Ratfucking is an American slang term for political sabotage or dirty tricks. It was first brought to public attention by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in their book All the President's Men. Slang is the use of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speakers dialect or language. ... “Saboteur” redirects here. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Bob Woodward signs his book State of Denial after a talk in March 2007. ... Carl Bernstein (left) and Bob Woodward (right)This image is pending deletion. ... Cover of 2005 printing All the Presidents Men is a 1974 non-fiction book by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, the two journalists investigating the Watergate first break-in and ensuing Watergate scandal for the Washington Post. ...

In the Woodward and Bernstein's book Donald Segretti recalled that he and the many other staffers who attended the University of Southern California had participated in student elections at the University of Southern California which were highly competitive. Fraternities and sororities and underground fraternities/coordinating organizations such as Theta Nu Epsilon engaged in creative tricks and underhanded tactics to win student elections. [1][2] At stake was control over minor funding and decision making on campus life but more important was the bragging rights and prestige. It was either promoted or garnered the interest of major political figures on the USC board of trustees such as Dean Rusk and John A. McCone.[3][4] It was here that the term "ratfucking" had its origin. It is unclear whether it was derived from the military term for stealing the better part of military rations and tossing the less appetizing portions away (or if the military adopted the phrase from the political lexicon). Segretti during the Watergate hearings. ... The Trojan Shrine, better known as Tommy Trojan in June 2006. ... The Trojan Shrine, better known as Tommy Trojan in June 2006. ... David Dean Rusk (February 9, 1909 – December 20, 1994) was the United States Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. ... John Alex McCone (January 4, 1902 - February 14, 1991) was an American businessman and politician who served as Director of Central Intelligence during the height of the Cold War. ...

Former Committee to Re-elect the President staffer Donald Segretti told the authors, during their investigation of activities leading to the Watergate break-in on June 17, 1972, of a program of orchestrated political sabotage by supporters of Richard Nixon against Nixon's political opponents. These included, but were not limited to, canceling meeting-hall reservations just prior to rallies, releasing false press releases or "leaked documents" in the name of political opponents, spying on rival campaigns, stuffing ballot boxes, ordering vast quantities of food for delivery in the name of rival campaigns, conducting deceptive or offensive get out the vote phone canvasses, push polls, and similar activities. A competitive approach by both sides of the political divide in that era began to spiral beyond what is acceptable. Sabotage and more clever political pranks, such as those practiced by infamous Democratic operative and campaign planner Dick Tuck, who was perhaps the model who drove Nixon to create his own office of "dirty tricks" specialists to use against his opponents. [5] [6][7] The Committee to Re-elect the President, often abbreviated to CRP or CREEP (which was also the way it was pronounced), was a Nixon White House fund-raising organization headed by John N. Mitchell, who had previously served as United States Attorney General. ... Segretti during the Watergate hearings. ... The Watergate scandal was a 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at a Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C. by members of Richard Nixons administration and the resulting cover-up which led to the resignation of the President. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... Get out the vote, sometimes GOTV, is a term used to describe two categories of political activity, both aimed at increasing the number of votes cast in one or more elections. ... A push poll is a political campaign technique in which an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of respondents under the guise of conducting a poll. ... Dick Tuck (1924) was a Democratic Party campaign strategist, advance man, and political prankster. ...

Usage in the US Military

The term "ratfucking" is also used by U.S. soldiers in the Army (and possibly other branches) to mean the targeted pillaging of MREs (Meals Ready-To-Eat). It refers to the process of opening a case of MREs, of which there are twelve in a box, then opening up individual MRE packages, and removing the desired items (generally M&M's and other candies), and leaving the unenticing remainder for others to take. It is a common but generally frowned-upon practice. A Norwegian soldier (a Corporal, armed with an MP-5) A soldier is a person who has enlisted with, or has been conscripted into, the armed forces of a sovereign country and has undergone training and received equipment to defend that country or its interests. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... An MRE packet, containing a main course or entrée of spaghetti with meat sauce. ... M&Ms small size wrapper. ...

See also

• Dick Tuck
• Dwight Chapin
• Donald Segretti
• Opposition research
• Lee Atwater
• Sabotage

Dick Tuck (1924) was a Democratic Party campaign strategist, advance man, and political prankster. ... Dwight L. Chapin (born December 2, 1940) was Deputy Assistant to the President Richard M. Nixon. ... Segretti during the Watergate hearings. ... Opposition research often referred to as oppo is the section of an election campaign designed to investigate the life and record of the opposing candidate. ... Harvey Leroy Lee Atwater (February 26, 1951 – March 29, 1991) was an American Republican political consultant and strategist. ... “Saboteur” redirects here. ...

References