(upbeat music) This episode is brought to you by Experian. Are you paying for subscriptions you don't use, but can't find the time or energy to cancel them? Experian could cancel unwanted subscriptions for you, saving you an average of $270 per year, and plenty of time. Download the Experian app. Results will vary, not all subscriptions are eligible. Savings are not guaranteed. Paid membership with connected payment account required. (upbeat music) Sunday Showcase, highlighting some of the best audio storytelling found anywhere, all right here on the Mutual Audio Network. (upbeat music) - The following audio drama is rated G for General Audience. (upbeat music) - You're listening to an evening of audio theater. Broadcast live from the Civic Auditorium in West Plains, Missouri. - We're going to continue our journey through the imagination and go back in time. Next, we'll meet a famous historical figure whose name you'll recognize, but whose life story may not be so familiar. - Each American president throughout history has shaped us as a nation and as a people. To know a bit more of that legacy, Will Anderson, associate professor of broadcasting at Central Michigan University, wrote our next script while he was an artist in residence at the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa. - This portion of tonight's performance is funded by Central Michigan University. - We're very pleased to present the son of West Branch, America's great humanitarian and oral memoir. (gentle music) ♪ It's 66 miles to the Mississippi shoreline ♪ ♪ If you follow the wapsy ♪ ♪ Flowing down the cottage door ♪ ♪ With a son of West Branch walked onto the world stage ♪ ♪ On the 10th day of August, 1874 ♪ Act one, the sick little boy. - Aw, Bert looks so sick. Why is he coughing so much? Looks like the crew still has its hold on him. Poor Bert, wish we could make him better. The kettle calls. If we give him a bottle of something warm, it might help loosen up that cough. It's not fair that Bert's so sick, he's only two. I've sent for your Uncle John. He's the best doctor around these parts. Other than that, we have to put our faith in God's hands now. My poor baby. Now, Ted, I need you to watch Bert while I go out to the root cellar to get some beats for supper. - All right, Ma. They're there, Bert. Have a bit more of this tea. What is it, Bert? What's wrong? Ma, Ma, come quick, something's wrong with Bert. What is it, Ted? - I was giving him a drink of tea and then he just started coughing and he just kind of slumped over. - Hand him to me, Ted, and listen carefully. I want you to run as fast as you can over to the blacksmith shop and get father. Tell him we need him right away. - Yes, Ma. - Oh, heavenly father. If it be thy will to take my son, let it be so, but I pray thee. If it is not, bring him back to me. - What happened, Alda? - Oh, Jesse. - I brought Pa, Ma. He was right outside. - Hand me the little general. - John is on his way with his doctor's bag, but it's too late. He's not breathing. What will we do, Jesse? - There is nothing more that can be done. - Oh, Jesse, he was so very young. - All that is left is but to cover him, to give him his rest. I came as soon as I could. Where is the boy? - Oh, John, I fear you are too late. - We have pulled the sheet over the little general. - No, as a doctor, I must see for myself. Breathe, boy. Breathe. Good Lord, man. Stop shaking him. Have you no respect for the dead? Hold it, tell your brother to leave his poor body in peace. - Unhand me, Jesse. Hold it, tell your husband to unhand me. - Well, John is a doctor. We must place our trust in him and our faith in the Lord. - Merciful heavens, the boy is breathing. - He is back with us. Praise God, brother, you have saved him. The little general here is resilient and determined, I just helped. - You did it, Uncle John. You saved my brother. You hear that? You're gonna be okay, Herbert. - God's blessing is on the Hoover House this day. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) ♪ I came down from Ontario ♪ ♪ Traded in the ice and snow ♪ ♪ Stranger among friends in the world ♪ ♪ Jesse Hoover caught my eye in 1870 ♪ ♪ It became his pride ♪ ♪ Soon we had two boys and a girl ♪ ♪ The evening winds are sighing ♪ ♪ Sighing over the plains ♪ ♪ Movies thou are shining like a silver rain ♪ ♪ Stars are quietly shining in the azure sky ♪ ♪ And I am fondly dreaming now are time ♪ ♪ In 1876, the little general got real sick ♪ ♪ And I pulled him back from the grave ♪ ♪ And I pulled him back from the grave ♪ ♪ Four years later on a fateful day ♪ ♪ Jason came home and passed away ♪ ♪ Left me with three children to raise ♪ ♪ The evening winds are sighing ♪ ♪ Sighing over the plains ♪ ♪ Movies now are shining like a silver rain ♪ ♪ Stars are quietly shining in the azure sky ♪ ♪ And I am fondly dreaming now are time ♪ ♪ I came down from Ontario, traded in the ice since now ♪ ♪ Now this room feels so dark and cold ♪ ♪ This room feels so dark and cold ♪ Act two, Westward Adventures. (dramatic music) - I can't believe we're almost there. Won't it be nice to get back on Grandpa's ranch, Toby? - It's here real, Sissy. The moyne was far too crowded for me. Say, what are you looking at? - That boy over there. He's been riding by himself ever since we got on the train. - That's over three whole days. (whistles) Golly, I wonder where his parents are. - That poor little boy. He must be so scared and brave. - What do you mean brave? I could ride the train by myself if mother let me. - I'm gonna go talk to him. - You better not, Sissy Davidson. You know what mother said about talking to strangers. - Never you mind that Toby. I'm just gonna say hello. - I'm going to go tell mother. - Oh, who did you? I'm gonna go talk to him. - Hello there. - Huh? - My name's Sissy, what's yours? - Hello, Sissy. I'm Herbert Hoover, but most people call me Bert. - Well, you're my mother and father, Bert. I haven't seen them this whole trip. My father died when I was six. And my mother got sick and died last year. We had to split up our family. I am going out west to stay with my uncle John for a while. - You're making this trip all by yourself? - Well, I know a family from West Branch that's on the train, but they're in another car. - My goodness, do you have enough food? - Oh, I'm fine. My aunt sent me with a box of boiled eggs and sandwiches. Plus, I still have the two dimes that she gave me for emergencies. And I have these. - Are those arrowheads? - Uh-huh. - Where in the world did you get some? - I collected lots of them when I was staying with my uncle, Laban Miles, down in Oklahoma, Indian country. - May I hold one? - Oh, sure you can, Sissy. This one is made from flint. And here's my favorite. It's carved out of obsidian. It comes from volcanoes. - Golly, Bert. You sure know a lot about rocks and minerals. (audience cheering) - There she is, mother. - Oh, now Toby. - Talking to that boy, just like I said. - Stop trying to get your sister in trouble. He looks like a very nice boy. Hello, young man. Are you on your way home from visiting out east? - Oh, no, ma'am. No, I'm from West Branch, Iowa. I'm going to stay with my uncle, John, in Newburg. - Newburg, next stop, Newburg, Oregon. - You had better get your things together, young man. We're almost there. - I appreciate your kindness and concern, ma'am. I have all of my things beside me in this satchel. - All of your worldly belongings in that one bag? - Yes, ma'am, but with my health in a full stomach, I have need for nothing else. - Goodbye, Bert. It was very nice to meet you. - Good, goodbye, goodbye. - You never let me ride the train alone. - Oh, hush, Toby. Let a brave little man may the Lord bless and keep him. (car engine revving) - All aboard! (car engine revving) - Take it, please. Please have your tickets out. - Son, who was that boy that you were talking to? (car engine revving) ♪ The one who looks so very sad ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ He's been riding all alone since we sported ♪ ♪ Where's his mom and dad ♪ ♪ They are going to Oregon ♪ ♪ I'm to live with your Uncle John ♪ ♪ Lights in another town pass by ♪ ♪ It's all that I can do not to cry ♪ ♪ There before the grace of God go wide ♪ ♪ Come now, son, gather your things together ♪ ♪ As we're about to pull it to Omaha ♪ ♪ Father will be waiting for us at the station ♪ ♪ Say goodbye and wish your new friend well ♪ ♪ They are going to Oregon ♪ ♪ I'm to live with your Uncle John ♪ ♪ As the train pulls out he caught my eye ♪ ♪ And it was all I could do not to cry ♪ ♪ There before the grace of God go wide ♪ (gentle music) Act three, the college years. - Election day, election day. Come on, you Stanford students make your voice heard in the Stanford University student body election. Every vote is an important vote. Election day, election day. - Afternoon, Martha. - Oh, hello, Edith. Have you voted in the student body elections yet? - No, I just can't decide. Last night at the mixer, Wendell Taliver tried to get me to say I would vote for him and the rest of his Sigma Alpha friends, but I just don't know. Those boys and their Greek fraternities. - If you ask me, I think those rowdy mixers are the only things those Sigma alfords care about. - Why, I heard that one last month went on until almost 10 o'clock at night. - Who knows how late they would have kept carrying on if the proper authorities had not been notified? - Maybe we should vote for those non fraternity people that won last year. What were they called, the barbarian party? - They couldn't have come up with a more fitting name if you ask me, barbarians indeed. They need to show respect for those who are worthy to lead. - Well, that Herbert Hoover did do a good job as class treasurer. Remember how much debt there was before he got into office. - I know, how many times did he deny our social gathering reimbursement requests? That money could have been a great help to us. - Oh, he was as fair with us as he was with anyone. He stated his belief that it wasn't a student government's role to finance our fund. - He's just plain stingy if you ask me. - Herbert Hoover might be stingy, but his wise money management brought the junior class budget back in balance for all of us. - Well, yes, but still we need our leaders to be from a certain social class. Not only aren't Herbert and his friends even in a fraternity, but they make a big joke out of it by calling themselves the barbarians, barbarians indeed. - Did I hear you ladies talking about our esteemed class treasurer, Herbert Hoover? - Oh, hello, Charles. You ought to know that it isn't polite to eavesdrop. - Ah, well, then I suppose neither of you would be interested in hearing a little tidbit that I overheard about Herbert at the baseball field. - Oh, Charles, you are so awful. How can you tease us like that? Please tell us. - Yes, Charles, please. - Well, all right, if you insist. I'm sure you know about the important visitor who was on campus yesterday. - Of course. Everybody knows that former President Benjamin Harrison was here to deliver another of his constitutional law lectures. - But what does that have to do with Herbert? I know he wasn't able to go because he was managing the baseball team at the time. - Well, after President Harrison was done with his lecture, he went down to the baseball field to take in the game, and he walked right through the gate without paying. - Certainly no one would expect a former president of the United States to have to spend 25 cents to buy a ticket to watch a Stanford baseball game. - Most people maybe, but not Herbert, as team manager, he's responsible for all the gate receipts. - No, you don't mean him. - That's right, he marched right up to Mr. Harrison. - He had the nerve to approach the former president of the United States and ask him to buy a baseball ticket? I don't believe it. - What happened? You must tell his trials what happened. - Well, I wouldn't have believed it either. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, but President Harrison handed Herbert a whole dollar and said he'd not only pay for his own ticket, but that he'd take three more to boot. - My goodness. Can you imagine how confident Herbert had to be? - Confident nothing. That sounds like pure cheek to me. The goal of that man. - Well, all I know is that anyone who believes that much in having everyone pull their fair weight as my vote. - He certainly sounds like the man for me. - Why, he just Stafford, bite your tongue, mooning over a man like Herbert Hoover. You have no shame. Anyway, I hear that another woman has caught his eye of late. - Surely you don't mean that awful Tom and boy Lou Henry. - Shh, shh, shh. - I wouldn't let her hear you say that. People say she can run, rope, and ride, as well as any man around. She'd make quick work of you if she heard you talking like that about her. - Hardly. - What could Herbert see him at old Tom Boy anyway? - Well, the way I heard it, he's been smitten with her ever since they met at the geology soiree at Professor Johnson's house. - And my housemate Tyler Mason said that they were lab partners last spring. - Oh, enough already. - The good ones are always taken. But that's not going to stop me from voting for him today. He's the best man for Stanford. (upbeat music) ♪ Hey Lou, it's 50 April of 1895 ♪ ♪ I'm still letting you know you're on my mind ♪ ♪ Yeah I know that I should be still here ♪ ♪ 'Cause I never have really messed up all my life ♪ ♪ Said that this just rags no to you ♪ ♪ You see, with the days getting longer ♪ ♪ We got graduation coming up right around the corner ♪ ♪ Running out of time just to tell you how I feel ♪ ♪ Yeah I know I'm the manager of the baseball team ♪ ♪ And I got class finance to check ♪ ♪ It's something weird happens when I'm around ♪ ♪ You have become a nervous rep ♪ ♪ And yeah, I make some money taking in ♪ ♪ Students ride clean in Welter, California rain ♪ ♪ But I've got $20 to my name ♪ ♪ Thank you, you came up swimming off swimming in that ♪ ♪ Waterloo Money Club ♪ ♪ I've got so much that I got to change ♪ ♪ And I swear, no one ever tried ever harder in this world ♪ ♪ Make it's in the world of this ♪ ♪ I've got so very much I've got to change ♪ ♪ Yeah I'm proud to see I'm a cool digger ♪ ♪ But it's not the way it sounds ♪ ♪ I'm gonna learn to go big money ♪ ♪ Getting minerals out of the ground ♪ ♪ So cute ♪ ♪ Might be interested in learning more ♪ ♪ About the line I'm a cast ♪ ♪ And maybe you can send me a reply ♪ And then, maybe you and I, we can go and have us ice cream soda, and I can tell you all about my plans. With you. With you. With you. Yeah, you. We're gonna have home now. ♪ Act four. Engineering opportunity. Let's see. Red thread over the hook. Black thread under. Yes, I'd ask not to be disturbed. My train leaves at three. Mr. Bewick, sir, I am sorry to interrupt the preparations for your fishing trip, but a Mr. Hoover is here to see you about the overseas position. Blast it. A man gets so little time for relaxation. Very well, send them in. Sinner I can be rid of them. Sinner I can get back to tying this fly. That's my good man. Make it short. A fishing juck and is waiting for me. Good afternoon, Mr. Bewick. I come about the engineering position within your overseas gold mining operations. Oh, no. Certainly not. This will never do. Pardon me, sir. I come recommended by my former supervisor, Mr. Louis Jeanin. And might I inquire as to your age, young man? Twenty-two, sir. Indeed, I thought as much. It appears as though my old friend Louis has put me up for some sort of practical joke. Pardon me, sir. I'm afraid I do not understand. Of course you don't, my lad. As it would appear that you're but a pawn in Louis' elaborate prank. Evidently he took issue with my desire for an experienced gold mining engineer, quote, approximately 35 years of age with approximately 75 years of experience. Tell me, son, how long have you had that awkward mustache? I admit it is a recent acquisition, sir, but I am well suited for the position. Please take a look at this. Mr. Janin sends this letter of introduction as to my credentials. I see Mr. Hoover. I full well understand that you come highly recommended, but I ask him to send a man, not a boy. If you will, excuse me. I need to get back to preparing for my trip. Very well, sir. I certainly hope your mind management shows better foresight than your tackle-larter. I beg your pardon, my good man. Clarify yourself. Well, I see from the trophies mounted on your wall your fondness for coho salmon. Indeed, they're the royal monarch of the waters. I've commissioned the best guide in the northwest solely for this trip. I thought as much, but might I ask, why you seem to be tying Cedar River larvae flies? You have a keen eye, young man. I've tied over a dozen of them myself under his advice. And at no small investment of time, I might add. That is truly a shame, Mr. Bewick, as their molting was over four months ago. No fish worth his salt would give that fly a second glance. Are you sure that he instructed you to tie them? Indeed, young man. I have his instructions right here. See them? Oh, arriving in April. Well, it appears that he is under the impression that you were to be there earlier in the year. Well, that is when I originally planned the trip, but then business delayed until now. Certainly it shouldn't make that much of a difference, should it? Well, having been fishing salmon all across the country since I was three, I'd use a rolled muddler minnow. But being such a young pup, what would I know? Well, I should be going now. Good luck on your trip. Oh, wait, wait, wait a minute, young man. Are you certain about this muddler fly you mentioned? As certain as I am that I could run your operations overseas. Oh, well, it has been a pleasure, sir. Oh, now, now, perhaps I was a bit hasty in dismissing your credentials, young man. My train is not scheduled to leave until three. Tell me more about your experiences with my dear friend, Louis. And perhaps along the way, we can see how long it would take you to type a few of these flies before I have to leave. Yes, sir. ♪ Hey, Mr. B, thanks for cutting me the time. I want to be the one who manages your mind. I got mad skills swagging all the riz I need. Ready for the bar stage with my engineering degree. Oh, yeah. Dig it. Mr. B, where come? Hey, Mr. B, where can you think I'm young? Let me tell you all about the many things I've done. I can find you silver, I can mine your gold. 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This cruel war has assured that there will be many more hungry in need of feeding. But I, thanks to the brave intercession of Mr. Hoover, am a free man. Mama, I owe my life to Mr. Herbert Hoover. He is indeed the great humanitarian. Lord bless Mr. Herbert Hoover. What a great man. ♪ 1, 2, 3, 4 ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well, we got some food to a Belgian friend ♪ ♪ We got a square in the empty air ♪ ♪ If the waves don't press your shocks don't bite ♪ ♪ We might see me all tonight ♪ ♪ Act 6, the Great Mississippi Flood. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Mississippi River Commission engineers assured Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover that the levies in place would hold. In a brief statement given on his way to join President Coolidge for New Year's Supper, Secretary Hoover promised to keep a watchful eye on the issue. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Deepline Greenville, Mississippi, in an epic battle of man against nature, thousands toil around the clock to fortify levies to hold back the raging floodwaters. Coordinating the efforts of the Red Cross and eight other relief agencies, Secretary of Commerce Hoover has assembled an armada of over 600 relief ships and has organized last ten cities for the tens of thousands of refugees. Recalling dramatic shades of his work, saving our war-torn European brothers from starvation a decade ago, Secretary Hoover stopped along the route on his way to the scene of the disaster to personally solicit aid from leaders in over 90 communities. On each stop, his message was the same. A couple of thousand refugees are coming. They've got to have accommodations, huts, water mains, sewers, streets, dining halls, meals, doctors, everything. And you haven't got months to do it. You haven't got weeks. You've got hours. Where muddy water people roll in. They're doing something. If they're muddy water people roll in. They're leaving doing something. Water's going back down low. Think fast, but don't believe me. Well, I dreamed I saw Noah, but I waved that boat on mine. Yes, I dreamed I saw Noah, but I waved that old boat on mine. No need to stop from me, friend. Don't want to say it by my side. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. ♪♪ Baker told my daddy, good fences make good neighbors. Keep your mind to your own affairs. Now I watch them water, rising past the fence post. Shouldn't want to be left sitting over there. ♪♪ Rain had started falling. Heart down, Christmas Eve. Lovey breach by breakfast the next day. Her dirty water rolling like a line of trade. Daring through anything in its way. ♪♪ But I heard them say that rain is a common. With shovels and sandbags holding back the tide. I heard them say that help is a common. Coming down to never great divide. ♪♪ Baker told my daddy, good fences make good neighbors. Keep your mind to your own affairs. I watched the water rising past the fence post. Shouldn't want to be left sitting over there. ♪♪ Wonder what the banker to say to my neighbor. Left with nothing when the water rolled on through. Offered him some shelter and a plate of chicken dinner. Seen the very least that I could do. Down the road I hear that help is a common. With shovels and sandbags holding back the tide. I can see that help is a common. Coming down to never great divide. Coming down to never great divide. ♪♪ 'Cause we're all in this together. We're all in this together. We're all in this to mend the great divide. 'Cause we're all in this together. We're all in this to mend the great divide. ♪♪ Baker told my daddy, good fences make good neighbors. Act seven. Return to West Branch. Alright. The train's coming. Let's try it one more time. ♪♪ Okay. Okay. That's enough boys. Save some breath for when he gets here. Mayor. Mayor. Can I get a few words from you for the public? Yes. Mr. Cooper from the register. I'm glad to see you still feel our little town is important to your readers in Des Moines. Well, the eyes of the world are on West Branch today. What do you have scheduled for the candidate? When the next president of the United States comes back to his hometown, you don't set the schedule. He does. Oh, come now, Mayor. The election is not until November. What makes you think he is going to win? Listen here. Herbert Hoover is the best man for the job. And you can quote me on that when Herbert Hoover sets his mind to a problem things get solved. I don't need to remind you about that flooding last year, do I? No, sir, but it's still-- Do the work he did getting planes in the air when he was Secretary of Commerce? Not to mention the work he did getting radio up and running across the country. Yes. Of course, you probably won't want to write about that radio being your competition in all in the news game. What about his statement that any man worth his salt should make his first million before he was 30? How's that going to play with the common working man? Just looking around West Branch seems to be running a bit of light on millionaires. Excuse me, sir. But in this year of our Lord 1928, we have never been more blessed or prosperous. Look at the facts. We have more home ownership than ever before in our nation's history. Common man is investing in the stock market alongside the old money. There's room and opportunity for everyone. And Herbert Hoover's the man to protect that. Well, yes, but for the working man who-- But nothing. Tell me how many of the candidates have been bargaining directly with U.S. Steel to bring the 12-hour day down to a reasonable 10 hours. Well, given his connections in the government, I would-- Exactly. Herbert Hoover has more experience than all the other candidates put together. Tell me, how many Belgians did they save during the Great War? Five, twenty, thousands, millions? Well, not directly, of course. But the man's life's work is beyond reproach. Tell me, how many books, including text that have become standards in the field, have the other candidates written? Well, now, if you'll excuse me, I must get ready for Iowa's favorite son and Lord willing, the next president of the United States. Start the man's life! Here he comes! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Remember, when you are in the privacy of the voting booth on November 6th, vote wisely. Vote Hoover. The future of our great nation is in your hands. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [Music] [BLANK_AUDIO]
In honour of Herbert Hoover's 150th birthday this August 10th, William Wayne Anderson has shared this magnificent tribute masterpiece from the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. We now proudly present from the life performance- "The Son of West Branch, America's Great Humanitarian: The concept album"!
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