"Are You Better Off Today Than You Were Four Years Ago?" (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

The modern usage stems from Reagan's summation in the 28 Oct 1980
presidential debate.  [Note: this was also where Reagan said "There you
go again," and that he would "take government off the backs of the
American people."]


_Wash Post_ 8 Oct 1895 p 3 col 1
[campaign speech by Lloyd Lownes] "I ask you if you are making any more
money, are you better off now than then?"


_Hartford Courant_ 21 Aug 1934 p 10 col 6
[re: FDR] "He went right to the heart of the whole matter when he asked
in his recent radio address:  "Are you better off today than you were a
year ago?" "
[from a 27 Oct 1935 LA Times article, it would appear this question was
asked in a June 1934 Fireside Chat]



_Chicago Tribune_ 5 Sep 1951 p 2 col 5
[Truman speaking] "The test of the Democrats' stewardship, he said, is:
"Are you better off today than you were in the days of the 'Old Deal'?"
"


_Boston Globe_ 29 Oct 1980 p 16 col 5
"His summation at the end of the televised confrontation summed up his
major argument with no help from numbers.  "Ask yourself -- are you
better off than you were four years ago?"

_Boston Globe_ 29 Oct 1980 p 1 col 5
"The challenger stressed economic problems throughout, and asked voters
next Tuesday to ask themselves as they stand in the polling booth, "Are
you better off than you were four years ago?" "

_Chicago Tribune_ 29 Oct 1980 p 10 col 1
"Reagan made perhaps his best argument in closing with a series of
rhetorical questions: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"
"

_NY Times_ 29 Oct 1980 p 1 col 6
"Mr. Reagan said that the President had allowed the country's economic
position to deteriorate and suggested that voters ask themselves:  "Are
you better off than you were four years ago?" "


_Hartford Courant_ 4 Nov 1980 p B8B col 5
"Are you better off today than 4 years ago?  Add Republicans to Congress
-- Pol. Advt."

_Boston Globe_ 8 Nov 1980 p 1 col unk
" And filed away for future use are Ronald Reagan's most effective words
of the campaign: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?"
"


_NY Times_ 9 Nov 1980 p E3 col 3
"It's going to be interesting four years from now to see who's asking,
Are you better off today than you were four years ago?"

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On
Behalf Of
> Shapiro, Fred
> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2012 7:00 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: "Are You Better Off Today Than You Were Four Years Ago?"
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
----------------------
> -
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
> Subject:      "Are You Better Off Today Than You Were Four Years Ago?"
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
> -
>
> I would be interested in any suggestions as to the origin of the
election-y=
> ear question, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?"
Whe= n
> is some version of it first recorded?  When was it popularized?
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org