Riddles 2023

You each have three questions. Answer two. (Give a different answer to each question: do not write one essay covering both.) Each answer must have at least four different sources, two of which must be hardcopy books or government publications. You must go to the library.

For a good writing model, see here.  (The writer is now communications director for the Council on Environmental Quality.)

Your sources may include specialized references such as The Almanac of American Politics, but do not cite general-purpose encyclopedias such as Encyclopaedia Britannica and Encyclopedia Americana. And especially do not cite Wikipedia or its sleazy derivatives. In your answer, you should not merely identify persons or concepts. You should also explain the subject matter’s political significance.

• Assignments should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than four pages long. (Each answer should take about two pages.) Use 12-point type and one-inch margins. Submit papers as Word documents, not Google docs or pdfs.
• Cite your sources with endnotes, which should be in standard Turabian format.
• Endnote pages do not count against the page limit. 
• Watch your spelling, grammar, diction, and punctuation. Errors will count against you.
• Do not use ChatGPT or any other generative AI. Misrepresenting AI-generated content as your own work is plagiarism.  It will result in a referral to the Academic Standards Committee.  You do not want to start your college career this way.  Important note:  in many cases, generative AI will give you wrong answers.
• Return assignments to the class Sakai dropbox by 11:59 PM, October 13. I reserve the right to dock one gradepoint for one day’s lateness and a full grade for two or more days’ lateness. 

Aggarwal

• In Cleveland, a well-known host (class of `81) seemed to salute the screen.  Explain the controversy.  
• The son of the former veep took a tipsy dip in the Kinneret. How did it lead to his loss?
• Censured solon's son went on to hold the same job. He went through the revolving door into the movie group.  Explain.

Bernstein

• Journo helped bring down an old Red hunter. Explain what he wrote about being a red-diaper baby.
• Men in sheets got voters to curb choice.  Sisters sued the governor to preserve it, and won. Explain.
• In the 115th, why did Kennedy name his successful bill after Jack?

Booth

• In 1969, an Irish-American staffer wrote a memo on carbon dioxide to a German-American staffer (and future felon).  Explain the significance of the memo.
• An actor who once played "The Prisoner" played this person in a film.  The person recently gave testimony.  Was the film accurate?  Hint: Spartan.
• Why did the house of worship on St. John Street battle the gov over seating?  What happened?

Chang

• Former Bill went to the Hill and later took over at the Weaver Building.  What did he accomplish for tenants?
• In the expulsion move, why did the one-armed solon defend the Westfield guy??
• Tyler received a call about approaching planes. He said not to worry. Big mistake. Explain.

Gaither

• Tell how the candy scion beat the future veep's dad.
• The MD -- a former Night Stalker -- suggested a link between diagnosis 299.00 and Hg. Why did he backtrack?
• Sloppy guy made a bundle off Seinfeld.  Why did he and Miller help the Liberal Party candidate?

Gold

• Why did the man from Independence send the Bohola-born former cop to Mexico City?
• Long before he played a Michigan judge, this lawyer humiliated the Wisconsin solon with a question. Explain.
• BMG flack went on to write a forward-looking campaign bio for the veep. Much later, he wrote a book whose title was a play on a Kevin McCarthy movie.  Tell about his career.

Goldstein

• In this first of his four Cabinet-level posts, this Princeton grad backed historic reform of hiring practices in the city where "it's always sunny."
• Like Otto, he made a big report.  He later got Otto’s old job.  And like Otto, he ended up in the jug.  Explain.
• How did the taciturn gov's hard line against a job action land him the second spot on the ticket?

Gupta

• AK governor caused a tempest by accusing the other side's standard-bearer of befriending a former fugitive (`63 alum).
• North Side Pole had a gavel, but ended up in stir. Replacement: Flanagan. Explain.
• By stealth, LaRouchies got onto statewide ticket, forcing gov nominee off and he was no longer the rising son.  Explain.

Henderson

• The (real) moonwalker went to the Hill, but only once.  Why did he lose his 2d bid?
• Sale was his name at birth.  He was a 4-time pro tem and played a mean fiddle. How did he bring concrete benefits (suilla) to his people?
• Decades after he helped JRO, what kind of defense ideas did the limping guy try to sell the White House? (Hint: his mentor's name was Walt's alias.)

Higgins

• Lawrence's little paper won big prize.  How did the stories help beat the state's own Duke?
• Yale critic -- a soon-to-be Gotham candidate -- debated expat across the pond. Tell what happened.
• In 1968, Paul Ehrlich wrote a famous book.  A few years later, Jumbo State lawmakers honored someone else for his "contributions" to this cause.  Oopsie!  Explain.

Hodge

• Why did the former Ms. Rosenbaum face attack from the writer who had once been “Crosley”?
• DOA guy got an egging in SD. The JBS loved him, however. Eventually he led his denomination. Explain his career.
• The railsplitter snatched the nomination from him, but later gave him a big job. In a cold place he procured, a certain pole commemorated him, not in a way to be proud of.

Johnson

• Tell how Ruth (`34) and Elliot got in trouble with the government. Contrary to the movie, it was the SEC, not IRS. (Hint:  not Madoff or Ginsburg.)
• Former Light Crust Flour spokesperson thwarted future prez in `41.  Explain.
• Dottie’s spouse (and Roy’s predecessor) spoke of a “duty” to join the choir invisible.  Explain the controversy.

Khera

• On religious grounds, champion of the unhoused forced sub renaming. Explain. (Hint: Samaritan.)
• Imperial County guy broke barriers and won two terms on the Hill, but after illness, lost to Martin. Explain.
• How did Rocky’s baby help Baron’s son win a CA squeaker?

Malhotra

• Her keynote speech was a double first. Her burial also broke barriers. Explain her controversial stance on immigration.
• Tell how a future justice helped a future president in an Alice voting fight. (Hint: 13)
• Why did the Italian Jewish Hispanic have to wait so long to get his job?

Okodogbe

• The skipper's swimming saved a crewmate.  Tell how the story enabled the skipper to win 27 years later. Hint: Harvard `40.
• CBO guy jumped in, got wet, and became a hero. Tell how gallery recognition from #40  started a tradition.
• The German-born Big Easy prelate brought the theological hammer down on several supremacists. Explain.

Stoutemyer

• On his side of the Hill, the gentleman from Suffolk County did an investigation of skulduggery that paralleled what Church was doing on the other side. Hint: `39.
• Veep asked unanimous consent to count votes that went against him. Explain.  (Hint: not Pence.)
• As a grad student, this Union grad knew Stanley and spouse.  Years later, he beat a former POW in the state's CD1.  He went on to win the state's top job and denied that Stanley had gone to Africa.  Explain.

Young

• Young was our man at the big Turtle Bay building.  Describe his background.  Why did meeting the wrong people lead to his resignation?
• Viper guy and solon:  was he also a firestarter?  Explain.
• Warren's predecessor in Sacto omitted four customary words at the end of his oath. Why?