The Other Side

The search for the funniest president continues! Warren Harding was amazingly popular in his day. Was he also amazingly funny?

We're joined by Sherry Hall, the site manager of the Harding Home Presidential Site in Marion, Ohio. She gives us insight into Harding's personal style (he considered himself a newspaper editor above all), his love of socializing, and his Midwestern humor -- the qualities that made him irresistable to a huge number of voters.

For all you scandal lovers, we also touch on the affairs and schlocky love letters that made Harding into a punchline when they were made public in 2014. And there's also some mention of Pokemon Go. Something for everyone!

Harding Home website

Harding Home on Facebook

Harding letters at the LOC

MUSIC: Hail Columbia, "Beautiful Ohio" by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, "My Ohio Home" by Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra

The search for the funniest president continues! Andrew Jackson has a reputation for killing ... but not in a comedic sense. He actually murdered a dude. So if we're looking at the comedy of Jackson, how does that work, exactly?

Our guest is Michael Friedman, the composer and lyricist for the hit musical "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." That production turned Jackson into an emo rock star, producing big laughs and amazing insights into the populist wave that Jackson rode into the White House. Michael helps us understand why Jackson CAN work as a comedic figure on stage -- even though much of Jackson's historical legacy can be seen as tragic.

Michael Friedman on the New Yorker Radio Hour

BBAJ Original Cast Recording on iTunes

MUSIC: Hail Columbia, "I'm Slappin' Seventh Avenue" by Duke Ellington's Famous Orchestra, "Tennessee Twilight" by the Eddie Condon Orchestra

The search for the funniest president continues! James Buchanan didn't have much to laugh about as president, what with that whole "Civil War" thing starting on his watch. But how much has that one huge stain warped our view of POTUS No. 15?

Patrick Clarke, the director of President James Buchanan's Wheatland, welcomes us into the historic home to talk about Buchanan's personality. JB enjoyed a four-decade career in politics that took him around the world, and strategic charm was a big part of his success. Find out what it looked like in practice!

Visit Wheatland online

LancasterHistory.org on Twitter

MUSIC: Hail Columbia, "Buck Jumpin'" by Fats Waller and His Orchestra, "Pennsylvania 6-5000" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Tony Roberts is one of the most purely entertaining headliners in the game ... and we've got him back headlining for a second year in a row (July 28-31).

On Friday morning, Tony and feature act Katrina Pope came by the club for another podcast interview ... or more accurately, we turned the mics on and Tony and Katrina took over. Lots of fun talking about hot dogs, live music, favorite comics and more.

Have a listen, then catch them at the club this weekend!

The search for the funniest president continues! Some presidents weren't all that funny in life ... but thanks to Twitter, they're cracking people up in death.

Yes, there are people out there using Twitter to assume the identity of dead presidents. And one of the funniest accounts is tied to one of the most obscure presidents, Millard Fillmore. Evan Marcus and Ira Lieman started @fillmoremillard in 2009 to speak on behalf of a guy who is six feet under the Buffalo tundra.

Who are they? Why are they doing this? What do they think of the actual Millard? And can we somehow hook them up with Alec Baldwin? All these answers and more on a fascinating and funny edition of Headliner of State!

The @fillmoremillard Twitter feed

Millard Fillmore and You (video)

Fillmore's Buffalo home

MUSIC: Hail Columbia, "Off to Buffalo" by Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra, "Mason Flyer" by Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

The search for the funniest president continues! Thomas Jefferson left behind a huge paper trail, but we're still arguing about where that trail leads. Was Jefferson a brilliant philosopher or a hypocritical racist? Was he a principled revolutionary or a calculating politician? And with all this background noise, can we ever hope to figure out the important stuff: If Jefferson was funny?

LSU Professor Andrew Burstein, the author of "Democracy's Muse," is our guest. And he has fantastic insights into both Jefferson's character and the ways that Jefferson has been misunderstood over the last 200 years. It's a great discussion that might change the way you think about American history.

"Democracy's Muse" on Amazon.com

Andrew Burstein's website

Monticello

Music: Hail Columbia, "I'm Coming Virginia" by the Benny Carter Orchestra, "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Henri Rene's Orchestra

The search for the funniest president continues! Harry Truman might be one of the most likable presidents ... but does that mean he's also one of the funniest?

Matthew Algeo, the author of "Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure," is our guest. His book tells the story of ex-president Truman's 1953 road trip with his wife -- where he drove the car himself and tried (unsuccessfully) to travel incognito. It's a charming story that lets Harry's personality shine through.

Did Truman's "regular guy" ethic carry over to his comedy? Was he the best practical joker among presidents? And did highway patrolmen find his driving a little funny? Find out!

Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure

Mathhew Algeo's blog

Truman and the Marx Brothers

Music: Hail Columbia, "Kansas City Stride" by Count Basie and His Orchestra, "Kansas City Squabble" by Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra

The search for the funniest president continues! George W. Bush generates a lot of laughter ... whether it's through his good-natured charm, or through jokes at his expense. Does he deserve a shot at the title?

We're joined by the great comedian Frank Caliendo, whose Bush impression might be the best in the business. His take on GWB was seen on "MADtv," Letterman, at the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner and on comedy stages across the country. (And it might be seen at the DC Improv July 7-9, when Frank headlines five shows.)

And we're not just talking about Bush. Frank also does an incredible Donald Trump impression, so we're getting his insight on the presumptive GOP nominee for 2016.

It's YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGE!

• frankcaliendo.com
• Frank doing Bush for Letterman
• Frank at the 2006 RTCA dinner
• More Frank video highlights

Music: "Hail Columbia," "Under a Texas Moon" by Guy Lombardo, "Texas Shuffle" by Count Basie and his Orchestra

Franklin Pierce loved to party! But he married a woman who hated to party. And he was really charismatic! But he's usually remembered as a failed president.

In other words, Pierce was complicated. We're gonna need a top-notch expert to figure out if he was funny, and that's where Peter A. Wallner comes in. His two-volume biography of "Handsome Frank" is probably the most thoroughly researched work on Pierce in 75 years. We talk about the qualities that made Pierce so charming, whether Pierce had a drinking problem, and how Pierce kept his spirits up while enduring personal tragedies. (Such as, witnessing the decapitation of his son. Yikes.)

And stick around until the end for what might be the most juvenile bit of humor in this whole series.

Peter A. Wallner's website

Franklin Pierce homestead

MUSIC: Hail Columbia, "Drink to Me Only With Thine Own Eyes" by John Kirby and His Orchestra

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.

• The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site online
• Part of the "Baby McKee" craze

MUSIC: Hail Columbia, "Benny Rides Again" and "Benjie's Bubble" by the Benny Goodman Orchestra