THE NAME ON THE WHITE HOUSE FLOOR and Other Anxieties of our Times

by Judith Martin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 28, 1972

Judith Martin is the syndicated Washington Post's gimcrack columnist who's otherwise famous for being invited particularly not to come to the Nixon girl's wedding -- ""Tricia and I weren't what you'd call close, especially after I wrote that she dressed like an ice-cream cone."" Most of the short pieces here originally graced the Post (1965+) and, except for the Tricia mot (that's truly funny), Ms. Martin's a la Buchwald attempts at humor produce chagrin rather than chortles. Chagrin for the writer trying so hard for a laugh and not succeeding. Sample: low-ranking Communist diplomats have nothing to do socially ""but sit around with one another and discuss where to find double-breasted gray suits"" so one day she and husband Robert (he's a standard foil) ""decided to do our patriotic duty and Have a Commie to Dinner."" Sample: ""Middle age, in America, is considered a state only slightly more desirable than venereal disease."" Sample: ""You realize the problem Republicans have in their talent searches when they pick Henry Kissinger for a sex symbol. Did they try hard enough to enlist Jane Fonda?"" Buchwald the winner by a guffaw.

Pub Date: Sept. 28, 1972

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1972

Categories: NONFICTION