Dishwasher Pete is the pen name for Pete Jordan, author of the popular ''Dishwasher''

zine A zine ( ; short for '' magazine'' or '' fanzine'') is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via a copy machine. Zines are the product of either a single person or of a very s ...

as well as the book of the same title, whose goal was to wash dishes in every state in

America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. For more than a decade, he moved from city to city, state to state, washing dishes in restaurants, hospitals, cafeterias, ski resorts, camps, communes, a fish cannery, an offshore oil rig, a dinner train and just about anywhere where dishes were dirty. He was once invited to appear on the ''

Late Show with David Letterman The ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production ...

''. He did not wish to be on national television, and so a friend of his took his place on the show, pretending to be him. Later, while promoting his book, Pete himself appeared on Letterman and the two discussed the earlier "appearance." The fifteen issues of the ''Dishwasher'' zine are now out of print. Memoirs of Jordan's dishwashing years were published in the book ''Dishwasher: One Man's Quest to Wash Dishes in All 50 States'' by Harper Perennial in 2007; it was positively reviewed in ''Chicagoist.'' Without reading it, ''New York Times'' writer Dwight Garner initially dismissed the book; upon chiding by readers of his column, he wrote "Boy, was I wrong about it - it's exceedingly well-written and explores an American subculture, one Jordan has been working in for more than a decade, with real tact and feeling and humor." Dishwasher Pete has contributed to five episodes of the radio program ''

This American Life ''This American Life'' (''TAL'') is an American monthly hour-long radio program produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media and hosted by Ira Glass. It is broadcast on numerous public radio stations in the United States and internati ...

''. His writing has also appeared on the Open Letters website. Dishwasher Pete also volunteered as a "human guinea pig" in first-in-man drug trials, and contributed articles to the ''Guinea Pig Zero: A Journal for Human Research Subjects''

. In 2002 Pete moved to Amsterdam, where he became fascinated by the culture and history of this city of cyclists. This is the basis for his second book: ''In the City of Bikes: The Story of the Amsterdam Cyclist'' (Harper Perennial, 2013).

Quotes

* "Just keep washing." ―

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his t ...

, in response to Dishwasher Pete asking his advice for the dishwashers of America, at a restaurateur convention. Event occurs at time: 27:10.

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