Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 23:28:32 -0500

From: Gregory {Greg} Downing downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]IS2.NYU.EDU

Subject: Re: had/would rather



At 09:33 PM 11/27/97 -0600, you wrote:

A couple of weeks ago Greg Downing posted a query about had/would rather.



Twasn't me, was it? I believe it was Barry Popik, if memory serves,

discoursing on Clay's supposed "I had/would rather be right than be

president." (This from a guy who ran and lost three times.) His question

wasn't about which was grammatical if I recall, but about which of the two

variants Clay really said (if either?). "Would rather" is the common version

of the Clay quote these days, perhaps (???) because "had rather" is rather

obsolescent now. But maybe Barry has something further to report on this.

Enquiring minds want to know. I do have the Gilman etc. with my dictionaries

and the like.



Best,



Greg Downing/NYU, at greg.downing[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nyu.edu or downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]is2.nyu.edu