The term was popularized by U.S. President Richard Nixon in a November 3, 1969, speech in which he said, "And so tonight—to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans—I ask for your support."
此術語因美國總統理查德·尼克松1969年11月3日的演講而被世人周知，他的原話是“所以今夜——我向你們，我美國同胞中沉默的大多數——請求支持”。