Careful Words

mugwump (n.)

  A mugwump is a person educated beyond his intellect.

Horace Porter (1837-1921), —a bon-mot in the Cleveland-Blaine campaign of 1884.

  Listen! John A. Logan is the Head Centre, the Hub, the King Pin, the Main Spring, Mogul, and Mugwump of the final plot by which partisanship was installed in the Commission.

Isaac H. Bromley (1833-1899): Editorial in the "New York Tribune," Feb. 16, 1877.