Here is ONE opinion, from http://www.living-history.com/americanleaders/sockdolager.html:All of this is beside the point. The major issue before us is this....
What exactly is a sockdolager ?
For instance, John Wilkes Boothe knew to time his assasination of Lincoln to the line in Our American Cousin....
"You sockdolagizing old mantrap !"
at which burst of pure hilarity the house would be rolling in the aisles, completely distracted.This issue must be addressed.
80 posted on 1/23/02 3:35 PM Pacific by Tokhtamish
Note that the date of this popular story is 1884 - almost FIFTY YEARS after Crockett's death. - RonSockdolager - A Tale Of Davy Crockett A "sockdolager" is a knock-down blow. This is a newspaper reporter's captivating story of his unforgettable encounter with the old "Bear Hunter" from Tennessee. From The Life of Colonel David Crockett, by Edward S. Ellis (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1884)
CROCKETT was then the lion of Washington. I was a great admirer of his character, and, having several friends who were intimate with him, I found no difficulty in making his acquaintance. I was fascinated with him, and he seemed to take a fancy to me.
I was one day in the lobby of the House of Representatives when a bill was taken up appropriating money for the benefit of a widow of a distinguished naval officer. Several beautiful speeches had been made in its support -- rather, as I thought, because it afforded the speakers a fine opportunity for display than from the necessity of convincing anybody, for it seemed to me that everybody favored it. The Speaker was just about to put the question when Crockett arose. Everybody expected, of course, that he was going to make one of his characteristic speeches in support of the bill. He commenced:
"Mr. Speaker
-- snip --
...As he came up I spoke to the man. He replied politely, but, as I thought, rather coldly, and was about turning his horse for another furrow when I said to him: "Don't be in such a hurry, my friend; I want to have a little talk with you, and get better acquainted."
He replied: "I am very busy, and have but little time to talk, but if it does not take too long, I will listen to what you have to say." I began: "Well, friend, I am one of those unfortunate beings called candidates, and --" "'Yes, I know you; you are Colonel Crockett. I have seen you once before, and voted for you the last time you were elected. I suppose you are out electioneering now, but you had better not waste your time or mine. I shall not vote for you again.'
This was a sockdolager... I begged him to tell me what was the matter. "Well, Colonel, it is hardly worthwhile to waste time or words upon it. I do not see how it can be mended, but you gave a vote last winter which shows that either you have not capacity to understand the Constitution, or that you are wanting in honesty and firmness to be guided by it. In either case you are not the man to represent me..."
-- snip --
From the same website:"March 6, 1836 - Col Crockett dies along with about 149 others as The Alamo falls
in a predawn assault..."