One of the persistent complaints that crops up in response to political coverage has to do with use of the word “Democrat” vs. “Democratic.”

Some challenge the characterization of Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye, for example, as incorrect, arguing that he should be called “Democrat Sen. Daniel Inouye.”

It’s a battle that plays out in plenty of comment forums, including a response to a recent New York Times piece about the Hawaii race for U.S. Senate. Take a look: 

“Kahaluu” is mistaken, but not alone in his or her thinking. Turns out, this fight has been going on for decades.

An article published in the New York Times on Aug. 30, 1956, describes a Republican effort to lose the “ic” in “Democratic.” Here’s how the article begins: “The Republican National Committee confirmed today that it was out to change the name of the opposition to the ‘Democrat Party.”

L. Richard Guylay, a GOP spokesman at the time, reportedly said that the “Democrat Party” had a “better political sound.” Democrats fired back, calling the move “nasty, childish and underhanded.”

But Democrats also discussed waging their own name-changing campaign against Republicans, according to the 1956 article. Here’s a screenshot from the New York Times’ archive:

 

Read the complete article, ”G.O.P. Drops ‘ic’ in Democratic But Rivals Say They’ll Survive,” via the New York Times archive.