A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

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Entry from March 20, 2010
“Taxpayer: Someone who works for the government but doesn’t have to take a civil service exam”

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) said in June 1965: ““A taxpayer? That’s someone who works for the government who doesn’t have to take a civil service exam.”
 
The quip has been cited in print since at least 1957, making it probable that Reagan popularized the saying but didn’t coin it.
 
 
Wikipedia: Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975).
     
17 January 1957, Panola Watchman (Carthage, TX), pg. 4, col. 1:
A taxpayer is one person who works for the government without taking a civil service examination.—Mullins (S.C.) Enterprise.
 
31 March 1962, Mason City (IA) Globe-Gazette, pg. 20, col. 1 ad:
“A Taxpayer is A Person Who Works For The Government Without Taking A Civil Service Examination.”
BRACKEN INSURANCE AGENCY
 
Google Books
Farm Journal
v. 86 - 1962
Pg. 69:
A taxpayer is a person who works for the government without taking a Civil Service examination. — Leader, Schleswig, Iowa
 
Google Books
The Irish Digest
v. 80 - 1964
Pg. 68:
THE taxpayer: One who works for the Government without having to pass a civil service examination.
 
Google News Archive
16 June 1965, Florence (AL) Times, “Reagan: A Shot In Arm For The Grand Old Party” by Bruce Biossat, pg. 4, col. 7:
“A taxpayer?” Reagan asks. “That’s someone who works for the government who doesn’t have to take a civil service exam.”
 
Google Books
21 January 1966, Life magazine, pg. 74, col. 2:
“The taxpayer—that’s someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t have to take a civil service examination.”
(Ronald Reagan—ed.)

Posted by Barry Popik
New York CityGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /Health • Saturday, March 20, 2010 • Permalink


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