On his way to becoming a household word, Spiro T. Agnew learned that lampoonery is the most devastating weapon in the political armory. "Look what's happened to me," the new Vice President complained to a friend shortly before the Inauguration. "Six months ago I was a fairly popular and successful Governor. Now I'm being called the village idiot."
Indeed, Ted Agnew's gift of gaffe in spired gagwriters from beautiful down town Burbank to catty midtown Manhattan. Democrats dubbed him "Zorba the Veep." The Washington cocktail circuit relayed countless gags about him.
They...