Smoke-filled room

In U.S. political jargon, a smoke-filled room is a term for a secret political gathering or round table style decision-making process. The phrase is generally used to suggest an inner circle of power brokers, as at a convention. It suggests a cabal of powerful or well-connected, cigar-smoking men meeting privately to nominate a dark horse political candidate or otherwise make decisions without regard for the will of the larger group.

An early example of a smoke-filled room is the Boston Caucus. A report of a 1763 meeting of this group said, "selectmen, assessors, collectors, fire-wards and representatives are regularly chosen [there] before they are chosen in the town ... There they smoke tobacco till you cannot see from one end of the garret to the other." The origin of the term was in a report by Raymond Clapper of United Press, describing rumors of the process by which Warren G. Harding was nominated as Republican candidate for the 1920 Presidential Election. After many indecisive votes, Harding, a relatively minor candidate, was, legend has it, chosen as a compromise candidate by Republican power-brokers in a private meeting in room 404 at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago after the convention had deadlocked.

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Latest News for: smoke-filled

Pasig DRRMO trains kids in fire safety, rescue skills

Manila Bulletin 30 Mar 2025
Pasig DRRMO trains elementary students in fire safety and rescue skills to prepare for emergencies ... They crawled through a zero-visibility tunnel, simulating the challenges of navigating through smoke-filled environments during a fire emergency ... .

Trial determines who pays $600 million settlement in Ohio derailment

Lima Ohio 30 Mar 2025
Three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode, generating a massive black plume of smoke that spread over the town and forced evacuations.

Trial will determine who will pay $600 million settlement in disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment

Times Union 30 Mar 2025
Three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode, generating a massive black plume of smoke that spread over the town and forced evacuations.

Trial will determine who will pay $600 million settlement in Norfolk Southern derailment

Cascade Business News 30 Mar 2025
Three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode, generating a massive black plume of smoke that spread over the town and forced evacuations.

North Alabama team tops Athens barbecue festival

News Courier 29 Mar 2025
For the 2025 Singing River Smoke-O-Rama, Backyard Ribs Competition, LeelaQ BBQ took first place ... The aroma of mouthwatering BBQ again filled the air in Athens.

'Significant delays': Grass fire breaks out on Auckland’s Southern Motorway

NewstalkZB 29 Mar 2025
Large clouds of smoke have filled the side of the motorway with flames encroaching nearby power pylons. Due to a fire, expect significant delays between Drury and Ramarama ... .

Questions and answers from the ‘Car Doctor’

The Oneida Daily Dispatch 29 Mar 2025
Q. I have a seven-year-old Buick (purchased used) that the air conditioner stopped working twice last summer ... A ... I even remember one creative technician using a smoke machine. He filled the system with synthetic smoke and looked for it to leak out ... Q ... A ... Q.

Videos show chaos after Naypyitaw airport control tower collapses in earthquake

The Times of India 29 Mar 2025
A video captured the moment terrified passengers and airport staff ran for safety as parts of the roof caved in and smoke filled the air.— RT_com (@RT_com) Satellite images analysed by The ...

It is not faith that divides us

The Los Angeles Times 29 Mar 2025
Uncertainty, however, is the permanent human condition, and it can be a gift. This was eloquently explored in a speech in the middle of the recent film “Conclave,” which tells the story of smoke-filled-room machinations electing a new pope ... certainty ... .

Inland Empire faces significantly higher wildfire risk, Cal Fire says

Redlands Daily Facts 29 Mar 2025
Smoke from larger hot spots of the spreading Line ... A bird hangs out on a streetlight as smoke from the Airport Fire fills the sky in this view from Specxtra Drive in Lake Elsinore, CA, on Tuesday, Sept.

Medina High School lacrosse bus catches fire Thursday on I-77 in West Virginia

Akron Beacon Journal 28 Mar 2025
Top headlines of the week March 22 2025 ... The fire began at about 7 p.m ... Smoke began to fill the bus and a fire erupted shortly after, according to authorities.

Vehicles gutted as e-bike on charging catches fire in aptt parking

The Times of India 27 Mar 2025
The fire also led to heavy smoke filling the apartment complex, trapping six members of a family, including an elderly woman, on the fourth floor ... However, some smoke already infiltrated the flat, causing difficulty in breathing.

South Korea struggles to contain wildfires that have killed 28

The Los Angeles Times 27 Mar 2025
On Wednesday night, strong winds and smoke-filled skies forced authorities in the southeastern city of Andong to order evacuations in two villages, including Puncheon, home to the Hahoe folk village — ...

On the waterfront: New home in Commerce Township makes the most of lakefront site

Detroit news 27 Mar 2025
Now a spacious and light-filled two-story home on Union Lake, the original cottage-style home on the lot was just 900 feet and dated to the turn of the century ... It was filled with dated wallpaper and carpet and was less than stable.
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