Where Did the Term “Spin Doctor” Come From and What Does the Phrase Mean?

The term spin doctor first appeared in the New York Times during Ronald Reagan’s campaign for re-election in 1984.

“Spin” is the twist given a baseball by a pitcher throwing a curve ball to deceive the batter, while a “doctor” is someone who fixes a problem.

Therefore, a “spin doctor” is someone who, faced with a political problem, solves it by putting a twist on the information to bend the story to his or her own advantage.