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65 In the months following Marguerite’s death, Rush H. Limbaugh and Bee struggled with their sorrow and comforted their surviving sons, Rush Jr. and Manley. Apparently, the family found solace in various activities including evening readings of literature such as The Swiss Family Robinson. This book, Limbaugh believed, had provided the family with relief from their loss in the distraction of “following the adventures of this shipwrecked family until they became our intimate friends.” From this story, they had all gained an “increased interest in nature and outdoor life, kindness toward animals, [and] greater love and loyalty in our family group.” While Bee continued to struggle with her loss, she may have derived some pleasure from the simple activities of daily life and from looking after the needs of her family. Because of her husband’s very busy professional life and in keeping with the values of the time, she was the boys’ primary caregiver, seeing to their daily needs and guiding them through many of life’s ups and downs. She oversaw their educations, made sure they made it to school and to other activities punctually, and knew where they were and what they were doing after school. Musically talented herself, Bee encouraged Rush Jr. in his efforts to master playing the violin, who later became proficient enough to achieve the position of lead violinist for the orchestra at Central High School in Cape Girardeau. Manley practiced the piano but found the cello more to his liking. Bee encouraged both boys to develop their singing voices as well. In addition to everything else, she often attended sporting events, picnics , and Boy Scout activities, encouraging the boys to remain active and to grow both intellectually and socially.1 A year and a half after Marguerite’s death, the Limbaughs’ last child, Stephen N., was born on November 17, 1927, at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Perhaps to lessen the burden of caring for a newborn and the rest of the family , they decided to hire a college girl to help Bee with her many domestic duties . Over the years, the Limbaughs hired a number of young women, who stayed with them while they attended Southeast Missouri State University. During this time, the Limbaughs also opened their home to nieces and nephews who desired to obtain an education, making the household a place “of intense activity.”2 State Legislator Chapter Five 66 The Original Rush Limbaugh In 1928, Limbaugh was elected chairman of the Cape Girardeau County Republican Committee, a position he held until 1938. As a leader of the Republican Party in southeastern Missouri, he supported the candidacy of Herbert Hoover, who in 1928 was running for the presidency against New York Governor Al Smith. In speeches supporting Hoover, Limbaugh noted that Smith had long ties to the Tammany Hall political machine in New York City, which “was steeped in vice,” supporting criminals, saloons, gambling houses, and prostitution rings. These criminal enterprises all paid the political bosses of Tammany Hall for protection and supported their candidates for office. In this way, the machine gained political power and grew rich. Limbaugh also reminded his listeners that in 1924 Smith had eulogized Tammany boss Charles F. Murphy as “a noble, clean, wholesome, right-living man.” Thus the Democratic presidential nominee, apparently without reservation, heaped praise “upon one of the most notorious and corrupt political bosses that has ever left a record in the history of American politics.”3 In contrast to Smith’s political career, Limbaugh noted how Hoover, who was orphaned when still a boy, had struggled to gain an engineering degree and had been very successful in his chosen profession traveling throughout the world. When the First World War began, Hoover helped United States citizens stranded in England to return home. After his return, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Hoover to oversee wartime food rationing. After the war, Hoover worked to help those suffering in Germany and Austria. When Wilson protested these efforts, Hoover replied that “while we are strictly speaking at war with the German and Austrian governments, we have never been at war with the German and Austrian women and children.” Because of these efforts, Hoover was remembered by many in Europe as a great humanitarian. Moreover, Limbaugh, who was himself a strong supporter of prohibition, touted Hoover’s promise to uphold the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution and to prosecute vigorously anyone violating it.4 During this period, Limbaugh became involved in a case he considered...

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