May 23, 2016
We're searching for the funniest president -- but focusing on laughs can obscure the less-pleasant parts of a president's legacy. For example, lots of the early presidents had slaves. And no one had more than George Washington.
So let's get into it! Our guest is Azie Dungey. Currently a writer for "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," Azie is also the creator and star of the "Ask a Slave" web series from 2013. She worked as a costumed interpreter at Mount Vernon, and the series puts a comedic (and thought-provoking) spin on her experiences. Can you use comedy to teach people about slavery? Does the stain of slavery ruin Washington's image? And, oh yeah, was Washington funny?
MUSIC: Hail Columbia, "Shorty George" by Count Basie and His Orchestra, "Washington Squabble" by Claude Hopkins and His Orchestra