SENATOR UNDERWOOD TO BE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO 'CHUCK' HAT IN 1924 PRESIDENTIAL RING
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 23, 1923, The Alaska Daily Empire reports "the first Democratic hat to be chucked off into the 1924 Presidential ring will belong to Senator Oscar Underwood* of Alabama."
The Alabama senator is currently traveling in Europe but plans "to do the chucking" himself upon his return to the United States.
George R. Holmes writes that Senator Underwood is likely to have a "special appeal" in the larger Eastern and Northern states "because of the liberality of his views on the prohibition issue."
JFK+50 NOTE
On Nov 8, 1964, NBC television aired an episode of "Profiles In Courage," a series based on JFK's Pulitzer Prize winning book, which featured Senator Underwood. The episode is described as "a probe of his fight against the KKK at the Democratic convention of 1924 which cost him the presidential nomination."
*Oscar Wilder Underwood (1862-1929) was born in Louisville, KY & served as U.S. Senator (D-AL) 1915-1927. OWU also was House Majority Leader, 1911-1915 & Senate Minority Leader 1920-1923. He was a presidential candidate in 1912 & 1924.
SOURCES
"Oscar W. Underwood," www.imdb.com/
"Underwood To Cast Hat For President Job," by George R. Holmes, The Alaska Daily Empire, May 23, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
