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Question
Hi Michael,
There is no journalism category, that I can find, so I am hoping you can help
me with this or direct me further.
The quote "If your mother says she loves you, check it out." Where does it
originate. A friend of mine said from the 30s. But another columnist with the
Chicago Tribune years ago said it came from (I forgot) think he said Benjamin
Franklin. I first heard it from the columnist in a conversation and was attributing it to him, wherein he corrected me.
I googled it with no success. Can you help me?
Thank you
Diana
Hi Diana,
The phrase was the working motto of the Chicago City News, a newspaper that started in the late 1800's and went out of business in 2005. It's heyday was the early 20th century. An reporter named Ed Eulenberg is commonly credited with inventing the term. He started with the paper in 1927 and left for the Chicago Daily News in 1957. So it came into being at some time during that period.
It was certainly not Ben Franklin. Although Franklin came up with many witty aphorisms, fact checking as a reporter was never a strong suit for him. Franklin regularly made up stories for his paper.
I hope this helps!
- Mike
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Michael, thank you so much! I'm a Chicago girl, now living in Tucson to be with my senior mom. I remember the Chicago Daily News and worked across the street from it at Wacker Dr. and Madison Ave., if that is the same paper you are speaking of. But that went out of business long before 2005. The reporters drank/hung out at a bar called Press Row. There were about 10 pay phones on the walls. When a fire or something happened, after the first call came in, the other reporters would hit the other pay phones to get an assignment from their own papers. Very, very fun. I was in my late teens, you can imagine how exciting it all was. They could be so drunk and immediately sober up, be on their feet and be out in a flash. Me? I drank ginger ale and just loved to be there for the atmosphere. Then there was Mike Royko and Irv Kupcinet. I miss them both. Again, thank you, it was a joy to get such a thorough response, so quickly. I'll copy it and email it to my friend back east after I close here. Diana P.S. I'm rather glad it wasn't Ben Franklin. I never really liked him. I wonder why? | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Michael Troy
Expertise
I will answer general questions regarding freedom of speech, petition, or religion. I specialize in cases involving public employment or education, as well as issues related to campaign finance. But I can`t give specific legal advice involving specific cases you might have.
Experience
As an attorney for the Center for Individual Rights, I worked on a number of free speech cases, including Rosenberger v. Univ. of Virginia, in which the Supreme Court upheld my clients' right to run a student newspaper without discrimination because of its religious conent. I also worked on White v. Julian, which protected the right of people to protest against a homeless shelter in their neighborhood.
I also worked for the Federal Election Commission on several cases regarding the right to participate in the election process.
Organizations
Former Attorney for Center for Individual Rights.
Publications
Washington Post
Washington Times
Education/Credentials
J.D. from Univ. of Michigan Law School
Awards and Honors
Truman Scholar
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