[Ads-l] Quote: Politicians, like diapers, should be changed regularly

[Peter Reitan]

Slightly earlier, by Bill Hastings, a staff writer with the Indiana Gazette (Indiana, Pennsylvania), February 11, 1987, page 11 (newspapers.com), crediting a man named Willie:

"Picking it up from a Reader's Digest fan, Willie, our ex-shoe shine boy, says some politicians are like diapers.  They both need changed often . . . and for the same reason."
________________________________
From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2018 2:44 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Quote: Politicians, like diapers, should be changed regularly

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Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Poster:       ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Quote: Politicians, like diapers, should be changed regularly
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Requests to explore the saying in the subject line have been sent to
me. Mark Twain often receives credit although the quip appeared many
decades after his death. Barry Popik has a valuable webpage with
initial citations dated February 22, 1992; May 1, 1992; and May 25,
1992.

http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/politicians_and_diapers_should_both_be_changed_regularly_and_for_the_same_r

I have made incremental progress by finding citations starting October
25, 1987; December 27, 1991; and December 31, 1991. Robin Williams
delivered a version of the joke in a 2006 movie.

Constructive feedback welcome. Thanks.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2018/10/17/diaper/

Garson

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