Will Rogers: A Political Life

Notes

Notes  Introduction 1. Mukden is modern-day Shenyang, China. 2. TDW, February 7, 1932; WA 1:117. 3. May, The Big Tomorrow, 11. In 1935, Rogers was second to Shirley Temple at the box office. 4. For compilations of articles, see: Will Rogers’ Weekly Articles, 6 vols.; Will Rogers’ Daily Telegrams, 4 vols.; Radio Broadcasts of Will Rogers, all published by Oklahoma State University Press; and the Papers of Will Rogers, 5 vols., published by University of Oklahoma Press. 5. PWR 4:77. 6. TDW, December 18, 1932; WA 5:214. 7. Jenkins, “Representative Clowns,” 129. 8. Brown, Imagemaker, 18; from Hoover speech on NBC broadcast, November 19, 1935. Roosevelt radio broadcast made on November 4, 1938. 9. Toledo Times, January 21, 1923; CA 32. 10. An extensive search of War Department intelligence files in the National Archives revealed no mentions of Rogers as a documented source of intelligence. Chapter One 1. Betty Rogers, Will Rogers, 13. 2. PWR 3:59; Betty Rogers, Will Rogers, 39. 3. Robinson, American Original, 18–19. 4. Betty Rogers, Will Rogers, 38. 5. Yagoda, Will Rogers, 3. According to Cherokee rolls, Will Rogers was 9/32 Cherokee. 6. Homer Croy, “Will Rogers: Methodist Philosopher.” 7. Rollins, Will Rogers, 3; Brown, Imagemaker, 175. 8. Sterling and Sterling, Rogers: A Photo-Biography, 17. 9. “Kemper School Monthly Report, March 26, 1907, WRM. 10. Robinson, American Original, 34. The Spanish-American War lasted from April 24 through December 10, 1898. 11. Vinita Leader, February 27, 1902. 12. Chron 67. 13. WR letter to “Folks,” May 3, 1902, WRM. 14. Robinson, American Original, 53; Rollins, Will Rogers, 161. 15. Keith, Will Rogers, 181; Yagoda, Will Rogers, 56–59. 16. Robinson, American Original, 56. 17. OCT, February 3, 1931. 18. Robinson, American Original, 61. 19. Robinson, American Original, 61–63. 20. Brown, Imagemaker, 84–85, 154; Yagoda, Will Rogers, 259–60; Los Angeles Argonaut , September 7, 1914. 21. O’Brien, Will Rogers, 268. 22. Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. (1869–1932). Theatrical producer. Born Chicago. Known for spectacular Ziegfeld Follies, 1907–31. Highlighted composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Jerome Kern, and featured elaborate costumes and sets. Well-known performers included Fanny Brice, W. C. Fields, and Eddie Cantor . Produced other landmarks, including Show Boat. (DAB) 23. For descriptions of Henry Ford’s peace mission, see Steven Watts, The People’s Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century; Robert Lacey, Ford: The Men and the Machine; Douglas Brinkley, Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company, and a Century of Progress, 1903–2003. 24. Day, Will Rogers; Rogers, Will Rogers at the Ziegfeld Follies, 9. 25. Yagoda, Will Rogers, 142. 26. Sterling and Sterling, Rogers: A Photo-Biography, 77. 27. NYT, August 24, 1915; Chron 131; Rogers, Will Rogers at the Ziegfeld Follies, 7. 28. Rogers, Will Rogers at the Ziegfeld Follies, 8. 29. Klapp, “The Clever Hero,” 34. 30. William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925). Political leader. Born Salem, Illinois. Graduated Illinois College; practiced law. Elected to Congress 1890. Editor, Omaha World Herald. Democratic presidential candidate, 1896, 1900, 1908. Secretary of State, 1912. Resigned in protest against way Wilson dealt with sinking of Lusitania. Fully supported World War I. (DAB) 31. WA 1:112. 32. NYH, December 17, 1922, remarks at anti-Prohibition meeting in New York City. Notes [ 290 ] 33. NYA, Scrapbook 20, WRM; Yagoda, Will Rogers, 142. 34. NYT, February 17, 1924; WA 1:194. 35. NYT, February 17, 1924; WA 1:194. 36. Yagoda, Will Rogers, 144. 37. NYT, February 17, 1924; WA 1:194. 38. Ketchum, Will Rogers, 150–51. 39. NYT, February 17, 1924; WA 1:195. 40. NYT, May 31, 1916. 41. NYT, February 17, 1924; WA 1:192. 42. ID 93. 43. NYT, February 17, 1924; WA 1:192. 44. Keith, Will Rogers, 226. 45. Chron 139. 46. Robinson, American Original, 125 47. John O’Hara, “A Big Shot,” Collier’s, April 13, 1956; Yagoda, Will Rogers, 143. 48. Yagoda, Will Rogers, 39; Robinson, American Original, 42. 49. Betty Rogers, Will Rogers, 12–13; Rollins, Will Rogers, 161. 50. Robinson, American Original, 42. 51. Jim Hopkins, oral history, Tape T7-087-1, WRM. 52. Betty Rogers, Will Rogers, 97. 53. Betty Rogers, Will Rogers, 110–11. 54. Correspondence file, November 12, 1910, WRM. 55. Chron 235. 56. Rollins, Will Rogers, 163. 57. Unidentified London newspaper clipping, microfilm reel 1, Will Rogers State Historical Park. 58. Alice Roosevelt Longworth...