book of Cliches states, "The key quote of the 1980s must be There is no alternative.  It was used by Margaret Thatcher on several occasions in the 1980s about her economic policies."  Can anyone identify the earliest or best-known example of Thatcher using this?
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
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