I gave my daughter a nice edition of Fahrenheit 451 for Christmas, and she just let me read it for the first time in more years than I can count. Many of Bradbury’s incidental predictions, like giant television screens replacing walls, and people wearing earbuds all the time, are pretty amazing. Then there’s this moment just before Montag frightens his wife’s friends with a book of poetry. Mildred asks to speak of politics.
“Sounds fine, said Mrs. Bowles. “I voted last election, same as everyone, and I laid it on the line for President Noble. I think he’s one of the nicest looking men ever became president.”
“Oh, but the man they ran against him!”
“He wasn’t much, was he? Kind of small and homely and he didn’t shave too close or comb his hair very well.”
“What posessed the ‘Outs’ to run him? You just don’t go running a little short man like that against a tall man. Besides–he mumbled. Half the time I couldn’t hear a word he said. And the words I did hear I didn’t understand!”
“Fat, too, and didn’t dress to hide it. No wonder the landslide was for Winston Noble. Even their names helped. Compare Winston Noble to Hubert Hoag for ten seconds and you can almost figure the results.”
“Damn it!” cried Montag. “What do you know about Hoag and Noble!”
“Why, they were right in that parlor wall, not six months ago. One was always picking his nose; it drove me wild.”
“Well, Mr. Montag,” said Mrs. Phelps, “do you want to vote for a man like that?”
Except for the bit about the names it looks pretty prescient. I may well be using President Noble, Hoag and ‘Outs’ as code words for the next four years.
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