President Trump’s practice of belittling foes with biting nicknames is so well-known that one news site ranks them. But Trump, once known by his own nickname, “The Donald,” isn’t the first or even the meanest Oval Office occupant to play the name game.
That title in the modern presidency goes to John F. Kennedy, according to the richly researched book on West Wing infighting, Fight House, by Tevi Troy, a former aide to President George W. Bush. It is to be released on Feb. 11.
“The practice of using nicknames to diminish internal White House opponents appears to have taken off in the John F. Kennedy administration. JFK and his allies dismissively referred to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson as ‘Uncle Cornpone and his Little Pork Chop,’” he told us.
And Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson paid Kennedy back. “Johnson referred to President Kennedy as ‘the boy’ and ‘Johnny’ and Bobby Kennedy as ‘sonny boy,’” said Troy, whose book, published by Regnery History, includes dozens of nicknames hatched in the White House.
He notes that at least under his former boss, getting a nickname was a good thing. “In the Bush 43 administration, aides wanted to get tagged with nicknames so as to demonstrate closeness to the president,” he said.
But in nasty Washington, he said, “More often, though, nicknames are intended to diminish.”
In his well-received book, Troy listed some of the presidential classics:
- President Richard Nixon was referred to as “that Madman” and “the Meatball Mind” by his secretary of state, Henry Kissinger.
- Carter-era national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski was dubbed “Woody Woodpecker.”
- The Reagan team called communications adviser David Gergen, “Professor Leaky.”
- Clinton aides referred to GOP pollster and one-time Clinton friend Dick Morris as “the Unabomber.”
- Obama aides dubbed national security spokesman Ben Rhodes, “Hamas.”
- Trump aides called his former chief of staff John Kelly “the Church Lady,” former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, “Mr. Magoo,” and former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, “Nurse Ratched.”
