The saying "all you get is a ham sandwich" is a variation of the phrase that a prosecutor can get a grand jury to "indict a ham sandwich," which was popularized by former New York Chief Judge Sol Wachtler in 1985. [1, 2]
Origin and Meaning
• Origin: Wachtler used the phrase in 1985 to express his view that the grand jury system should be abolished because grand juries were overly deferential to prosecutors. He argued that district attorneys had so much influence they could convince a grand jury to indict even "a ham sandwich," implying that the standard of proof required for an indictment (probable cause) was too low. The phrase became famous a few years later when quoted by Tom Wolfe in his novel The Bonfire of the Vanities.
• Meaning: The expression highlights a perceived lack of independent judgment within the grand jury system, suggesting that a prosecutor can obtain an indictment against virtually anyone or anything, regardless of the flimsiness of the evidence.
• Wachtler's Regret: Wachtler, who is Jewish, later commented that he regretted using "ham" for the analogy and wished he had chosen a "pastrami sandwich" instead, for reasons of kashrut (Jewish dietary laws). [1, 2, 3, 4]
Variations
The core idea has been adapted into other contexts, such as:
• Describing a meager or underwhelming reward (e.g., "After all that work, all you get is a ham sandwich").
• Police slang in some areas, referring to a "drop gun" or false evidence planted by corrupt officers to frame a suspect. [1, 5, 6]
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