The phrase “a chicken in every pot” conjures images of prosperity and abundance. It paints a picture of every family being able to afford a hearty Sunday dinner. But where did this expression come from? Who first uttered the words that would become a famous political slogan in the 20th century?
Tracing the Saying Back to 16th Century France
The desire for all people to have “a chicken in every pot” dates back centuries. According to legend, in the 16th century, King Henri IV of France wished for every peasant, no matter how poor, to enjoy a chicken dinner each Sunday.
While it’s unclear if Henri IV actually voiced this sentiment, the apocryphal tale has persisted over time. The king’s imagined wish reflects a noble aspiration – that everyone should have access to a basic comfort of food and nourishment.
1920s America: “A Chicken in Every Pot” as a Republican Slogan
In 20th century America the phrase was resurrected this time as a Republican campaign slogan. In 1928, a group of Republican businessmen published an advertisement in the New York World newspaper titled “A Chicken in Every Pot.”
The ad touted the gains made for working Americans under Republican leadership. It claimed the party had “filled the workingman’s dinner pail” and prosperity had “put the proverbial ‘chicken in every pot.'” A car in every backyard was also promised.
Al Smith Mocks Hoover and Distorts the Slogan
Later in 1928, Democratic presidential candidate Al Smith waved the Republican ad around at a rally and quoted from it mockingly.
Smith misattributed the slogan to his opponent, Herbert Hoover. He also exaggerated the promise, joking that Hoover had claimed there would be “two chickens in every pot.”
In truth, Hoover never pledged a chicken in every pot. But the damage was done, and the Republican slogan became a weapon used against Hoover.
“Chicken in Every Pot” Backfires in Depression-Era America
By 1932, with the Great Depression in full swing, the promise of prosperity and a chicken dinner seemed ludicrous to struggling Americans. Hoover was running for reelection, but his base had abandoned him.
Shantytowns were dubbed “Hoovervilles.” Empty pockets turned inside out were called “Hoover flags.” The chicken slogan came back to haunt Hoover and the Republicans.
Kennedy Resurrects the Saying to Jab at Hoover
Decades later, John F. Kennedy reused the slogan while campaigning in 1960. Stumping in Tennessee, Kennedy quipped that no candidate had visited the state since Hoover in 1928 and his slogan of “two chickens for every pot.”
Once again, Hoover was falsely credited with coining a phrase that had never actually been his official campaign promise. But the apocryphal slogan had become legend.
The Lasting Legacy of a Political Catchphrase
In essence, “a chicken in every pot” was campaign hype that got out of hand. But the saying took on a life of its own. This simple phrase encapsulated a promise of prosperity that failed spectacularly when the economy cratered.
The slogan morphed into a mocking indictment of Republican policies and Herbert Hoover’s handling of the Great Depression. This fascinating story illustrates how political mythology is born and how words can take on unintended meaning over time.
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October 2003
Volume 54 Issue 5
Overrated “A chicken in every pot; a car in every garage [1928].” This well-known slogan, widely attributed to Herbert Hoover, originates with Henry IV of France, who wished for (but wisely did not promise) a chicken in every pot. Why is it overrated? First, there’s the fact that Hoover never said it. Hoover, a politician not known for his sparkling personality, left slogan writing to his supporters. The slogan appeared in an ad paid for by “Republican Business Men, Inc.” that ran in the New York World under the headline A CHICKEN FOR EVERY POT. The Business Men were careful to adapt the crib for modern times by adding “and a car in every backyard, to boot.”
Then there is the fact that the phrase didn’t so much help Hoover as hurt him. In the 1932 election, the Democrats mocked Hoover’s “promise” for chickens and cars in the midst of lengthening bread lines, rising unemployment, and massive inflation, leading Hoover to vehemently deny ever having said it.
That year, Hoover supporters passed out coins stamped “Good for four more years of prosperity” and the Democrats scoffed at that as well. The coins might as well have been stamped “Good for a new President,” as the voters made Hoover history.
Underrated “Are you better off now than you were four years ago? [Ronald Reagan, 1980 presidential debate].” Incumbency is overrated. Lately it’s been the economy, stupid, that inspires us to turn the rascals out. In the 1976 Illinois gubernatorial race, “Big” Jim Thompson, the incumbent, won in a landslide by asking voters, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?,” a phrase coined by his assistant, Paul Simmons. Ronald Reagan dropped this same hot potato into Jimmy Carter’s lap four years later, and suddenly incumbency never looked so bad. That is, until William Jefferson Clinton rode a variation of the quip up the slippery slope to re-election in 1996. It cuts both ways, a slogan for all seasons if there ever was one.
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Herbert Hoover and “A Chicken in Every Pot”
FAQ
Who had the slogan “A chicken in every pot”?
1928. “Who but Hoover?” – 1928 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Herbert Hoover. “A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage” – Commonly cited version of a claim asserted in a Republican Party flier on behalf of the 1928 U.S. presidential campaign of Herbert Hoover.
Which French king said a chicken in every pot?
Henri IV famously promised that he wanted “a chicken in every pot for every peasant,” symbolizing his desire to ensure that the common people could enjoy a better quality of life and have enough food to feed their families—a promise of economic security and peace for all.
What does the phrase chicken in the pot mean?
“Chicken in every pot” is a phrase used to describe prosperity or financial stability… most often attributed to a U.S. president, although linked to more than one.
What did Henry IV mean when he said “a chicken in every pot”?
‘A Chicken in Every Pot’ was a shorthand to indicate desire for prosperity for the poor dating back to 16th Century France.Nov 6, 2023
Who coined the phrase a chicken in every pot?
The famous phrase “a chicken in every pot” was coined by Herbert Hoover during his 1928 presidential campaign. The “chicken in every pot” slogan was part of a campaign promise that Herbert Hoover made to the American people.
Why did Hoover say ‘Chicken in every pot’?
“Chicken in every pot” was Republican campaign slogan of the late 1920s. The slogan is often incorrectly attributed to Herbert Hoover; it became a means for Democrats to attack Republicans as out of touch with economic reality. The desire for there to be a “chicken in every pot” dates back at least to 16th century France.
Which president promised a chicken in every pot?
The Question: Which president promised “a chicken in every pot”? The Answer: It wasn’t just chicken. During the presidential campaign of 1928, a circular published by the Republican Party claimed that if Herbert Hoover won there would be “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.
What does a chicken in every pot mean?
“ad fontes!” The American-English phrase a chicken in every pot (and a car in every garage), and its variants, mean enough food, wealth, etc., for the whole population to share or participate in the benefits; prosperity for everyone.
When did a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage appear?
The extended phrase a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage appeared in 1928 in the context of the U.S. presidential campaign.
Where did a chicken in every pot come from?
The phrase a chicken in every pot originated in a declaration famously attributed to Henri de Bourbon (1553-1610), King of Navarre as Henri III (1572-1610), and King of France as Henri IV (1589-1610).