May 29, 2016
The search for the funniest president continues! Some of Benjamin Harrison's contemporaries ridiculed him as a "human iceberg," and the nickname stuck. This episode, we're thawing him out to see if there's a great sense of humor buried under that reputation.
Charlie Hyde, the head honcho at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis, helps us understand why Harrison could be so formal at times -- and he shares the things that loosened Harrison up. Plus, we talk about Harrison's special place in the history of presidential humor, as the first sitting president to address a Gridiron Club dinner.
We've got stories about a goat cart, Harrison fighting crime with his bare hands, and more ... It's a fun look at a lesser-known president.
MUSIC: Hail Columbia, "Benny Rides Again" and "Benjie's Bubble" by the Benny Goodman Orchestra