1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: Ridiculous History is a production of I Heart Radio. Ye, 2 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 1: welcome to the show Ridiculous Historians. As always, thank you 3 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: so much for tuning in. Uh this is this is 4 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,279 Speaker 1: gonna be a fun one. Um. No, I would say 5 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: that you and I are at times rambunctious, but I 6 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: wouldn't say I wouldn't say we're scally wags or scoundrels. 7 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: What do you think, you know? I've often fancied myself 8 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: been a bit of a rapscallion from time to time, 9 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: and then only because I'm incorrigible, you just can't take 10 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: me anywhere. But now I don't think I may have 11 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,279 Speaker 1: in past life dipped my toe into the shallow end 12 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 1: of the scoundrel pool, but I've certainly reformed long since. 13 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,479 Speaker 1: So yeah, I think we can squarely say neither of us, 14 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: including super producer Casey Pegram, our scoundrels. I've always you know, 15 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: before the word became politically charged, I liked to think 16 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: of myself as a maverick based on that Mel Gibson film. 17 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: It was it was like a card shark, right, Yes, 18 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: it was a maverick. And when we were getting ready 19 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: for this episode, I know out of the three of us. 20 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: I can't be the only one who thought of the 21 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Do you remember that one? I do. 22 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: That's the one about the dirty rotten Scoundrels. That's right, 23 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: that's a very student summary. Also, Steve Martin is like 24 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: the one of the best banjo players in the world's fabulous. 25 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: So it's Steve Martin. And who's his uh, who's his 26 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: scoundrel cohort in that movie? I'm forgetting now. It's definitely 27 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: not Mel Gibson. We've established that guy's kind of a 28 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: maverick just right now, Ja, it feels like a Jack 29 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: Lemon type figure. No, no, I'm just thinking of things 30 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: dirty rutten. We must solve this show until eight? Is 31 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: it Michael Caine? Michael Kaine? It's Michael Caine, but I 32 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: don't even recognize them. It's Michael Kaine. I was looking 33 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: at the poster and before I could read the text, 34 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: I was just like, who is that? Yeah? I just 35 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 1: I haven't just I don't remember anything about the movie 36 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: except that there's a scene where Steve Martin pretends to 37 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: have an eye patch and they they they're they're basically 38 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: confidence men, and they go around you know, seducing heiresses 39 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: and trying to con people out of their crown jewels. 40 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: And and I don't know if a lot of people 41 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: won't know this, but the recent uh movie starring Rebel 42 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: Wilson and Anne Hathaway, The Hustle, is essentially a retelling 43 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: of dirty, rotten scoundrels, with the the said scoundrels being 44 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: played by women. So women can be scoundrels too. I 45 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: think it's trying to, like, you give the word back 46 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: to the people, you know, because you think it's like 47 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: a scoundrel and we think of a dirty dog man, 48 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: you know, but women can scoundrel it with the best 49 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: of them. Yeah, let's h Let's make sure that everybody 50 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: is equally recognized in their ability to be a terrible person. 51 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: Gargo Humans. Also just a shout out to the nineteen 52 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: seventy nine film about another um someone irredeemable character, The Jerk, 53 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: also starring Steve Martin. It's classic. It can't go on said, 54 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: believe it or not. We're not talking about Steve Martin 55 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: for the show. We could do an episode on Steve later, 56 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: maybe we can even interview him, But today we are 57 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: talking about a man who is sometimes known as America's 58 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: first notorious scoundrel. His name Dan Sickles. What did he do? 59 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: What made him? You guys remember that you may be 60 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: familiar with that cartoon sitcom American Dad. There's an alien 61 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: named Roger, and there's just running joke that Roger has 62 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: this alternate persona, a guy named Ricky Spanish, and he's 63 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: and he's a total lothario. Yeah, he's a monster. He's worse. 64 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: He's a monster. But Dan Siggles is kind of like 65 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: a Ricky Spanish. How did he get here? What are 66 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: we talking about? And how does he help us avoid 67 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: romanticizing America of days past? It's a good question, man, 68 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: And I want to start with a reading from this 69 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: fabulous piece PBS article. I just love the way they 70 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: sum this up, because this is very true. We sometimes 71 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: assume that people today are naughtier than those of yesteryear, 72 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: that morals have decayed the point of rotting, that lovers 73 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: are less faithful, politicians more corrupt. But to name at 74 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: least one strong counter argument to such supposed decline, there 75 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: is Daniel Sickles, a nineteenth century congressman, friends to presidents, 76 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: civil war general, not to mention as well, a notorious philanderer, 77 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: a corrupt Tammany Hall politician, an embezzler, a cold blooded murderer, 78 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: and the officer who almost cost the Union victory and 79 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 1: perhaps the most pivotal battle of the Civil War. A 80 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: real pos this guy, and also a fabulous piece of 81 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: writing from SuDS. Sure. Yeah, that credit goes to Dennis 82 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 1: Gaffney who was the author of that piece. Uh So, yeah, 83 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: this guy is a pos. Uh. This being a family show, 84 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: I proposed that we we make it a running thing 85 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: where we try to find different definitions of p O S. 86 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 1: So let's say, um, what you're talking about, I'm gonna 87 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: say point of scoundrelity. So so okay. So Dan is 88 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: born Daniel Edgar Sickles, October, New York City. We know 89 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 1: of one of his first low life moves that occurred 90 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: when he was a teenager. He was accused of stealing 91 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: a hundred bucks that had in uh given to him 92 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: by a guy named Peter Cooper. Peter Cooper is a 93 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: philanthropist and according to The New York Times in their 94 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: wonderful article the man who got away with Everything, Peter 95 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: Cooper was like Saint Lee. He was the most beloved 96 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: dude in New York City. Uh. Sickles parents put up 97 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: with him a lot, you know, and it's just like 98 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: a boy's will be boys thing. And they sent him 99 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: off to home in Manhattan, the household of Lorenzo da Ponte. 100 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: And they were hoping that this that Dan would soak 101 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: up some culture, that he would maybe turn his young 102 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: life in a more productive direction. Um. But it didn't 103 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: work out the way they had hoped. Yes. In fact, 104 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: some very salacious rumors began to swirl that Sickle had 105 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: seduced DuPont's adopted married arnor Maria Cook Baggioli. Uh, and 106 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: to boot, had blackmailed her husband. So a cup holder 107 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: and a blackmailer. It gets worse, it totally gets worse. 108 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: And then not too terribly long after, he would go 109 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: on to seduce Maria's fifteen year old daughter, m hmm uh, Teresa. 110 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: And you know, I'm out to his credit now, not really, 111 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: not at all. Now, he did make an honest ish 112 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: woman out of her by bringing her before the Roman 113 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: Catholic Archbishop of New York, John J. Hughes Uh to 114 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: be joined and wedded. You know, acrimony, let's call it 115 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: be only because she was like super priggers right right, 116 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: like visibly third trimester territory. Uh. The New York Times 117 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: sums it up this way in their article, saying, these 118 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: auditionous by getting what set the path out of Sile's 119 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: life willful nearly to the point of madness. He was 120 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: nonetheless able to win over at astonishing number of men 121 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: and especially women, thanks to his good looks, dashing manna 122 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: and pension for grand gestice Wisely, he decided to become 123 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: a lawyer since it was unlikely he would ever go 124 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: very long without being holed. Didn't a court just the 125 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: shade on this thing. So all this stuff in his 126 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: childhood aside. He does go to college. He attends the 127 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: University of the City of New York eighteen forty six. 128 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: He is admitted to the bar. He becomes a lawyer. 129 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: He's still a blackguard, he's still kind of a heel, 130 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: but now he's got he's got a law degree. Uh. 131 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 1: And he's also active in the Democratic Party. And he's 132 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: still sleeping around like crazy right big time. He's what 133 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: he's what, he's what today we would call a himbo, Yeah, 134 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: which is the modern version of Lithario. That's exactly correct. 135 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: Then in eighty seven he decided to enter into a 136 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:01,439 Speaker 1: long desired career in politics. Um, and he won a 137 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: seat on the state legislature. And he was carrying on 138 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: during this time a relationship with a New York escort 139 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: named Fanny White. Uh. There were also rumors that he 140 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: brought Fanny White to London with him on a diplomatic 141 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: mission while leaving his wife home in New York and pregnant. Uh. 142 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: There's some rumors about him that we know aren't true. 143 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: They're a little bit too larger than life. Uh. But 144 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: let's let's talk as politics here. Because he won two 145 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: consecutive terms in the New York State Senate like he 146 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,439 Speaker 1: was good at this eighteen fifty six and eighteen fifty seven. Well, 147 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: I think one would argue that a serial seducer and 148 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: a like a long time politician probably share similar skill sets. 149 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: You know, what is politics if not like seducing your 150 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,959 Speaker 1: constituents into believing in you. Well, there are some politicians 151 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,199 Speaker 1: whould disagree, but I think there are many people who 152 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: would note that there is a macavellio in aspect to it. Right, 153 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: So absolutely, and I'm I'm I'm so oversimplifying the case 154 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: a little bit. But you know, if you can talk 155 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: repeatedly women into sleeping with you and convincing them that 156 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: you're like a good guy, Uh, then perhaps that skill 157 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: would also serve you well, you know, in in politics. Yes, 158 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: I think it's I think it's a valid observation. There. 159 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: He was set to go on being just kind of 160 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: a slimy dude in the political sphere of New York. 161 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: But he entered national politics, and he served as a 162 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: congress person in the House of Representatives from eighteen fifty 163 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: seven to eighteen sixty one. There were people who had 164 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: not heard of Dan Sickles until eighteen fifty eight, Uh, 165 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: when he rose from being you know, just kind of 166 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: like a well known scalawag to an infamous figure in 167 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: American politics. No earlier, we said that he was associated 168 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: with the Tammany Hall machine, um, and that's how he 169 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 1: got his post in US Congress. The story started when 170 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: he was censured for bringing a sex worker onto the 171 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,719 Speaker 1: floor of the New York Senate. It was also kind 172 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: of a man of ill repute because he had married 173 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: that fifteen year old we mentioned Teresa. He had married 174 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: her when he was thirty three and she was fifteen. Sorry, 175 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 1: I keep throwing off my mouth a little bit. Um, 176 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: do you think he had a reputation at this point, 177 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: ben like like a broadly speaking or is this just 178 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: like the way history remembers him, because surely these, many 179 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: of these acts would have been considered a scandal for 180 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: an elected official, right, Well, that's that's the thing. Um. 181 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:47,119 Speaker 1: It's not as if everybody was a paragon of perfect ideals. 182 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: But but I think his shadow was starting to catch 183 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: up to him. That makes sense. So, uh, he was 184 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: elected to Congress after coming to Washington and being welcomed 185 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: into their like innermost elite circles. Um. And then he 186 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: became dear friends with Philip Barton Key, the son of 187 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: famed Francis Scott Key of that weird song that that 188 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: seems to represent America and some Yeah, and I've never 189 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: quite understood the imagery in that one. And if I'm 190 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: not mistaken, I believe there's a verse to that song 191 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 1: that's more than a little bit racist that gets removed 192 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: for popular repetition. Right right, So without doing that verse, 193 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: I know that the star Spangled banner itself is said 194 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: to be the key was inspired by seeing a single U. 195 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: S Flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak. That's right, Ben, 196 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: And in fact, originally the song was called the Defense 197 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: of Fort McHenry and h you know, sorry, we're getting 198 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: off on a little tangent here. It's just starting to 199 00:12:57,840 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: jog both of our memories that we actually did an 200 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: entire episode on this um. But it is a lyric 201 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 1: that is left out that report that that basically, uh, 202 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 1: it represents the deep root of slavery in American culture. 203 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: Let's just leave it at that. Oh, I mean we 204 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: could say it on air. The line that you're not 205 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: going to hear is no refuge could save the hire 206 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: ling enslave from the terror of flight or the gloom 207 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: of the grave and the star spangled banner and triumph 208 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: doth wave or the land of the Free and the 209 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: home of the brave talking about the hutsman of putting 210 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: slave and then land of the free not not not 211 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: more than four lines apart. Yeah, not to mention that 212 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: slave fixes like is basically used to fit that rhyming 213 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:49,559 Speaker 1: scheme slave, grave, Wave, brave. He was in a hurry, 214 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: definitely in a hurry, but nonetheless he and and Sickles 215 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: became good friends and Daniel, I'm sorry his son rather 216 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:02,439 Speaker 1: became good friends. And Daniel often asked his pal Key 217 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 1: Daniel Sickles uh to be his wife's escort to social gatherings, um, 218 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: whenever he had to work late. This is a fellow 219 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: congressman by the way, or you know, he had like 220 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 1: a girl on the side as well. So this was 221 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 1: like very much part of the culture of being like 222 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 1: a politician as well. It seems this whole idea. It's 223 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: almost like in the mob, you have your like your wife, 224 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: and then you have your guma you know, I guess, 225 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: And in politics in these days, you had your your 226 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: your wife and then you're like side girl. So Key 227 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: and Teresa became friends and then pretty quickly that turned 228 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: into romance and then uh, the soap opera begins. Because 229 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: despite the attempts to keep their affairs secret, uh, it 230 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: became common knowledge in their social circle in the elite 231 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: social scene of New York City, both Dan and his 232 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: wife Teresa had other affairs. They were sleeping around left 233 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: and right, you know. And I will say, uh, no judgment. 234 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: I think everybody, every single relationship is a foreign country. 235 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: So if they had some kind of open arrangement. That's 236 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: that's up to them. But Dan also had a reputation 237 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: for visiting brothels, which is you know, as we know 238 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: is is probably not safe from a hygienic perspective at 239 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: this time. Weirdly though, how weird is the misogynistic double 240 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: standard here, you guys. Uh did people care about Dan's 241 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: affairs and dalliances? No? Uh, they were more scandalized that 242 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: Teresa would dare to have an affair because he did 243 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: makes him a cuckled. Of course they were. This was 244 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: hows how it was. Men were never blamed. It was 245 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: always the women who were ashamed and had to carry 246 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: that like you know, scarlet letter situation. And here's the thing, 247 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: Sickles had a reputation like it was a known thing 248 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: that he liked to visit brothels around d C. But 249 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 1: it was only teresa affair that got people all bent 250 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: out of shape. In the nineteenth century, a wife's affair, 251 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: like you said, Ben turned her husband into the the 252 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: worst thing could turn a man into a cuckold. Even 253 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: though now it's used in like fetishy stuff. That's a 254 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: different story, um, and undermine in the eyes of this society. 255 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: It would have undermined his masculinity. Another horrible thing he 256 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: could do. Uh. And all while a husband's affairs were 257 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: simply just whatever, like nobody cared. It was understood that 258 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: men gonna be men. Um and they were. This was 259 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: even they were like gossip columns at the time. Uh. 260 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: And one particularly well known gossip columnist called key quote 261 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: the handsomest man and all Washington society. Uh and he, uh, 262 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: you know this is this is this is like basically 263 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: the takeaway from what how he was seeing the handsomest 264 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: man in all Washington society, ineligible, non bachelor but whatever. 265 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: Um and and they had like little signals, right Ben, Yeah, 266 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: So their d C dalliances were well known. One reporter 267 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: said that he would signal Teresa by waving his handkerchief 268 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: on the street, and then they would meet at an 269 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: abandoned house that was just like walking distance from the 270 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: actual White House. And Teresa is on record confessing, I 271 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: did what is usually for a wicked woman to do. 272 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 1: I don't think she sounded so arch when she said that. However, 273 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: this is not a sustainable thing. February fifty nine, Sickles 274 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: receives an anonymous letter and he confronts his wife, Teresa, 275 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: and he forces her to write a confession. And then 276 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: three days go by and he sees his former friend 277 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:51,120 Speaker 1: Key outside of his house waving his handkerchief the signal 278 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: for the affair to, you know, resume. And he went 279 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: into a state of rage. And he was like, that 280 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: villain is out there now making side lines. So he 281 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: grabbed not one gun, not two guns, but three guns 282 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: and ran outside to confront this guy because he is 283 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: a hypocrite. Uh. He shot his wife's lover in full 284 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 1: view of the White House and he screamed, you scoundrel, 285 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: you have dishordered my house. You must die, because it 286 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,360 Speaker 1: apparently wasn't okay for other people to have affairs just him. 287 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: So Sickles did with his drawn pistol, fire several times 288 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: at Key, and he hit him once in the leg 289 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: and once in the hand. He kind of just winged him. Uh. 290 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: Key made a mad dash for Sickles and gripped him 291 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: by the lapels and two men had a good tussle 292 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: on the ground rolling around um and and this was 293 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: all being gauwcked upon by the elite who lived in 294 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: this part of of Washington. This is in a very 295 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 1: fancy part of the city. So Sickles gets to his 296 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: feet finally after breaking away from Key, and fired a 297 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: second shot. Yeah, and you're the growing. Key also had 298 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: a weapon. I guess you could say he pulled the 299 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: only thing he could. He had on his person a 300 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: pair of opera glasses, and he threw those at Dan Sickles. 301 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: Can you imagine trying to menace somebody with a pair 302 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:23,400 Speaker 1: of opera glasses. That's the most genteel thing anyone could 303 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,400 Speaker 1: ever be holding. There's nothing less threatening than a pair 304 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: of opera glasses. A monocle. A monocle is half is threatening. 305 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: That's fair, that's fair. But but you're you're absolutely right. 306 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: This does seem like an hilarious scene. But then Sickles 307 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 1: fires again. Key is against the offense. He's pleading for 308 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: his life. Don't kill me, don't kill me. I'm sorry. 309 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: Sickles points a gun at the center of his old 310 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: friend's chest. He fires, Key staggers away a few feet, 311 00:19:55,480 --> 00:20:00,040 Speaker 1: and then he dies. Sickles looks around. At least a 312 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: dozen people have seen him do this, because he's shouting 313 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:08,120 Speaker 1: in the street beforehand and during uh he runs away, 314 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: but then he eventually surrenders the police. A few hours later, 315 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,439 Speaker 1: he's charged with murder. He's taken to jail. Yeah, isn't interesting, Like, 316 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: I mean, not too terribly long in history before this, 317 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: something like this would have been considered legal if it 318 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: had been a duel agreed to by both parties. Right, 319 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: But this was not that because only Sickles was armed 320 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: at least, you know, legitimately armed, whereas he you know, 321 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: was essentially helpless aside from his pathetic attempt at you know, 322 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: brandishing a pair of opera glasses. So yeah, he gets, 323 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: he gets, he gets taken away. He does indeed get 324 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: taken away. Uh, he's locked up. But he's also a 325 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: former congressman, so that that gives him some special privileges. 326 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 1: He's got some juice in the city there he is. Yeah. Uh, 327 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,440 Speaker 1: So many people came by to convey their well wishes 328 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: that he was able to use the apartment of the 329 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: jail keeper to entertain his guests, who were high level 330 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: federal officials, members of Congress, and so on. Then President 331 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: James Buchanan did not personally visit, but he did send 332 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: Sickles a nice note. Uh. Sickles got several prominent politicians 333 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: to be his defense attorneys, including one man Edwin M. Stanton, 334 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: who would later go on to become Lincoln's Secretary of War. 335 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 1: Oh and he was allowed to keep a weapon in 336 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: jail just to have Wait, why that's that's like to 337 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,439 Speaker 1: defend himself from being shanked or something, or just like 338 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: as a special privilege, he was able to have a 339 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: concealed weapon in jail. Well, we don't know whether they 340 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: were opera glasses, a monocle, or a gunn fair, one 341 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: would assume it was the very least appointed stick. Yes, 342 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:58,959 Speaker 1: one would assume this sensational murder. His front page news, 343 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: it's all anyone can talk about. The New York Herald 344 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,360 Speaker 1: says it is a tragic affair, and they say that 345 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,719 Speaker 1: it is the prominent topic of conversation in homes, in 346 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: public everywhere everywhere in the city. Uh, we know that 347 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: Sickles gave interviews with the press where he's not saying 348 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,439 Speaker 1: he's not guilty, he's just justifying it. He's like he 349 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: dishonored me. So boom boom boom. Yeah, this is a 350 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: time when honor, at least perceived honor ment a whole 351 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: hell of a lot more, perhaps than it means today. 352 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 1: I don't know if that's true. Maybe I'm just bummed 353 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: out about our times currently, But yeah, I mean it 354 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: certainly was. You know, you would you would literally, you know, 355 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: challenge someone to a duel for for you know, attacking 356 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: your honor and reputation was very, very important, even though 357 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 1: as we know, these men did terrible, terrible things behind 358 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: the scenes. But you dare not accuse them of such, right, Uh, 359 00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: just you know, blaming on the women. It's their fault. 360 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:04,160 Speaker 1: So yeah, this became a massive hullabaloo. Uh. The tragic 361 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: affair produced a great sensation, said the New York Herald. 362 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: In the streets, the law courts, public houses, private dwellings, 363 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: and in fact everywhere. It was the prominent topic of conversation. 364 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: Even President James Buchanan took sides in the sensational case. 365 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: I know where my my read is morphing, but I'm 366 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: gonna roll with it. He sent a letter of support 367 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 1: to the imprisoned Congressman. Sickles told one paper, he has 368 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 1: this autoed me, and we could not live together on 369 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: the same planet. Harper's Weekly judged the outcome they called 370 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: the trial. They said, this is how it's gonna go, 371 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: they said, the public of the United States will justify 372 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: him in killing the man who dishonored his bed. WHOA, 373 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: I'm sorry dishonored his bed. Yeah. They weren't even at 374 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: that house. They were at a different making a case 375 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: on a technicality and joke. Uh. Even though Sickles did 376 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: admit to firing the shots that killed Key. Uh, many 377 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 1: folks were kind of on his side, Yeah, because they 378 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: felt like his masculinity or his manhood were under attack. 379 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: And also again he had a lot of juice. He 380 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: hired no less than eight different attorneys to represent him 381 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: during the trial. One of them, John Graham, spent two 382 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: entire days in court. On his opening statement defending Uh 383 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: Sickles the scoundrel. Uh, he quoted a fellow to kind 384 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:33,920 Speaker 1: of justify sickles action, saying that adultery was evil and 385 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: this is really interesting. He said that discovering the affair 386 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: had rendered Daniel Sickles temporarily insane. This was a new concept. 387 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 1: In course, it's a it's a concept that to this 388 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: day gets kind of the eye roll. Doesn't have been 389 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: Like temporary insanity is almost something relegated to like the 390 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 1: realms of satire and comedy, you know, I mean, I 391 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: don't know, maybe I'm wrong there, but certainly insanity is 392 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: a thing that that. But but temporary insanity really feels like, 393 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: you know, almost the equivalent of in the heat of 394 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: the moment or a crime of passion. Yeah, yeah, it's 395 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: it's it's incredibly rare for people to successfully plead insanity, 396 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: you know. But they're relying on the jury sympathy rather 397 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:30,919 Speaker 1: than the letter of the law. So Graham says, you know, 398 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: it may be tragical two and that is the word 399 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 1: these So maybe tragical to shed human blood. But I'll 400 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: always maintain there is no tragedy about slaying the adulter her. 401 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 1: And then they went on to attack the character of Teresa. 402 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: You know, they went on a smear campaign against her 403 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 1: in court, calling her a sex worker, calling her a murderer, uh, 404 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,959 Speaker 1: saying that she longed for her husband's death. Uh, and 405 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: she didn't care how it happened, whether he died by 406 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: poison or was stabbed or was shot. They called her, 407 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 1: they called her horrid filth like they weren't really pulling punches. 408 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: They were trying to make her look like a terrible person. No, 409 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: and God, this guy is a real piece of work. 410 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 1: He Sickles himself tried to cast himself as the quote 411 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 1: avenger of the invaded household, meaning like the scorned man, 412 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: the cuckolded man. His wife m was portrayed as complete, 413 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: completely immoral harpy, and the key deserved to die for 414 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 1: what he had done. The judge is not buying this, 415 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: by the way, thank god is. He speaks the jury 416 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: on April. Then he says, look in regards the temporary insanity, 417 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 1: Dan Sickles learned of this affair, and then there was 418 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: a gap in time before he killed Philip Keys. He 419 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: spent three days plotting this attack after receiving that note. 420 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: So just remember that that doesn't seem very temporarily insane 421 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: to me. The judges implying the jury deliberates for about 422 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: an hour and they say Dan Sickles is not guilty 423 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: by reason of temporary insanity. It's just like a legal 424 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:28,640 Speaker 1: drama on television. The packed courtroom burst into applause. More 425 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: than a thousand people leads Sickles through the streets in 426 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: an improvised victory parade. That's not how courts are supposed 427 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: to work. Yeah, you know, Ben. I had to do 428 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 1: a little digging just to kind of see how often 429 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 1: the temporary insanity arguments you know, actually flies, and it 430 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 1: is not very often. Um, like there's one, Um this 431 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: is are a few modern examples, but you know, Sickles 432 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: is definitely on the list. Um John Hinckley Jr. Who 433 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 1: took a shot at President and Reagan um and also 434 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 1: injured some police in secret service. Uh he he got 435 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: off on a a temporary insanity plea. Also remember Lorraina Bobbitt, Yes, 436 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: who d man She also robbed her husband of his manhood, 437 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: if you'll recall, we don't have to get too into 438 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:23,880 Speaker 1: the details. And then she threw his manhood into a bush. 439 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: She got off on a temporary insanity police too. I 440 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:31,360 Speaker 1: had no idea. And Bobbitt survived, of course he of course, yeah, 441 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: but you know his manhood did not or did they 442 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:36,160 Speaker 1: find it and put it back on? I believe. So yeah, 443 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 1: oh that's nice. Um, it's maybe a different episode, but uh, 444 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: but you're right. Yeah. As I said earlier, the temporary 445 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 1: insanity plea is very difficult to get through court h 446 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: but it works for sickles. This is the first successful 447 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: temporary insanity plea, and various papers of note are not 448 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:02,040 Speaker 1: super cool with it. The Tribune and says this is 449 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: a most mistaken and most mischievous verdict. They say it's 450 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: carrying the country backwards. Here's the thing, though, the jury, 451 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: even though the jury said they was not guilty by 452 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 1: reason of temporary insanity, they probably didn't buy that defense. 453 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: What they were really thinking of is the more Victorian 454 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: morality that Key had it coming, and that even if 455 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: you are a dude who is sleeping around, if someone 456 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: sleeps with your wife, you are right to attack them 457 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: to take revenge or to kill them, unless that's just 458 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 1: like what you're into, man, you know, yeah, it takes 459 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 1: all types, I guess. And so after the trial get this, 460 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 1: Sickles stays married to Teresa, and he says, I shall 461 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 1: strive to prove to all that an airing wife and 462 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: mother may be forgiven and redeemed. I'll say it, what 463 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: a day, God, what absolute hypocrite. And just oh, just 464 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 1: the the gas lighting of it all, you know, just 465 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 1: the public shaming of it all, the absolute lack of 466 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 1: self awareness of it all. Uh, it just kind of 467 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 1: makes it makes your stomach turn. But you know what 468 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: Sickles Cowardice and uh and uh and Despicable Behavior has 469 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 1: many chapters, to the point where we have decided, uh 470 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: to make this a two parter um. And you know, 471 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: the next chapter of Sickles Despicable Existence really is a 472 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 1: completely different world. So we've gotten through the adultery, We've 473 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 1: gotten through the trial of the century. So we're gonna 474 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: leave it here, uh and wrap and then and then 475 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:45,239 Speaker 1: rejoin the story already in progress next time. But in 476 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: the meantime, UH, gird yourselves, ridiculous historians. This guy continues 477 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: on his irascible journeys. I we want to thank everybody 478 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: for tuning in. Of course, big big thanks to Gabe 479 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 1: Luzier are search assistant, big big thanks to uh super 480 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:06,239 Speaker 1: producer Casey Pegram Casey. I'm sad that this is just 481 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 1: an audio show for now because the lighting on you 482 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: looks really good. Thanks Ben. It's uh. I'm here with 483 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 1: some natural light by the window. The sun is going down, 484 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 1: so it's getting dramatic over here. Is it the Magic Hour? Casey? 485 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: Is it the Magic Hour? Terence Malick? That's right, And 486 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 1: of course also thanks to Christopher Hasiotis. Thanks to Alex Williams, 487 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 1: who composed that slapping Bob you here at the beginning 488 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 1: and end of the show. Who else? Oh, yes, that's 489 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: slapping Bob. Indeed huge thanks to Jonathan Strickland, a k a. 490 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:40,959 Speaker 1: The Quister, who I think we're neck and neck with 491 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 1: now in terms of the rankings of our our rivalry 492 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: are kind of Nemesis scenario. I believe you're correct. I 493 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 1: believe you're correct. So everything uh hinges on his next appearance? 494 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 1: Did you say Gabe already? Yes? Good? Well, let's say 495 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: it again. Gabe Lousier, the man, the myth, the legend. 496 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 1: We keep talking about it. We really need to hit 497 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 1: him up and get him back on for a guest 498 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,240 Speaker 1: spot because he is a delight. That last episode we 499 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 1: did with him about the guy that drew Psychedelic Cats 500 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: is honestly one of my favorites in the history of 501 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: the show. I agree to disagree. No, I'm gidding. It's 502 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: a good one. Uh so it's a good one. Check 503 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,320 Speaker 1: it out. You haven't heard it? Um? Yeah, I'm a 504 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 1: huge fan of Gabe. Gabe, if you're listening, uh, come 505 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 1: back soon. We also want to hear your stories about 506 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: your favorite historical scoundrels. You can tell us about it 507 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:35,000 Speaker 1: on the Internet, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Join Ridiculous Historians, where 508 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 1: we have some dank historical memes and some great conversations. 509 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 1: You can also find us on the internet, not just 510 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:45,080 Speaker 1: as a show, but as individuals. You may find me 511 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: on Instagram where I am at how Now Noel Brown, 512 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: and you can find me on Twitter where I'm at 513 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 1: Ben bullin hs W. You can also message me directly 514 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 1: on Instagram where I am at Ben Bulling. You know what, 515 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:01,840 Speaker 1: This makes me pretty happy because we are in comparison, 516 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 1: not that bad, not as bad as Dan, oh god, 517 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 1: not by a long shot. We'll see you next Tomeflix. 518 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from My Heart Radio, visit the I 519 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 520 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.