[UncleSamUSA]

Jim VT: My recollection is that the phrase "at this point in time" and "at that point in time" became national catchphrases during the Watergate Hearings. I don't recall who said it first, but it was either Ehrlichmann or Haldeman who kept saying that phrase in answer to questions. It quickly became a catchphrase. That also saw the birth of the famous phrase "what did he know and when did he know it" which has since been revived numerous times in Congressional hearings and the like. I think it was first said by the Tenessee Senator whose name I regret just slipped my mind. Sorry to revive the Watergate stuff for all you die-hards, but that to the best of my recollection is where all this "at this point in time" stuff took off. If I am incorrect, then my bad. You dig? BTW, since I lead a sheltered life away from the ghetto and hip hop parties, can someone tell ME where the new phrase "props" comes from? I think it is some sort of congratulatory phrase but apart from it being the name of furniture and fake telephones on stage sets, I don't know why people keep saying "props to my homeboy". I am just really out of it!!

[babble-on]

Sen. Howard Baker, now our ambassador to Japan

[John H K]

Jim VT: My recollection is that the phrase "at this point in time" and "at that point in time" became national catchphrases during the Watergate Hearings. I don't recall who said it first, but it was either Ehrlichmann or Haldeman who kept saying that phrase in answer to questions. It quickly became a catchphrase

Thanks for that explanation, that seems plausible; Watergate was a bit before my time, since I was only 4 years old and not really paying attention :-)