Confirmed: This woman does not know what that word means. Or that one.

>[William S. Moorhead](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/William_S._Moorhead.jpeg), Pennsylvania Democrat, was one of the House’s topflight orators. During the presidential campaign he gave what he thought was a good speech on “Housing for the Elderly,” and afterward an older woman rushed up to him, bubbling with enthusiasm, and cried: “Oh, Congressman, your speech was superfluous! Simply superfluous!” >”Thank you,” Moorhead replied, not quite sure whether she was pulling his leg. “I’m thinking of having it published posthumously.” >”Oh, that’s wonderful!” the woman exclaimed. “The sooner, the better!” _____________________________ **Author’s Note:** >A somewhat different version appears in O’Neals, *Humor*, 91. _____________________________ **Source:** Boller, Paul F. “Oratory.” *Congressional Anecdotes*. New York: Oxford UP, 1991. 100-1. Print. **Original Source Listed:** Young, *Tales Out of Congress*, 111. _____________________________ **Further Reading:** [William Singer Moorhead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Moorhead)