Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Keep It Simple

General Alexander Haig, the former Secretary in the Reagan administration had a new word coined because of his style. Alexander Haig loved to speak in multi-syllabic jargon and verbal distortions. They coined the word ‘Haigese’ which the Scots would no doubt call Haggis!

An aide once went to Mr Haig and asked for a pay increase. Mr Haig could never bring himself simply to say ‘No’. What he did say was this: “Because of the fluctuational disposition of your position’s capacity as juxtaposed to government standards, it would be momentarily injudicious to advocate an increment.”

The bewildered aide looked puzzled and said, “I don’t get it.”

Haig said, “You’re right.”

Geoff Pound

Source: Heard in a lecture given by Dr John Gladstone.

Image: Alexander Haig trying to understand Ronald Reagan.