“Inoperative”
In April 1973, Nixon press secretary, Ronald Ziegler (1939–2003), announced that all the president’s previous statements about Watergate were “inoperative” and that “the President's statement today,” which conflicted with earlier pronouncements, “is the operative statement.” That phrasing provoked satiric commentary. Bob Hope joked, “I’ve played golf with the President and he scores very well. Of course, every time he hits a bad shot he declares it ‘inoperative.’” A Jules Feiffer (b. 1929) button branded Nixon himself as “Inoperative.”
In April 1973, Nixon press secretary, Ronald Ziegler (1939–2003), announced that all the president’s previous statements about Watergate were “inoperative” and that “the President's statement today,” which conflicted with earlier pronouncements, “is the operative statement.” That phrasing provoked satiric commentary. Bob Hope joked, “I’ve played golf with the President and he scores very well. Of course, every time he hits a bad shot he declares it ‘inoperative.’” A Jules Feiffer (b. 1929) button branded Nixon himself as “Inoperative.”