Word: smugness
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...supporters had cast write-in votes for his son, gone out to marshal dead voters whose names could shoot his total higher. Now as the rain pattered outside, and shouting, drinking countrymen watched from the gallery, the legislature considered the two men eligible to succeed the departed Gene. With smug solemnity and a 161-87 vote, it chose Herman Talmadge...
...Carew, Ltd. "Believe me, Cliff," says Industrialist Ives with deep feeling, "the men who saved the world were never stopped by the Ten Commandments." Cliff replies with equally deep feeling: "I hope the day will come, sir, when I can be as truthful as that." Off he goes, looking smug, to save the world for the stockholders...
Well Regimented. Last month the "smug, righteous" day people, as Shepherd calls them, closed ranks: WOR declared Shepherd "noncommercial" and sacked him, thus setting off a clangor of protest heard halfway across the land. Next day the chain gave him a week's reprieve. Then Shepherd tried a hard-sell on the first commercial product that popped into mind, Sweetheart Soap (which had never been a WOR sponsor). He was abruptly cut off the air and fired again. Announced WOR: "We cannot permit such poor judgment to continue uncontrolled." Just as abruptly, WOR ate its words. Sweetheart Soap rewarded...
Next day he took it back. The bishop's statement "was intended as an exhortation, not as a command," said a spokesman. But the secular press saw its chance, and pounced: "How smug," exploded the Daily Mirror, "and how stupid." Editorialized the Daily Sketch: "Once again the Church of England has spoken with two voices." And the Evening Standard: "The new Bishop of London has made an unfortunate start in his high and important office." The" established Church of England quietly buttoned up its gaiters and waited for things to quiet down...
...Washington Post's Phil Graham realizes his great power and responsibility and aims higher with dreams of greatness, independence and institutionalism for his paper. To further this lofty and noble purpose, he hires Herblock to defame the President as a perplexed boob, the Secretary of State as a smug humbler, the Defense Secretary as a predatory capitalist and the Vice President as a bestial figure crawling out of the sewer...