May 3, 2025

Summary

Podcast Summary: Letters from an American – Episode May 3, 2025

Introduction

In the May 4, 2025 episode of Letters from an American, host Heather Cox Richardson takes a nostalgic journey away from the tumultuous landscape of contemporary American politics. Celebrating the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, Richardson revisits the rich tapestry of American history through the lens of ten iconic American horses. This exploration not only highlights the remarkable stories of these equine figures but also underscores the enduring presence of history in our daily lives.

Revisiting American History Through Horses

“There is history all around us, a theme you'll hear more about from me soon.” [00:07]

Richardson begins by sharing a collaborative piece she co-authored with Michael S. Green, titled "10 Famous American Horses." Although lighthearted, the piece serves to illustrate the pervasive nature of history, seamlessly intertwining past events with present-day reflections.

1. Traveler

Traveler, the loyal steed of General Robert E. Lee from February 1862 until Lee’s death in 1870, epitomizes steadfastness and endurance. This gray American Saddlebred stood sixteen hands tall and was renowned for his unflappable demeanor in battle. However, Traveler had a notorious moment when he startled enemy movements, resulting in both of Lee’s hands being broken. After Lee’s presidency at Washington and Lee University, Traveler succumbed to tetanus in 1871 and was honored with a burial on campus, where his legacy continues through the Saferide program.

2. Comanche

Attached to General Custer’s 7th Cavalry during the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, Comanche survived the massacre with severe wounds. Rescued and nursed back to health, he became the 7th Cavalry’s mascot, a role that earned him eternal parade honors dressed in black during military ceremonies. His legacy was further cemented when he was granted a full military funeral upon his death from colic in 1891, a distinction shared only by Black Jack, another esteemed military horse.

3. Beautiful Jim Key

A unique performer, Beautiful Jim Key was trained by Dr. William Key, a formerly enslaved veterinarian. Demonstrating extraordinary intelligence, Jim could read, write, perform math, tell time, and even recite the Bible. From 1897 to 1906, he captivated approximately 10 million Americans, promoting kindness to animals through the Jim Key Band of Mercy, which saw over 2 million children pledge to treat animals with compassion.

4. Man O’ War

Named after his owner, Auguste Belmont Jr., Man O’ War is heralded as the greatest thoroughbred racehorse of all time. With an impressive record of 20 wins out of 21 races and earnings of nearly a quarter-million dollars in the early 20th century, his lineage produced legends like Seabiscuit, symbolizing hope during the Great Depression. Man O’ War’s legacy extends through his progeny, influencing American horse racing for generations.

5. Trigger

Trigger, the beloved Palomino from Roy Rogers’ Western films, became a household name through the 1950s television series. Originally named Golden Cloud, Trigger earned his name for his quick wit and speed. Roy Rogers honored Trigger with a preserved skin display and a 24-foot statue, ensuring that Trigger’s image remains a prominent symbol in American pop culture, notably as Bucky the Bronco atop Denver Broncos Stadium’s scoreboard.

6. Sergeant Reckless

Purchased by American Marines in Korea in October 1952, Sergeant Reckless exemplified bravery and utility. Trained to carry supplies and evacuate wounded soldiers, she completed 51 solo trips on one remarkable day. Reckless was wounded twice and honored with a battlefield rank of corporal in 1953, later promoted to sergeant post-war. She received two Purple Hearts and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, distinguishing her as a war hero among equines.

7. Mr. Ed

Breaking the mold of traditional Westerns, Mr. Ed was the talking palomino star of the 1960s television show. Voiced by Alan Rocky Lane, Mr. Ed offered gentle wisdom and solace to the show’s human characters, blending modern technology with the warmth of a close-knit community. The show’s innovative special effects and endearing storyline secured its five-year success, making Mr. Ed an enduring symbol of American television history.

8. Black Jack

Black Jack served as the riderless black horse in numerous high-profile funerals, including those of John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson, and Douglas MacArthur. With his boots reversed in the stirrups, Black Jack symbolized fallen leaders with full military honors. His distinctive U.S. Brand and army serial number paid homage to the Army’s storied past, and like Comanche, Black Jack was also honored with a military funeral upon his death.

9. Khartoum

Although a fictional creation in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Khartoum adds a layer of Hollywood lore to the pantheon of famous American horses. In the film, Khartoum’s defiant act in the form of his severed head forces a Hollywood mogul to cast a singer, paralleling real-life rumors of mob influence in cinema. This melding of fiction and reality highlights the intricate relationship between Hollywood and American cultural narratives.

10. Secretariat

Secretariat made history in 1973 by becoming the first U.S. Triple Crown winner in 25 years, setting enduring records in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Renowned for his extraordinary speed and stamina, Secretariat's legacy was tragically cut short in 1989 due to a severe infection. An autopsy revealed his famously large heart, a testament to his unmatched vitality. Sportswriter Red Smith once remarked on Secretariat’s unparalleled prowess: “the trees swayed” during one of his remarkable runs.

Conclusion

Heather Cox Richardson’s exploration of these ten remarkable American horses serves as a poignant reminder of how historical narratives are interwoven into the fabric of contemporary society. Each horse not only left an indelible mark on their respective eras but also reflects broader themes of resilience, loyalty, and the human-animal bond. As Richardson aptly puts it, revisiting these stories offers a refreshing respite and a deeper appreciation for the rich history that continues to shape America today.

Notable Quotes

• “There is history all around us, a theme you'll hear more about from me soon.” – Heather Cox Richardson [00:07]

• “Traveler was generally unflappable in battle, although he once broke both of General Lee's hands when he shied at enemy movements.” – Heather Cox Richardson [00:07]

• “Man of War sired many of America's famous racehorses, including Hardtack, which in turn sired Seabiscuit, the small horse that came to symbolize hope during the Great Depression.” – Heather Cox Richardson [09:29]

• “The trees swayed.” – Charlie Hatton on Secretariat’s running ability [09:29]

Credits

Letters from an American was written and read by Heather Cox Richardson. The episode was produced at Soundscape Productions, Dedham, MA, with music composed by Michael Moss.

Transcript

[A]

May 3, 2025. I had thought to post a picture tonight and then realized that Today was the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. The event was launched in 1875 as horse racing with its famous black jockeys who won more than half of the first 28 derbies, was gaining an audience in the U.S. a horse based event gives me the opportunity to repost a piece my friend Michael S. Green and I wrote together a number of years ago on 10 famous American horses. While it has no deep meaning, it does illustrate that there is history all around us, a theme you'll hear more about from me soon. And it was totally fun to research too. I spent hours watching Mr. Ed shows and reading entertainment Theory, but the insightful detail and the inclusion of Khartoum is all Michael this piece remains one of my favorite things I ever had a hand in writing. So tonight let's take the night off from the craziness of today's America and recall past eras when horses could make history. Number one Traveler General Robert E. Lee rode Traveler, spelled with two L's in the British style, from February 1862 until the general's death in 1870. Traveler was a gray American Saddlebred of sixteen hands. He had great endurance for long marches and was generally unflappable in battle, although he once broke both of General Lee's hands when he shied at enemy movements. Lee brought Traveler with him when he assumed the presidency of Washington and Lee University. Traveler died of tetanus in 1871. He is buried on campus, where the Saferide program still uses his name. Comanche Comanche was attached to General Custer's detachment of the 7th Cavalry when it engaged the Lakota in 1876 at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The troops in the detachment were all killed in the engagement, but soldiers found Comanche badly wounded Two days later. They nursed him back to health and he became the 7th Cavalry's mascot. The commanding officer decreed that the horse would never again be ridden and that he would always be paraded, draped in black in all military ceremonies involving the 7th Cavalry. When Comanche died of colic in 1891, he was given a full military funeral. The only other horse so honored was Black Jack, who served in more than 1,000 military funerals in the 1950s and 1960s. Comanche's taxidermied body is preserved in the Natural History Museum at the University of Kansas. 3. Beautiful Jim Key Beautiful Jim Key was a performing horse trained by formerly enslaved veterinarian Dr. William Key. Key demonstrated how Beautiful Jim could read, write, do math, tell time, spell, sort, mail and recite the Bible. Beautiful Jim performed from 1897 to 1906 and became a legend. An estimated 10 million Americans saw him perform, and others collected his memorabilia, buttons, photos and postcards or danced. The Beautiful Jim Key Two Step Dr. Key insisted that he had taught Beautiful Jim using only kindness and Beautiful Jim Key's popularity was important in preventing cruelty to animals in America, with more than 2 million children signing the Jim Key Band of Mercy, in which they pledged I promise always to be kind to animals. Number four Man O War named for his owner, Auguste Belmont Jr. Who was overseas in World War I, Man O War is widely regarded as the top thoroughbred racehorse of all time. He won 20 of his 21 races and almost a quarter of a million dollars in the early 20th century. His one loss to upset came after a bad start. Man of War sired many of America's famous racehorses, including Hardtack, which in turn sired Seabiscuit, the small horse that came to symbolize hope during the Great Depression. Number five Trigger Entertainer Roy Rogers chose the Palomino Trigger from five rented horses to be his mount in a Western film in the 1930s, changing his name from Golden Cloud to Trigger because of his quick mind and feet. Rogers road trigger in his 1950s television series, making the horse a household name. When Trigger died, Rogers had his skin draped over a Styrofoam mold and displayed it in the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in California. He also had a 24 foot statue of Trigger made from steel and fiberglass. One other copy of that mold was also made. It is Bucky the Bronco, which rears above the Denver Broncos Stadium south scoreboard. 6. Sergeant Reckless American Marines in Korea bought a mare in October 1952 from a Korean stable boy who needed the money to buy an artificial leg for his sister who had stepped on a landmine. The Marines named her Reckless after their unit's nickname, the Reckless Rifles. They made a pet of her and trained her to carry supplies and to evacuate wounded. She learned to travel supply routes without a guide. On one notable day, she made 51 solo trips. Wounded twice, she was given a battlefield rank of corporal in 1953 and promoted to sergeant after the war, when she was also awarded two Purple Hearts and a Marine Corps Good conduct medal. Number 7 Mr. Ed Mr. Ed was a talking palomino in a 1960s television show by the same name. At a time when Westerns dominated American television. Mr. Ed was the anti Western with the main human character, a klutzy architect and the hero, a horse that was fond of his meals and his comfortable life and spoke with the voice of Alan Rocky Lane, who made dozens of B Westerns. But the show was a five year hit as it married the past to the future. Mr. Ed offered a gentle, homely wisdom that enabled him to straighten out the troubles of the humans around him. The startling special effects that made it appear that the horse was talking melded modern technology with the comforting traditional community depicted in the show. 8. Blackjack Blackjack, named for John J. Blackjack Pershing, was the riderless black horse in the funerals of John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson and Douglas MacArthur, as well as more than 1,000 other funerals with full military honors. A riderless horse with boots reversed in the stirrups symbolized a fallen leader, while Black Jack's brands, a US Brand and an army serial number recalled the Army's history. Black Jack himself was buried with full military honors. The only other horse honored with a military Funeral was Comanche. 9. Khartoum Khartoum was the prize stud horse of Jack Waltz, the fictional Hollywood mogul in Mario Puzo's the Godfather. In one of the film version's most famous scenes, after Waltz refuses requests from Don Vito Corleone to cast circumstances singer Johnny Fontaine in a movie, Waltz wakes up to find Khartoum's head in bed with him and agrees to use Fontaine in the film. In the novel, Fontaine wins the Academy Award for his performance. According to old Hollywood rumor, the story referred to real events. The rumor was that mobsters persuaded Columbia Pictures executive Harry Cohn to cast Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity as Maggio. Sinatra revived his sagging film career and won the Oscar for best supporting actor. 10. Secretariat Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred that in 1973 became the first US Triple Crown winner in 25 years. His records in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes still stand. After Secretariat was stricken with a painful infection and euthanized in 1989, an autopsy revealed that he had an unusually big heart. Sportswriter Red Smith once asked his trainer how Secretariat had run one morning. Charlie Hatton replied, the trees swayed.

[B]

Letters from an American was written and read by Heather Cox Richardson. It was produced at Soundscape Productions, Dedham, MA. Recorded with music composed by Michael Moss.