Word: kneejerk
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...DIFFERENCES between Johnson and McCarthy were in form rather than substance. McCarthy objected to what he considered a kneejerk reaction by the President, but their analysis of the situation was identical: the Russians viewed the crisis as an internal matter which left East-West relations unaffected. Both Johnson and McCarthy believe international detente is still the Soviets' primary goal, and that they would not assert their leadership within the Communist world at the price of jeopardizing detente...
Defenders of the Harvard Department point out that, in spite of these results, the Department as a whole was rated first in the country by the same poll. But this is often explained in part by a kneejerk reflex to the word "Harvard"; about 70 per cent of Harvard's departments were top-rated in a more general poll some years ago. Also, since until recently Harvard produced more Ph.D.'s than any other university, many respondents may merely have been supporting their alma mater...