Q&A – The Origin of the Expression ‘86’ - Driven By Braman Motorcars
Each day I feature a listener question sent by one of these methods.
Email: brianmudd@iheartmedia.com
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iHeartRadio: Use the Talkback feature – the microphone button on our station’s page in the iHeart app.
Today’s Entry: Today’s note was submitted via talkback explaining that the term “86” (used by former FBI Director James Comey in a social media posting about President Trump) is a mob term explaining that the purpose was to take someone eight miles out and put them six feet underground.
Bottom Line: In the grand scheme of things you probably didn’t have on your bingo card recently... a) James Comey back in the news b) That we’d be parsing out the meaning of what ‘86’ is but here we are after James F. Comey cryptically posted a seashell formation stating ‘86 47’ with the note “Cool shell formation on my beach walk”. There’s a lot said with a little here, but the question is how much exactly? Was the former FBI Director, who was proven to be a key figure in an effort to undermine our representative republic through the perpetuation of the “Trump-Russia collusion” hoax, and who also let Hillary Clinton off the hook for during the same 2016 election cycle, truly unaware of the implications of what ‘86’ could mean as he claims? This is what the Secret Service is currently investigating. So, about the term ‘86’ let’s dive into its meaning(s).
A search of things online will net you several different results about what 86 may mean with no shortage of stories that have quickly been filed by the usual suspects in the GSS media looking to soften the blow for Comey. Take this AP headline for example: The old slang term ’86' probably started as restaurant-worker jargon. Suddenly it’s in the news. The Associated Press and others floating this narrative evidentially think you’re stupid. Has the term ‘86’ been used in the context of restaurants running out of menu items and using the term ‘86’ in reference to nix offering those items to guests? Yes, in fact – while working in the food service industry as a teenager I had a cook that would use it that way in reference to running out of food. However, is that the real backstory here? Not even close.
As the listener who submitted today’s talkback said – the origin of the term is in fact the mob – although it’s not quite the eight miles, six feet under thing – at least at first and there’s a surprise wrinkle to the story. The first documented use of the term ‘86’ occurred in New York City, by the mob, while running alcohol through speakeasys in during prohibition in the 1920’s. The top speakeasy of the day was Chumley’s - as is detailed in the New York Post’s 2015 story: Gotti, guns & gay bars: Inside NYC’s mob history. The address of Chumley’s was/is (it reopened in 2016) 86 Bedford Street. That’s clearly not a coincidence.
The mob had someone on the inside of the NYPD who would tip off the speakeasy to planned inspections, and on at least a couple of occasions planned raids. Anytime the term ‘86’ was used in the bar, and it could have been as innocent sounding as someone calling the bar and asking for the address with the bartending saying “yes, we’re at 86 Bedford”. From patrons, to mobsters and bar keeps, the moment ‘86’ was used it meant it was time to get everyone out and to get rid of the alcohol.
That’s not only a fun fact origin story but it’s also instructive. From the first time it was used, the term ‘86’ meant to put an end to an operation and to get rid of the evidence. It was after the prohibition era that the term came to catch on – with the mob likely be the perpetuator of it – given its origins – where it became applied more broadly. That takes us to modern day considerations. Here is the current definition of what ‘86’ means:
Marriam-Webster: Eighty-six is slang meaning "to throw out," "to get rid of," or "to refuse service to. “To nix”.
Many have tried to use that definition as an explanation, however, to defend Comey’s ignorance as to potential violent implications behind the term however even then that doesn’t wash and for two reasons. First, what is Comey now using the term ‘86’ to communicate his support for impeachment and conviction of President Trump – which is the only non-nefarious application of the definition that could be applied? No one with a functioning brain and a shred of honesty within it believes that. Second, context if key.
Notably, context is key. If you’re in a restaurant and your cook tells you to ‘86’ today’s special – you know exactly what that means. Here’s the next contextual level...
You may remember in October of 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, during an episode of Meet the Press, had a sign sitting behind her visible on screen that said: ‘86 45’. This was the last time there was a meaningful national conversation about the use of the term ‘86’. Now, at the time I raised concerns and thought it was an extremely dangerous message to be conveying – however the context was different. We were under a month away from the presidential election and that message, poor form as it was, could be interpreted to mean that she simply wanted Trump voted out of office. Fast forward to today.
The context has changed entirely. President Trump has had two credible assassination attempts against him with one leading to him having been shot. Additionally, as a full-term president in the early months of his second administration – there is only one way to remove President Trump as president (again save the impeachment and conviction which of course isn’t what this was about – especially with Republicans in control of congress) - and that’s for him to die. Add in the additional context that James Comey literally conspired to attempt to prevent Trump from becoming president in the first place and the message is crystal clear.