L.A. Now

Southern California -- this just in

| Main |

What's in a name? Depends on how you write it

4:35 PM, May 13, 2008

Read_between_the_lines Graphologist Arlyn J. Imberman says the writing's on the wall — well, page — when it comes to the temperament and personalities of presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. Our own Faye Fiore spoke with the handwriting expert:

"Obama is very much his writing — fluid, graceful. McCain's is angular and intense; he's a pit bull. And look at the perfectionism in Hillary's — straight up, precise. She is persistent and is not going to give up until she absolutely has to," said Imberman, a court-certified graphologist based in New York.

Presidential signatures are trademarks that grace everything from historic documents to the souvenir M&M's boxes handed out on Air Force One. And history suggests penmanship can reflect personality.

Abraham Lincoln set 3 million slaves free with a signature that was as modest and unadorned as he was. Ronald Reagan — the "great communicator" — penned rounded letters that radiated warmth. Jimmy Carter etched an autograph that was aloof and cerebral. And Richard Nixon, who entered the White House with a big, bold R and N, left in deflated disgrace, his signature collapsing as well.

More about the telltale signs in a signature from Faye's story.

Here's Lincoln's signature. You can track the changes in Richard Nixon's signature here. And just for the heck of it, here's Ross Perot.

—Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/816965/29042270

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference What's in a name? Depends on how you write it:

Comments
Post a comment
If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate.
Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.

If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In





Our Blogger
Veronique de Turenne
Veronique de Turenne
Veronique de Turenne is a journalist, essayist, book critic and blogger, and has been a staff writer at virtually every newspaper in Southern California. One of the highlights of her career was interviewing Vin Scully in his broadcast booth at Dodger Stadium, then receiving a handwritten thank you note from him a week later. She lives in Malibu.

Blogs

LA Times Blogs


Lakers: All things purple and gold
The Homicide Blog: Every homicide in L.A.
L.A. Land: Real estate
Bottleneck: Southland Traffic
Up to Speed: L.A. car culture
Daily Travel & Deal Blog: For restless SoCal
The Homeroom: Southern California schools
Blue Notes: A Dodgers Blog
What's Bruin: The world of UCLA
All Things Trojan: USC sports
Varsity Times Insider: Local high school sports
Daily Dish: Inside scoop on food in L.A.
The Daily Mirror: L.A. crime 50 years ago

LA Now Featured Blogs

LAist
Curbed LA
Eating L.A.
CaliforniaAuthors.com
The Elegant Variation
blogdowntown
Franklin Avenue
LA Taco
Deadline Hollywood
LAFD Blog
FishbowlLA
LA Weekly
LA Daily News
Downtown News
The Daily Breeze
Jewish Journal
Mayor Sam
The Foothill Cities Blog
LA Observed