Art Hoppe (1925–2000,) fully Arthur Watterson Hoppe, was an American journalist and satirist best known for his long-running column in the San Francisco Chronicle. His sharp wit and allegorical storytelling made him a beloved voice in journalism, skewering political figures and societal norms with humor and insight. His work was syndicated in over 100 newspapers, establishing him as a leading columnist.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hoppe began his career at the Chronicle as a copy boy in 1949 before becoming a reporter. He gained recognition for blending satire with serious commentary, often using characters like Homer T. Pettibone and Nobody, a fictional presidential candidate. His 1971 column, To Root Against Your Country, critiqued the Vietnam War. At its peak, his column ran five days a week, making him a staple of political satire. He was close friends with Russell Baker and Art Buchwald and received the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ Lifetime Achievement Award (1996.)
Hoppe authored several books, including The Love Everybody Crusade (1963,) Dreamboat (1964,) The Perfect Solution to Absolutely Everything (1968,) and Mr. Nixon, and My Other Problems (1971.) His memoir, Having a Wonderful Time: My First Half Century as a Newspaper Man (1995,) reflects on his career.
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We all worry about the population explosion, but we don’t worry about it at the right time
—Art Hoppe
Topics: Worry
We ought to change the legend on our money from “In God We Trust” to “In Money We Trust”. Because, as a nation, we’ve got far more faith in money these days than we do in God.
—Art Hoppe
Topics: Money
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