The phrase “skunks in the parlor” was spoken by a southern officeholder back in 1948 at the time of the Presidential Election. The exact comment was:
“The only sane and constructive course to follow is to remain in the house of our fathers — even though the roof leaks, and there be bats in the belfry, rats in the pantry, a cockroach in the kitchen and skunks in the parlor.”
I have been unable to find a reference to this phrase prior to 1948.
Historically Speaking 