American History Tellers – Daring Prison Escapes | Fleeing the Rock | Episode 2

Date: September 10, 2025
Host: Lindsey Graham

Episode Overview

This episode of American History Tellers dives deep into the legendary 1962 escape from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, chronicling the audacious, meticulously planned breakout of Frank Lee Morris and the Anglin brothers. Lindsey Graham narrates the story of these prisoners’ backgrounds, the evolution of their plan, and the technical and psychological challenges they overcame to attempt one of America's most famous prison escapes. The episode details the tense, step-by-step unfolding of the plot, highlighting the mix of ingenuity, desperation, and conflict among the conspirators.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Alcatraz: The Inescapable Prison

• Alcatraz’s Evolution as a Prison

  • Originally a military fort, later converted for use as a maximum-security federal prison due to its isolated location and surrounding treacherous waters.
  • Designed with thick concrete walls, state-of-the-art security features (e.g., steel cell bars, automatic locks, armed guards), and a culture of extreme discipline.
  • Housed America's most notorious criminals, including Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.

  "The buildings on the island were modernized and redesigned to be inescapable... By 1962, Alcatraz housed approximately 270 inmates, many considered the most dangerous in the nation."
  — Lindsey Graham (04:23)

Frank Lee Morris: The Mastermind

• Troubled Beginnings and Criminal History

  • Morris grew up in foster care, repeatedly escaped juvenile facilities, and cycled through prison stints for various crimes, especially armed robbery.
  • Demonstrated resourcefulness and intelligence, escaping from secure facilities before Alcatraz.

  "He racked up a lengthy rap sheet and was convicted of everything from armed robbery to possession of narcotics. By 1955, Morris was in prison once again..."
  — Lindsey Graham (06:59)

• Arrival and Strategy at Alcatraz

  • Upon arriving in 1960, Morris began casing the prison for weaknesses, observing guard routines and studying architectural flaws.

The Birth of the Escape Plan

• Seed of the Plan: The Air Shaft Revelation

  • In a workshop, another inmate offhandedly mentions an unsecured ventilator shaft above cell block B, sparking Morris's interest.
  • Morris refines the idea with his cell's air vent, acknowledging daunting obstacles: the vent was tiny, and the wall thick concrete.

  “His thumb grazed over the pointed end of the clippers in his hand and he got an idea... He knew it would be a strenuous process to scrape away the concrete... But he was convinced this could be the way to the air shaft and then on to freedom.”
  — Lindsey Graham (13:23)

• Forming the Team

  • Morris carefully selects accomplices: Allen West (his cell neighbor with mechanical skills), and the Anglin brothers, known for risky escapes.
  • Morris is wary—West talks too much; the Anglins are impulsive—but they are the best available.

  “One slip of the tongue or careless move would doom the mission and condemn them all to spend the rest of their lives behind bars.”
  — Lindsey Graham (15:55)

Executing the Escape

• Digging Out

  • Each man must enlarge the small vent at the back of their cells using improvised tools (e.g. a nail file welded to a spoon).
  • Dust from digging is concealed in clothes and scattered outside. The hole is hidden with props (Morris uses an accordion case).

• Deception: Dummy Heads

  • To fool night guards, papier-mâché heads (complete with real hair from the prison barbershop) are crafted and painted to resemble the men. They stuff their beds and cover cell holes with fake grates.

  “He and the other men borrowed magazines... to make papier mache, which they planned to use to make dummies of their heads that looked as much like themselves as possible.”
  — Lindsey Graham (20:17)

• Rafts and Life Vests

  • The men steal and stitch together over 50 raincoats to create rafts and vests, waterproofing the seams with steam pipes.

  "They even waterproofed the seams by holding them up to steam pipes to apply heat."
  — Lindsey Graham (22:09)

• First Major Setback: The Rain Cap

  • After months of digging, Morris and Clarence reach the air shaft but find it blocked by riveted iron bars—tools on hand are ineffective.
  • Morris creatively repurposes a fan motor and acquires abrasive cord from the glove shop, eventually sawing through the rivets.

  Notable Quote:
  "I was having trouble with the cardboard. It kept falling out. So I stole some cement powder and closed the hole up a little... I did too good a job. I can't get the cardboard out. I'm sealed in."
  — Allen West, dramatized (31:00)

Final Countdown: Tension and Fractured Teamwork

• Timing and Impatience

  • Morris urges caution, wanting to wait for optimal tides and durable rafts; the Anglins grow restless, insisting the delay jeopardizes the plan.

  “Look, the longer we stall, the greater chance we get caught. We've been lucky so far that our cells haven't been searched, but that could change any day, man.”
  — Clarence Anglin (26:49)

• The Escape Night Chaos (June 11, 1962)

  • John and Clarence Anglin push for immediate escape; Morris follows, though unnerved. Allen West is accidentally sealed inside by his own repairwork. He frantically scrapes for release but is left behind.
  • The trio escapes, leaving West behind. The dummy heads and props deceive the guards until morning.

The Aftermath

• Discovery and The Manhunt

  • The next morning, June 12: Guards discover the escape, prompting massive manhunts across the region. Authorities find a homemade oar and a waterproof bag containing personal effects but no trace of the men.

  “With no evidence to indicate the three men ever made it to shore, Alcatraz authorities took this as proof that the men had drowned in the bay and the case went cold.”
  — Lindsey Graham (36:46)

• Legacy and Mystique

  • Alcatraz soon closes, not directly because of the escape but due to expense and decrepitude.
  • The fate of Morris and the Anglin brothers remains a subject of public fascination; the case is left open by the US Marshals Service.

  “Frankly, Morris and the Anglin brothers are still wanted to this day for escaping Alcatraz.”
  — Lindsey Graham (39:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The Moment of Doubt

  “No. Even if we managed to get our hands on a drill... it'd make too much noise. Oh, come on. We've gotten this far. We can't give up now.”
  — Dramatization of escape planning (02:51)

• Morris’s Insightful Leadership

  “I'm not stalling. I'm making sure every part of the plan is airtight. But it's never gonna be perfect, and you know that, right?”
  — Frank Lee Morris (27:11)

• West’s Blunder

  “I did too good a job. I can't get the cardboard out. I'm sealed in.”
  — Allen West (31:01)

• On Alcatraz’s End

  “But today Alcatraz is a popular tourist attraction... a far cry from when prisoners would do anything to get a ticket out.”
  — Lindsey Graham (40:45)

Timeline of Major Events with Timestamps

• [04:23] Alcatraz’s origins and reputation as the toughest US prison.
• [06:59] Frank Lee Morris’s background and track record of escapes.
• [13:23] First mention of the air shaft as a viable escape route.
• [18:37] Technical details of digging, dummy creation, and raft assembly.
• [22:09] Ingenious approach to making escape rafts and vests.
• [26:49] Tension over timing the escape; Anglin brothers’ impatience.
• [29:35 / 30:44] The night of the escape—West’s misfortune and the final breakout.
• [36:46] Aftermath, manhunt, and the evidence found.
• [39:48] Case goes cold; the mystery of their fate endures.

Tone and Storytelling Approach

Lindsey Graham’s narration balances historical rigor with vivid, cinematic storytelling. The dramatized interior monologues and imagined dialogue between the prisoners provide immediacy and emotional depth, making the peril and tension palpable. The episode maintains suspense while weaving in technical and psychological details, bringing listeners inside the claustrophobic world of Alcatraz and the minds of those desperate to escape it.

Next on American History Tellers:
The series continues with a look at the 1910 Leavenworth prison break, where inmates hijack a train and crash through prison gates—another classic tale of American daring and desperation.