James Boren

James Harlan Boren (December 10, 1925 – April 24, 2010) was an American author and politician who is best known as a humorist and writer on bureaucratese, in which he poked fun at what he called "the vacuumental thinking and idiotoxicities of Washington". He was also a businessman, teacher, scholar, public servant, political operative, presidential candidate, and public speaker.

Quotes

• Guidelines for bureaucrats: (1) When in charge, ponder. (2) When in trouble, delegate. (3) When in doubt, mumble.
  • "Bureaucrats Give Agnew The Bird (It's an Award)", The New York Times (November 8, 1970), p. 45