673 - H.L. Hunt - Part Three

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds
Episode 673 - H.L. Hunt: Part Three
Release Date: March 4, 2025

In the third installment of their deep dive into the life of H.L. Hunt, Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds unravel the complex tapestry of one of America's most controversial oil tycoons. This episode navigates through Hunt's personal life, business empires, political machinations, and the infamous silver market crash, all while maintaining their signature comedic flair.

---

Introduction to H.L. Hunt's Later Years

As H.L. Hunt aged, his endeavors became increasingly intertwined with his personal obsessions and political beliefs. Dave and Gareth explore how Hunt's quest for a perfect heir led him down dark and convoluted paths, setting the stage for the family's later downfall.

Dave Anthony [05:01]: "HL is now getting in with anti commies McCarthy. And all those types, the good people."

---

The Quest for a Heir and Genetic Manipulation

One of the most bizarre chapters in Hunt's life was his desperate attempt to create a replica of his son, Hassi, through scientific means. This obsession highlighted Hunt's narcissism and disregard for ethical boundaries.

Gareth Reynolds [10:18]: "He wants a reboot. So now go find a real hot woman."

The hosts delve into Hunt's collaboration with dubious scientists in Germany, his ambiguous relationships, and the moral decay that ensued from his relentless pursuit of legacy.

---

Business Ventures and Political Influence

Hunt's business empire wasn't confined to oil. He ventured into the food industry with HLH Products, promoting his Gastro Magic—a concoction blending vitamins and antacids, which he aggressively marketed despite dubious efficacy and public backlash.

Dave Anthony [14:08]: "Gastro Magic. You will not be poisoned and your son will not become schizophrenic because he ate it."

Moreover, Hunt leveraged his wealth to influence politics, supporting anti-communist agendas and conservative causes. His alignment with figures like Reverend W.A. Criswell showcased his belief in merging Christianity with political power.

Gareth Reynolds [22:49]: "It's important to just try to reach everybody."

---

Controversies and the JFK Assassination

Perhaps the most explosive segment covers Hunt's alleged involvement in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Through lifeline broadcasts, Hunt propagated conspiracy theories, painting Kennedy as a communist threat. The episode examines the thinly-veiled connections between Hunt's rhetoric and the chaotic atmosphere surrounding JFK's assassination.

Dave Anthony [46:12]: "The taking of the guns would keep them from rising up against their oppressors."

The discussion includes the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald, his subsequent murder by Jack Ruby—who had ties to Hunt's enterprises—and the ensuing blame placed squarely on Hunt's attempts to destabilize Kennedy.

Gareth Reynolds [48:32]: "Yeah, and we keep hearing that shit."

---

The Silver Market Crash and Financial Ruin

Transitioning to the next generation, the hosts narrate how Hunt's sons, Bunker and Herbert, mirrored their father's audacity but ultimately plunged the family into financial ruin through their failed attempt to corner the silver market. Their massive accumulation of silver led to a temporary spike in prices, only to crash disastrously when Market Exchange Incorporated (Comex) introduced restrictive measures.

Dave Anthony [68:02]: "They almost ran out of space to store it."

Silver Thursday marked the downfall of the Hunt brothers, resulting in bankruptcy and immense debts. This segment underscores the perilous intersection of greed, market manipulation, and lack of oversight.

Gareth Reynolds [73:58]: "Of course."

---

Legacy and Continued Influence

Despite the family's financial implosion, the Hunt legacy persisted through their continued influence in various industries, including sports. The creation of the Kansas City Chiefs and their involvement in other ventures like the Dallas Tornado and world championship tournaments are explored, highlighting both their business acumen and flawed judgment.

Dave Anthony [60:15]: "He was instrumental in the merger between the AFL and the NFL in the same year."

However, the family's reputation was marred by ongoing controversies, including racist remarks and unethical business practices, painting a picture of a dynasty built on both immense wealth and significant moral compromises.

Gareth Reynolds [65:56]: "You should not support the Kansas City Chiefs."

---

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale

Dave and Gareth conclude the episode by reflecting on the broader implications of the Hunt family's saga. They emphasize the dangers of unchecked wealth, the seductive nature of power, and the inevitable downfall that often accompanies such excesses. The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of money and the fragility of empires built on questionable ethics.

Gareth Reynolds [81:18]: "They should not exist."

---

Notable Quotes:

• Dave Anthony [05:01]: "HL is now getting in with anti commies McCarthy. And all those types, the good people."

• Gareth Reynolds [10:18]: "He wants a reboot. So now go find a real hot woman."

• Dave Anthony [14:08]: "Gastro Magic. You will not be poisoned and your son will not become schizophrenic because he ate it."

• Gareth Reynolds [22:49]: "It's important to just try to reach everybody."

• Dave Anthony [46:12]: "The taking of the guns would keep them from rising up against their oppressors."

• Gareth Reynolds [48:32]: "Yeah, and we keep hearing that shit."

• Dave Anthony [68:02]: "They almost ran out of space to store it."

• Gareth Reynolds [73:58]: "Of course."

• Dave Anthony [60:15]: "He was instrumental in the merger between the AFL and the NFL in the same year."

• Gareth Reynolds [65:56]: "You should not support the Kansas City Chiefs."

• Gareth Reynolds [81:18]: "They should not exist."

---

This episode of The Dollop masterfully blends humor with historical analysis, offering listeners a riveting exploration of H.L. Hunt's life. Through sharp commentary and insightful discussions, Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds shed light on the complexities and contradictions of a man whose legacy continues to influence American business and politics.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

We're going on tour. And this is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's been a while.

[Dave Anthony]

March 2025 is when our tour is happening. First of all, we're going to Tempe.

[Unknown]

Arizona, maybe our favorite city of all time.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's the best.

[Dave Anthony]

That is on March 16th. And then we go to Albuquerque, New Mexico, maybe our favorite city ever, we've ever gone to. That's on March 17th. And then we go to Oklahoma City.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Which is our fav. We often say that it's our number one.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, it's our number one. The best city I've ever been to.

[Unknown]

That's on March 18th. On March 19th, we're going to be.

[Dave Anthony]

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, our favorite city, without question. And then we head to Dallas, Texas, on March 20th.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Our favorite city.

[Dave Anthony]

There's never been a better city than better.

[Gareth Reynolds]

If you don't like it, you're a Dallas hole.

[Unknown]

Thank you.

[Dave Anthony]

And then we go to Houston, Texas, on March 21. City, which is by far the best city. And then we end our tour in Austin, Texas, on March 22 at the Cap City Comedy Club.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's the best in the entire world. Number one city in the world.

[Dave Anthony]

You can get [e-mail] tour. You're listening to the. Well, that was rude. You're listening to the Dollop. This.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You suck.

[Dave Anthony]

It's an American history podcast where each week I, Dave Anthony, read a story from American history to my best friend.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Gareth Reynolds, who has no idea what the topic is going to be.

[Dave Anthony]

A rude boy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Rude boy. That's a compliment.

[Dave Anthony]

Not that kind. An actual rude person.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No. Well, you said it wrong.

[Dave Anthony]

I didn't say it wrong, fool. It's just a different way of saying it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Foolish boy. Let's. For the people who complain.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. You're pouring liquid death into a.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's for that one woman who said that it was really hard to focus when we take sips of things.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, she didn't like that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

She didn't like that. But let's remind her that we're on three parts back to back.

[Dave Anthony]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So there's gonna be some sipping.

[Dave Anthony]

Some people are gonna get hurt.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Some people have to get sipped.

[Dave Anthony]

Some people are gonna get hurt.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What do you mean?

[Dave Anthony]

That's what we're talking. That's what you're saying. You're saying, look, the three parters. Some people are gonna get hurt.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I didn't say that.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, you basically said she's got to deal with it. She's gonna get hurt.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, I don't want to hurt her.

[Dave Anthony]

That's what you're doing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No.

[Dave Anthony]

Cause her pain.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Dave Anthony]

That poor girl's dying.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The woman from that. Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

The sounds. They kill her.

[Gareth Reynolds]

She says. Okay.

[Dave Anthony]

Isn't she. No, she dies.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, man. It is amazing. Look, I love the show, but you guys are breathing a lot. A lot of breathing.

[Dave Anthony]

Gareth the Dollop's gonna be on tour. Are you aware of that?

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm actually unavailable. I'm doing a whole new thing.

[Dave Anthony]

God damn it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Seriously, I wrote a musical. We're gonna be on the Birth of Gareth.

[Dave Anthony]

You're on tour this March, which. This is probably in March now. The dates are coming up soon is Tempe, Arizona, starting on March 16th. And then we go to Albuquerque the next day, and that'll be two shows. The first show sold out. The second show is like a best of show.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So we're gonna go through. You're gonna bring up a script that's like a classic script that people really like, and we're gonna do it again. And I guarantee you I won't remember shit.

[Dave Anthony]

I won't either.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And you probably won much either. Are you going to refresh it at all? Part of you was saying you might refresh it.

[Dave Anthony]

I might, if I have time, yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

If not, you'll just be like, wait, what?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, okay, basically. And then we'll go to Oklahoma City, Bricktown Comedy Club, and then Tulsa, Bricktown Comedy Club, and then Dallas, the Granada Theater, and then Houston, the House of Blues, and then Austin, Cap City Comedy Club. And then in June, we got on tour again. Sacramento Punchline on June 3rd. Big Egyptian Theater in Boise on June 4th. Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane on June 5th. Neptune Theater, Seattle, June 6th, Aladdin Theater, Portland, June 7th. Town Tower Theater, Bend, Oregon, June 8th. And the palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, June 10th. Tickets at LA, tickets at podcast, dollapodcast.com @la dollop. Yeah, I don't know what that was. What was I gonna say? LA what?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, you're asking the wrong guy. I don't live in that head. I mean, you're trying to figure it out.

[Dave Anthony]

The only thing I can think of that my brain was going back to is the LA Podcast Festival. What else could it be?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Imagine. What? What, are you bringing it back and not telling?

[Dave Anthony]

Am I in some kind of time warp?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Are you. Are you thinking about bringing back Brain is time traveling. Whoa, dude. That would be. That's how this show ends. Every day you wake up, you shout the date.

[Dave Anthony]

Oh, Christ. 1952. HL is now getting in with anti commies McCarthy. And all those Types the good people.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It ages well.

[Dave Anthony]

He is disappointed in Hassi's condition, as we all are. Se, of course, had a lobotomy and that for some reason, didn't go well. Yeah, he never gave up on Hassie going back to normal. And okay, he would always answer, quote, he's getting better. When people asked about.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So part of me goes, that's like kind of a humanizing quality. But part of me wonders if that's just because he wanted more oil speculating or part of me wonders if he. He just holds on to a lot of guilt because he had this lobotomy.

[Dave Anthony]

And not that one. Yeah, no ways that one.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Maybe it's a shortcoming because it came from him or.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, yeah. So if he's a narcissist, an extension of him can't be faulty.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Right.

[Dave Anthony]

Right. So it's got to be able to be fixed.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Well, cool. All right. There we go. There's that gone and gone.

[Dave Anthony]

He'd even bring Hassi into the office sometimes, but has he would only stare into the distance and sometimes think out loud for a sentence or two, saying things like, sometimes they let me make my own decisions.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Lobotomies are so dark, so bad. All right, well, actually, I think that was another one of those inside thoughts.

[Dave Anthony]

Has she wants sex now.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All right, well, that's why we've got a crew of mates home. Has he? Come on now we're at the office. Let's keep it now. Let's keep it. No, let's keep everything coming out.

[Dave Anthony]

Taking it out.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Put your thing away. Put your thing away. Put your thing away. Here it goes. Let him do it on the plant. Jesus Christ. All right. And here's the good news. The ball is improving.

[Dave Anthony]

So he's still not getting better, even after HL paid to fly out an astrologer who he was sure would be the key to fixing his son.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So I know what the problem is. It lives in the stars. I know you removed part of the frontal cortex, but I have a way of charting what he's after.

[Dave Anthony]

You said that it was because his retrograde planet was in Mercury and a.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Lot of it has to do with Cassiopeia. So what we're going to do is we're going to make a star map for him. Oh, and that'll be something he can put on his wall. And Hassi, that'll be great for you to look at and study.

[Dave Anthony]

Wanna you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay, that'll change once we're able to.

[Dave Anthony]

That's part of the payment. That's Part of the payment.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't know if I understood that part two.

[Dave Anthony]

Now, once he says that he has to.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay, I really. I'm married. This is a job I've done that.

[Dave Anthony]

I've around so many. Marriage doesn't matter. You whoever.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, this room is comfy. I'm a Hastrologer.

[Dave Anthony]

So the astrologer doesn't work and HL decides he needs a new Hasse and Bunker, and Bunker's an idiot. That sounds a loss.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, Bunker's a dweeb. He's chubby, too, which obviously takes him out of the running for anything.

[Dave Anthony]

Lamar and Herbert are smart young men, but they're not Hassie. Even the handsome young boy Ruth Ray had given birth, he wasn't a total match. What HL needed was an exact replica of his son who physically resembled him most. The genius son that he put all his hopes into, even though he neglected him for years and years. He wanted science to help him create a replica of Hassi.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Shut the up.

[Dave Anthony]

He's getting done.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Are we at the craziest part?

[Dave Anthony]

I mean.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The idea.

[Dave Anthony]

And.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And I mean, this guy had 15 kids. He's like, man, I gotta go to a beaker. And so I was wondering if you could make another Hassi. Semen's not an issue.

[Dave Anthony]

Gareth. Where were this time? Where were scientists known for the research on creating genetically perfect human specimens? Germany.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh. Oh, dear.

[Dave Anthony]

So HL sends an assistance.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Created an extra Hassi for you. We actually came up with three. You pick. We carry out a tool.

[Dave Anthony]

We have made 4, 500 hassies.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You. Well, read the document. I said one in Brazil. No, I said one.

[Dave Anthony]

They have taken the country.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What the. I just said make one of them. What are you talking about?

[Dave Anthony]

It says this assistant in Germany, she has instructions, or he has Instructions to offer $1 million to a beautiful woman with a high IQ who would agree to either be artificially inseminated with his.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Or the old fashioned way.

[Dave Anthony]

Or has his sperm.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, he wants.

[Dave Anthony]

He couldn't decide which.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So he's going to be like, all right, boy. Now, here's. This might sound strange, Hassi, but I need you to whack off into this cup here.

[Dave Anthony]

But has his mom isn't that light. Yeah, so why. And light is not. We already know. She's like, not even that attractive is what so.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, yeah, well, description. Well, look, he's punching up.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, okay.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He wants a punch up. He wants a reboot.

[Dave Anthony]

Okay?

[Gareth Reynolds]

So now go find a real hot woman.

[Dave Anthony]

When the assistant wasn't able to find A woman who met all of his qualifications. Hl told him to keep an eye out closer to home. He wanted this so much. He said that he'd even quote, settle for a lady with brown eyes. He never did find the perfect match.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The approach of that must be the approach of that. I shot this thing the other day where it was like stupid on the street stuff. It's like approaching people for dumb shit is so awkward. Approaching with the idea of just like. Excuse me, ma'am. Sorry to stop you. I know you're going shopping right now. How are gross. Are you able to buy all of your groceries? Are you ever in need of hard. But yeah, it's a hard time. So I work for a man whose son is named Hassi. You're very beautiful and you have big brown eyes. So we were looking to inseminate you artificially or the old fashioned. Oh, sorry, I'm not.

[Dave Anthony]

No. What? No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Know what?

[Dave Anthony]

No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No. What?

[Dave Anthony]

No. I don't want that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay. Can I finish the pitch before you become an awful person? So far, the attitude is a big knock against you for this project. Do you like a million dollars? Let me start with this. Would you like a million dollars?

[Dave Anthony]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Can an old guy finish inside of you? Or maybe his son can.

[Dave Anthony]

No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Put out. Can you wear a nurse's outfit we provide?

[Dave Anthony]

No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And then it gets inside you?

[Dave Anthony]

No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Will you see a baby to term if. If we decide that your IQ is. Is past the the bar of what we're after?

[Dave Anthony]

No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

How are your eyes naturally brown?

[Dave Anthony]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Can we please have one of a father or a son or both finishing you or one old fashioned way. Or. Or we can put it in artificially. We can artificially. Ma'am. We can put it in you without either one of their foreskins entering you.

[Dave Anthony]

No. Why would the foreskin. No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What part of the penis is the foreskin? Isn't that the meus? Well, why don't you meet us in the middle and just say yes to a deal like this.

[Dave Anthony]

Don't ever say meet us to me again.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Why?

[Dave Anthony]

I don't give a what character in.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm still a character.

[Dave Anthony]

No, you're not.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No, it is a mes.

[Dave Anthony]

You're literally never on this podcast.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes, I am. I'll meet us over and over again.

[Dave Anthony]

Oh, it's us.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Let's call it the meet us and greet after the show. Dolly podcast.com.

[Dave Anthony]

So he never found the perfect match.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And which is also crazy.

[Dave Anthony]

So now he's also running the Facts Forum. Remember the Facts Forum? Yeah, the conservative Nonsense. HL was still focused on his war against poisoned food and water.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Let me just say that it's awesome to be able to fight the battle of. To be focused on the fact that you're looking for a new heir and you're just going to put either you or your son semen in a stranger as well. At the same time, you're also fighting the battle against communism. The Reds are coming. At the same time, you're also fighting the battle of the Jews poisoning the food. Like, that's a lot of stuff.

[Dave Anthony]

There's a lot of stuff.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And at the same time, you're an oilman.

[Dave Anthony]

There's a lot of stuff you got.

[Gareth Reynolds]

To do, but it's a lot. It means a lot of plates to spin.

[Dave Anthony]

So he would have his own food grown on his land and mostly just ate raw vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and honey. He decided to share his idea of clean food with other Americans and farm the HLH products. It would sell many different foods, but.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The labels just like, no Jews touched it.

[Dave Anthony]

I wonder if this Hunt tomato.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Ooh.

[Dave Anthony]

He sold many different foods, but what HL Was most excited about was his Gastro magic.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's also very funny that you say that about Hunt's tomatoes, because as I told you the other night, someone close to us had a very bad reaction after eating a can of tomatoes.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, he really did.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I mean, on a level that was shocking.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. So gastrometric was a blend of vitamins and antacid, and HL swore by it and even erected a huge billboard for Gastro Astro Magic on his front lawn.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What is why there. Go to a freeway. Wow. Okay.

[Dave Anthony]

But then neighbors complained, and the city made him take it down.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, well, that. You do you realize how obnoxious a billboard has to be if you're going after a Robert Baron?

[Dave Anthony]

I mean, like, to go to a.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Robber baron and be like, buddy, that billboard sucks. Yeah, I know you've bought everything around here, but please.

[Dave Anthony]

He made his employees put Gastro Magic bumper stickers on their cars and paid for radio spots where he read out the lines, quote, hello, I am H.L. hunt, the world's richest man, and these are Gastro Magic, which I make, so they must be good. Try some.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's right. Gastro Magic. Available anywhere you get delicious produce. Gastro Magic has not been touched by or influenced by a Jew. Gastro Magic. You will not be poisoned and your son will not become schizophrenic because he ate it. Gastro Magic. A little Gastro Magic, your life won't be tragic.

[Dave Anthony]

So. No, it was. Hunt's tomato sauce was made by. In 1888 in Sebastopol by the Hunt brothers.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay. Different.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. Thank God.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mike and Mark.

[Dave Anthony]

But I love the idea that he's just selling it by being like, I'm rich, so it's got to be good.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hey, how about if you just. Yeah, it is. It's just like people. When people, like, go on the macrobiotic diet. Cool.

[Dave Anthony]

HL also began touting the benefits of an odd exercise he created called Creeping.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So I recommend everyone creep. This is where you stalk a woman.

[Dave Anthony]

Just keep women while you're married, and.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Then endlessly seed them.

[Dave Anthony]

It was basically crawling around on the ground like a baby. Quote. I'm a crank about creeping, HL would say, and gleefully once creeped four startled journalists around his dining room table while yelling, yahoo.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, no. Oh, wait, you're down on your hands and knees now. Do it. Just do it. Just do it. Do it real quick. Yahoo.

[Dave Anthony]

Yahoo.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Like, for journalists, like, one flash goes off 30 seconds into it. What the. This is also the problem is that, like, this is musk. Because it's when the rich go, oh, no. It's pretty straightforward. You just do this. And that, like, makes you really help. It's like, dude, you're like. You have no actual medical insights. You've just come up with your stupid. And you're surrounded by yes men, and no one has told you you're an idiot.

[Dave Anthony]

No one tells you no anymore.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No one goes, shut up. That's dumb.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. 19. Let's read it again.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, yes, I agree.

[Dave Anthony]

Creeping. Which he basically crawling around on the floor like a baby. I'm a crank about creeping, HL would say, and gleefully once creeped for a startled journalist around his dining table while yelling, yahoo. It's just so insane. That has to be on film. Someone.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What year are we in? We're about, like, it's the 50s.

[Dave Anthony]

It's not on film, but. Jesus Christ.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Jesus Christ.

[Dave Anthony]

I mean, the reason I found out about this guy was because I just came across a photo of him doing yoga, and it was like, the richest guy in the world is, like, doing yoga or something. I was just like, what in the is happening?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, that is so much more normal.

[Dave Anthony]

I know it's totally normal, but it's just not something you see.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That if I saw that, I'd be like, oh, cool. Well, I was a guy who's, like, into Eastern medicine and. Yeah, but, you know, a spiritualist, so.

[Dave Anthony]

You'D hope so, but no, but no.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Instead he was just like, oh fuck, that's awesome.

[Dave Anthony]

In 1955, tragedy struck the Hunts when Lyda suffered a massive stroke. HL chartered a private plane to fly the unconscious Linda to the famous Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. But they could not save her. Two years after Lida was buried, HL married Ruth. Ray.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hey, so I like that he's capping himself at 2.

[Dave Anthony]

Yep. Their children together were officially said to be Ruth's from another relationship who HL was happy to adopt.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, so they just wouldn't even admit that.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, yeah. Many took this as HL being incredibly kind. By adopting these kids, he was showing the love he had for Ruth. Did he.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Do you think he did this because it made him look good or because obviously he's like, I don't want admit that I had both.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, yeah. It wasn't until years later that it came out that Ruth kids were in fact HL's biological children.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yahoo.

[Dave Anthony]

With his beautiful new wife at his side, HL's Fax Farm continued to grow. He held parties for right wing politicians and famous anti communist Hollywood stars like John Wayne and Pat Boone.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Of course John Wayne was there.

[Dave Anthony]

But soon there was this.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We've gotta fight these commies. And part of the thing you've also gotta do is bang as many women as possible and punch him and what?

[Dave Anthony]

John Wayne?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, yeah, I should admit that I really have no issue with physical abuse. Read that interview in Playboy or whatever.

[Dave Anthony]

He didn't need to say it, he did it on set.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, I'm learning a lot about myself, pilgrim fellow.

[Dave Anthony]

But soon there was a disagreement between HL and Smoot on programming for Fax Forum. In order to remain tax exempt, fax form had to present both sides of the political coin. Imagine, imagine a time HL obliged, allowing liberals to say their piece before ensuring they were slammed with an anti communist message.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Now, what about the, like, what is it? Fair time or whatever?

[Dave Anthony]

I think that's what it is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Does that exist? That's gone.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. The Fairness Doctrine is gone.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That existed in the last. Reagan got rid of it. No, Reagan got rid of it. Oh, really?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. Smoot thought this was stupid and he said they should just stick to their own message and not let the other side have any airtime. In the end, the government said that HL's efforts to show both sides had been in vain and that the network was clearly partisan. One senator stating that it was, quote, neither fact nor forum. Once Fax Forum was subjected to taxes, HL fired Smoot and replaced Fax Forum with Lifeline, a new organization that was unapologetically right wing conservative, or as HL preferred to say, constructive.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep. Nice, nice, nice.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, I like that. So they're going to tax us? Just get rid of it and change its name? Yep, yep.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, I, I would imagine that the. You probably, I mean, tax exemption is huge.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, but it sounds like this will be taxed, but he's just going to fucking lean into it now and.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. And probably profit a lot off of that anyway. But that tax exemption is big.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. Lifeline also had a religious flavor that Facts Forum didn't. This was mainly due to Ruth's influence, who also who convinced HL to hire Christian fundamentalist minister for role both on the airwaves and off many serving on a board of advisors. So Ruth's.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. And also.

[Dave Anthony]

So she's a, She's a. Just so we're. She was a mistress who started banging this guy at 19 to have his kids. Was a mistress for a couple decades and then marries him. But she's a Christian. Just so we're.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep.

[Dave Anthony]

Just.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep. That's. Well, I mean, again, imperfect messengers.

[Dave Anthony]

Dave. Hl, who was not a churchgoer, did not always get along with these religious men. He advised them that they shouldn't align with white supremacists, but nor should they shun them.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, that, but I do think that's fair. I mean, you know, leave the door open. It's like they're people too, you know, why would you. Look, they, it's, it's, it's important to just try to reach everybody. And I think the white supremacists are also. They're a voting block.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. They're people. Yeah. Let's hear what they have to say.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's like Hillary said, all lives matter.

[Dave Anthony]

Yep. They should not support Jews, but they should compliment at least one Jew on air so they will not be seen as anti Semitic.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's, that's good to do. For sure. That's awesome.

[Dave Anthony]

And now it's our positive Jew moment.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's right. This Jew comes from us. From Long Island, New York. Wow. Have we got a Jew for you. Breaking Jews.

[Dave Anthony]

If HL published something complimentary about a Jewish or black person, he'd carry the article around and whip it out when he felt necessary to prove that whatever people were saying about him, he was not an anti Semite or a racist, he pulled out an article. It's like those guys who walk around with the, with the articles. The, the, like the, the Constitution in their Pants?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. What do you mean? Of course I love America. Look, I have a flag pin. But it's also remarkable because identity politics and the like, they. They've out. They've have outsmarted us for. They, like, were outsmarted us for like a decade where they were like, racist. You got a bunch of black people in the Cabinet.

[Dave Anthony]

What about this article?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, look. Yeah. The guy we got to drop bombs in the last administration was a black man.

[Dave Anthony]

Racist above all. He said communism must be linked with evil and free enterprise with good. Once he tried to convince one of his on air preachers, Wayne Poucher, that since the Bible was a bestseller, Poucher should try and sell Bibles on air for profit.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wow.

[Dave Anthony]

These special Bibles would be autographed by Poucher and on the COVID have a lifeline broadcast schedule glued in. Reverend Poucher said no.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wow. And Trump said yes.

[Dave Anthony]

HL constantly barraged Poucher with tips and demands, including demands such as, quote, improve your diction on air and stop jazzing up the hymns.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Is there a more old man thing to say than stop jazzing up the hymn?

[Dave Anthony]

No, that's about it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Quit jazzing up the hymns. It's good enough as it is. Oh, the organ's enough. The organ's the Lord's instrument.

[Dave Anthony]

Poucher mostly ignored HL and did what he wanted. But he decided that HL might need some guidance to become a good Christian soul. And he invited HL to come to his home and read the Bible with him at his children's bedside. HL agreed. Creepy. It's totally normal. Have an old weird guy come by and read the Bible with me.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hello, kids.

[Dave Anthony]

This is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, mind if I creep while we do this? Yeah, you. You read a verse, then I'll creep a little bit. Yahoo. All right, here we are. And the Lord hath described something that he could only see in the eyes of Jehovah. The Witnesses were all around. That's my Bible riffing, by the way.

[Dave Anthony]

That's good. HL agreed. By the end of the evening.

[Gareth Reynolds]

60 year old weird oil man by your bedside. Like sitting on a stool.

[Dave Anthony]

That's when I started having nightmares.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And I'll read the next verse to you, Gus. Could I have a little more water? My mouth gets so dry that at.

[Dave Anthony]

The end of the evening, HL was on his knees in prayer and tears are rolling down his face.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, boy. Oh, me. No, we don't want this, Ver.

[Dave Anthony]

No.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is like when the Hulk eats.

[Dave Anthony]

The electrical cables, striking while the iron was hot. Poucher drove HL to His church that very night and tried to convince him, baptize him to get baptized. HL told him he wanted to, but he's afraid God wouldn't forgive him for his sins until he'd done some good. Well, that part's true.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. He knows. He's a piece of.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, right. It's amazing.

[Dave Anthony]

It wasn't until HL started attending church with Ruth that he.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I got one of the nuns pregnant.

[Dave Anthony]

Sorry, I meant all.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Sorry. I got all the nuns pregnant.

[Dave Anthony]

It wasn't until he started attending church with Ruth that he really jumped into religion, or his version of it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Right.

[Dave Anthony]

They went to First Baptist Church, the world's oldest Baptist church that boasted a ministry containing Reverend Billy Graham and HL's favorite, a handsome young preacher named Reverend W.A. criswell. Criswell, like HL, saw Christianity and politics as totally fused, once saying that if he had a, quote, liberal hair on my head, I'd pluck it out. This was a religious take that HL could get behind. And on his 71st birthday, he was baptized by Criswell with Ruth and their four kids.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I shot a load in the water.

[Dave Anthony]

This is how we do it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I. The. The very idea of. It's so amazing when, like, fundamentalists or whatever. I mean, even, like, this separation of church and state was, like, a big component in all of this.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And the. Well, isn't that. Isn't that the founding father?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, but, you know, I mean.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But that was like, part of. I mean, I understand we've abandoned everything, but it's the people who hold the Constitution in their pocket that fully ignored that part. Like, Tom Cotton has the Constitution in pocket. Tom Cotton is also like, if Jesus were around, he'd be in the Senate.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, they're.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, they're liars.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, they believe a different version of that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Dave Anthony]

I don't know if they're liars as much as they are deluded.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I. Well, the line is really hard to track.

[Dave Anthony]

Big H.L. and Chris. Well, begin.

[Gareth Reynolds]

If you're. If you're embracing Trump, it's like, sorry, what's your.

[Dave Anthony]

No, but he makes sense in a biblical. Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Because they believe. They believe that he is in the Bible.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. There's a guy just like in the.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Bible, flawed messenger who comes.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. So it all makes sense. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And when I came, I didn't understand at first. And I ate a lot of Whoppers and I shot a lot of loads.

[Dave Anthony]

Jesus Christ.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But at the end of the day.

[Dave Anthony]

The dollop is brought to you by Squarespace.

[Unknown]

Squarespace, of course, an all in one platform. They help you stand out, succeed online, which you need.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Stop.

[Unknown]

It doesn't matter if you're just starting out or you're. You're scaling up your business, which is already doing great, you can take it up a notch. Squarespace gives you everything you need to claim your domain, showcase your offerings with a professional website, grow your brand, get paid, all in one place.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We love Squarespace.

[Dave Anthony]

We do.

[Unknown]

And you can tell we do because we have all of our websites with Squarespace. Everyone, mine, Gareth's, we got the Squarespace.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We got Dollop, we got Dollop sources, we got everything. All.

[Unknown]

They can take us down if they want.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wait, is that right?

[Unknown]

We're completely under their control.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I had no idea that it was like that. I thought we were.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. Oh, wait, great. So it's not a problem.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I know, but still, that's a lot of power to just give to. I still love it.

[Unknown]

Well, yeah, we really like Squarespace because it's super easy to use for dummies like us, particularly Gareth. They got really great looking templates. So you can make a really nice, nice looking website. You can sell stuff on there.

[Dave Anthony]

Garas sells stuff.

[Unknown]

He sells words and shirts and stuff.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Dates too. You can have a date. A date with me. A date. Date with me. I'll take your pet out for a walk. I do yard work. Whatever you want. I got that all through Squarespace.

[Unknown]

It's getting pathetic.

[Dave Anthony]

So it's sad stuff that was.

[Unknown]

We took it in the dumps, but.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm gonna have some gin.

[Unknown]

We really enjoy Squarespace. You can do all kinds of stuff on there. You can sell your merch, you can put up videos, head over to squarespace.com for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, use offer code dollop to save 10 off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com for a free trial. When you're ready to launch, use offer.

[Dave Anthony]

Code dial up to save 10 of.

[Unknown]

Your first purchase of a website or domain. Gareth, we are also brought to you by a rocket. Money.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Love it.

[Unknown]

Yeah, it saved us both money. You have subscriptions and you forget about them. And Ragamoney is like, hey, do you want to. You want to get rid of this thing?

[Dave Anthony]

You.

[Unknown]

You signed up for a Penguin Cam, a monthly fee, and you go, I totally forgot about the penguin.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, that was when the mother was going to give birth to it. And I saw the birth, but now what am I watching?

[Unknown]

Now you're just watching a penguin and.

[Dave Anthony]

They've gotten rid of the penguin.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Donating the wildlife. No, thank you.

[Dave Anthony]

Water?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

So they find the things you've forgotten.

[Gareth Reynolds]

About, and then they.

[Unknown]

And then they'll cancel them for you. You just say, can you cancel that? And they go, yep.

[Dave Anthony]

Gone.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Part of the business model of a lot of these places are to get you to sign up for something so you can try it out, and then you forget.

[Unknown]

It's hard to cancel.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes, it is. Absolutely.

[Unknown]

So they do that.

[Dave Anthony]

They also.

[Unknown]

They also alert you if a subscription price went up.

[Dave Anthony]

So it's great.

[Unknown]

It'll save you money. It's just that simple. So you know, it's start of the year. Get organized, set your goals, prioritize what you're doing, and save yourself some money with Rocket Money. So Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps you find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps lower your bills so you can grow your savings. Rocket Money has over 5 million users and has saved a total of 500 million in canceled subscriptions, saving members up to $740 a year when using all of the app's premium features. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com Dollop today. That's RocketMoney.com Dollop RocketMoney.com Do/$Gareth we are also brought to you by Helix. I wear an Apple watch when I sleep. Did you know that?

[Gareth Reynolds]

I didn't.

[Unknown]

It does a sleep thing, and it keeps track of how you're sleeping, keeps track of your REM sleep and your deep sleep and all this stuff. I'm sleeping like a pro. Like, if they were professional sleepers.

[Dave Anthony]

Stop.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Stop.

[Unknown]

That would be me. I am maybe going to the Olympics. And why? Because of my Helix sleep mattress.

[Gareth Reynolds]

There will be a time when this will happen. It's an Olympic event.

[Unknown]

I hope so, because I'm ready.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Dave is passed out right now. He is right there. Look at his fingers twitch. He is conked.

[Unknown]

He is on his Helix mattress.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He is on the heels.

[Unknown]

Sleeping like a baby, he says.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Passed out.

[Dave Anthony]

He says it's due to the Helix.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Unfortunately, Dave's gold medal was taken back because he did test positive for alcohol.

[Unknown]

Oh, no. Yeah. That's not cheated.

[Dave Anthony]

So, yeah, so we.

[Unknown]

We both use sleep on Helix.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Truly the best. We've had the same. We have the California Ducks, Lux.

[Unknown]

And getting a good night's sleep improves your life, man. I'll tell you, it makes life a lot better.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep.

[Unknown]

And also they help with you if you have different sleep issues, snoring, back pain, sleep apnea, sleeping screens, sleeping thin ice, sleeping too hot or whatever. The screams, you know, they can it help? Like, for me, it helps with that stuff.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

Night screams, night murders. I do night murders.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Unknown]

Go to helixleep.com dollop for the March Madness sale, which is March 3 through March 27, 2025. 20 off statewide. That's helixsleep.com dollop for the March madness sale, March 3 to March 27. 20% off off statewide. Helixsleep.com dollop yeah, Gareth, we are also brought to you by hims. So you're having. There's some things going in the bedroom that maybe. Maybe it's not great.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Right.

[Unknown]

It's not working.

[Dave Anthony]

The old people call it the pipe.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

Maybe the pipe's not piping as much as you'd want it to.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Sure. You're having trouble getting the pipes working. The pipe not right.

[Unknown]

The pipe.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Penis pipe.

[Unknown]

Wait, sorry. You look, if your car breaks down, you take to the mechanic, right?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep.

[Unknown]

So what do you do when your pipe's not working?

[Dave Anthony]

You're the take to the mechanical on a pipe.

[Unknown]

The penis pipe.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

You're gonna need it. You're gonna want a guy to fix it.

[Dave Anthony]

So you should be thinking about ED.

[Unknown]

The exact same way, Right?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

If your thing's not working, get somebody to help you out. Why not just don't sit there and stare at it or be all bummed.

[Dave Anthony]

Take care of it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Take action.

[Unknown]

So now we have him. Him. So you can get access to personalized ED treatment without stepping outside your door. And which is great because this is stressful. You don't want to deal with this. You don't want to go outside to deal with this. HIMSS is changing men's health care by providing you with access to affordable sexual health treatments from the comfort of your couch. Different ED treatments like chewable hard mints and Viagra and Cialis and their generics for up to 95% cheaper. No insurance is needed. You just got one. Low price covers everything from treatments to ongoing care.

[Dave Anthony]

There.

[Unknown]

They got hundreds of thousand subscribers. You're going to want to jump in on this.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Get moving.

[Unknown]

Start your free online Visit [e-mail] dollop that's H I M S.com dollop for your personalized ED treatment options. Hiss.com dollop the products mentioned are chewable compounded products which are not approved or verified for safety or effectiveness by the fda. Prescriptions require an online consultation with a healthcare provider who will Determine if appropriate restrictions apply. See website for details and important safety information. Subscription required. Price varies based on product and subscription plan. Gareth. Oh, just to mention, I did a podcast. My friend Josh Olson's podcast, White Cannon. So I'm the white guy on it, and there's a non white guy. And we, Dominic Taylor, we discuss the Graduate, a movie in which white people, maybe black people, look at it differently.

[Dave Anthony]

And the Graduate was one of those.

[Unknown]

When you watch the Graduate now, you're like, boy, that guy's a creepy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Go listen.

[Dave Anthony]

Go listen. So Criswell and HL began working together to influence the election of 1960. They back Lyndon Johnson and they hate JFK. Criswell exclaiming from his pulpit that, quote, the election of a Catholic as president would mean the end of religious Liberty in America. HL sends out 200,000 copies of the sermon. But there was backlash of people who didn't think religion should have been brought into politics. And HL is surprised by that. He stops making public appearances. So much so that one paper asked him to, quote, come out, Big Daddy to wherever you are.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Stop.

[Dave Anthony]

Stop with the daddy. The are you guys doing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Disgusting.

[Dave Anthony]

So weird. It is what they're doing. It's what they're doing with Trump. They keep calling him Daddy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It is this weird. It is weird. It is sexual. Yeah, it's a weird fucking weird little culty sexual thing.

[Dave Anthony]

HL eventually came out to say that he'd only done it to help out poor Lyndon. When Johnson got the VP slot on the Dem ticket, HL held a press conference and announced his endorsement of the JFK Johnson ticket. Quote, I've decided to vote for Kennedy since I admire his father, Joe Kennedy, who was a good businessman. I refuse to believe, believe that any son of Joe Kennedy can be a liberal. I mean, he is. Well, yeah, but it's not true because I made it in my head.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So a Catholic.

[Dave Anthony]

The national Democratic Party chairman then immediately came out and said that they did not accept HL's endorsement and wouldn't accept any money from him.

[Gareth Reynolds]

See now why the can the Democratic Party of today not say that?

[Dave Anthony]

Because Clinton turned them away from unions. Soon after JFK won the election, HL self published a novel that he'd been writing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I can't wait.

[Dave Anthony]

Alpaca in the Nation. In the novel. In the. Not in the novel. A nation called Alpaca gives the most votes to people who pay the most taxes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Why did he name it after alpacas?

[Dave Anthony]

I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's super weird.

[Dave Anthony]

It's kind of there's got to be a reason. I don't know why.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, but it's like. It's like you could call a country anything.

[Dave Anthony]

Alpaca.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's strange.

[Dave Anthony]

It was that our llama.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I mean, it is. It's like. It's like, what if a llama smoked weed? Alpaca.

[Dave Anthony]

No one receiving government assistance could vote. When a reviewer chided HL for writing about a quote, fascist democracy, HL wrote to the reviewer in earnest, saying, you are the only one who really understood what I was getting at.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That is a crazy thing to say. That's so nuts. You get me? You understand what I'm going for?

[Dave Anthony]

You called me fascist. Do you understand?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes, I'm a fascist. Yes. That would be America. That's alpaca.

[Dave Anthony]

Also in the novel was a love affair between a man who was greatly resembled the younger HL and an opera singer.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay, sure.

[Dave Anthony]

This causes people to start talking, as the real HL had recently begun sponsoring an opera singer who was living in Dallas.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, no, no.

[Dave Anthony]

He insists they're just friends.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No. How old?

[Dave Anthony]

Still, how old? Still, how old? His interest in opera grew until he paid to stage a production of the Barber of Seville on the Dallas fairgrounds.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, this is like. This is like. What's the Orson. Well, Citizen Kane, based on William Randall. This is like that, right? Where it's like, you are just like. Well, you want an opera? I'm a weird old man with endless money. Did you see Melania's getting a documentary? Yeah, but that's $40 million.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, but that's just a. It's a grift to make. It's like. Yeah, I know you're bribing, but.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But it is. It is like, imagine all these people. I love documentaries.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'll tell you what. There's not one I'm skipping by faster than the Melania documentary.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, if they told the truth that you came here as a sex worker, then it would be a whole.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Dolph will be right.

[Dave Anthony]

Okay. So people are excited to see an opera. The first for many Texans to be the first one they see. It's wonderful. But everyone got very confused during the intermission because HL got up in front of the crowd and begins shilling for the gastro magic.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The gastro magic?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. That was the thing from the last episode, the health thing. Oh, it's the concoction of.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, right.

[Dave Anthony]

Vitamins.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Right, Right.

[Dave Anthony]

He had employees fan out through the audience and hand out samples as he read from a sermon that would soon feature on an episode Of Lifeline.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is. There are no lines. He has too much money.

[Dave Anthony]

This is so Trumpian, though, though. The handing out, selling gastro magic.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It is. Yeah. It is like media chaos, advertising chaos. Like we're nothing like the way that. I mean, he. What was it?

[Dave Anthony]

Sell steaks. So whatever.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. When, when they were like, like Ivanka's handbags are like. Yeah, the best.

[Dave Anthony]

That's what it is. While people enjoyed the opera, the commercial in the middle, you know, notwithstanding, no one seemed to like alpaca. So according to HL Hunt biographer Jerome Tussil, HL quote, began shipping huge boxes of the books to unsuspecting citizens all over the globe.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's awesome.

[Dave Anthony]

So college librarians, senators, political figures around the world. He's just like gold books where you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Just all of a sudden like the.

[Dave Anthony]

Is this, this is crazy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What's up?

[Dave Anthony]

I guess it's about a country made of animals and like.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wait, there's a letter here. Dear reader, I think you'll really enjoy this book. H L Hunt, not that oil guy.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, but he's also into llamas now and alpacas.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't understand.

[Dave Anthony]

He wants a country about pockets.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This book sucks.

[Dave Anthony]

Let the alpacas lead us.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't think that's what he's saying.

[Dave Anthony]

I think so.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't believe so.

[Dave Anthony]

He wrote his own little jingle to the tune of how much is that doggy in the window? Which starts off, how much is that book in the window? The one that says all the smart things?

[Gareth Reynolds]

How much is that book in the window? The one that says all the smarter things? You're being sued. The doggy window. People are furious.

[Dave Anthony]

He had his daughters sing it at a book signing he arranged for himself.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, man. It's like it is if like Rupert Murdoch, Trump.

[Dave Anthony]

I mean, it's crazy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's crazy.

[Dave Anthony]

So for some reason, it didn't help sales money. It didn't help sales of the book for some reason. But what it did do is make HL look like a joke.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Dave Anthony]

Good political writer William Buckley, a one time writer at Fax Farm, wrote, quote, the capitalist cause would be greatly enhanced if H.L. hunt was a socialist at that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, man, that is so bad.

[Dave Anthony]

As Kennedy entered his third year as president, HL knew he'd been wrong to support him. Mostly because Kennedy had begun calling for doing away with the oil depletion allowance, which would end up costing HL money in taxes. So all oil, Texas air and oil barons were upset with Kennedy. So it gets to the point where JFK decides that he should go down to Texas and put on a friendly face.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay. Oh.

[Dave Anthony]

As JFK's visit to Dallas grew closer, Lifeline aired more and more conspiracies against Kennedy, accusing him of being a secret communist infiltrator. On the morning of November 22, 1963, Lifeline warned its listeners about a leftist Kennedy plot to take away their guns.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So he's like Alex Jones a little bit.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, yeah. But there were other guys. Tech.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

This time in Dallas, in Texas. It is full of right wing hysteria.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Right.

[Dave Anthony]

Like, it is. It is more than you see. That is off the fucking chart.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I mean, when you watch that video, you're like, holy shit. I mean, why would he even do that?

[Dave Anthony]

So the taking of the guns would keep them from rising up against their oppressors. And HL's son Bunker also paid for a huge newspaper ad in the Dallas News criticizing the President. HL and his oilman friends made sure that the atmosphere was as unwelcoming as possible once JFK landed in Texas.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That was.

[Dave Anthony]

It was very unwelcoming, it turns out.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But, I mean, we've never gotten into this. But would. I mean, do you think that was. I mean, that wasn't what got JFK killed?

[Dave Anthony]

No, no. There's a lot.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The government agencies.

[Dave Anthony]

I think it was McDonald's.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Amazing. The Hamburglar. Like steadying a rifle burglar. No.

[Dave Anthony]

This visit to Dallas would obviously be the end for jfk.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He was shot and he wanted Johnson before this.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, he wanted John.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So now he gets his guy.

[Dave Anthony]

Johnson. JFK was shot 10 blocks away from HL's office. After his death, a senator in D.C. said to reporters that, quote, HL Hunt has to bear a lot for the onus because of the fanatical broadcasts he sponsors. If anyone's responsible, he is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, and we keep hearing that shit.

[Dave Anthony]

Anyway, Celia. Harvey Oswald is arrested and then he's killed by Jack Ruby. When Ruby's pockets were searched, they contained two Lifeline radio scripts. When he was asked about them, Ruby said he'd gotten them in a package of HLH food, an owl package. It was found. It was also found that Ruby had visited the office of Lamar Hunt right before the assassination to drop off a woman for a job interview.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Also weird.

[Dave Anthony]

So a lot of people now blame HL for all the rhetoric that leads to JFK's death.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay.

[Dave Anthony]

And the FBI convinces him to leave Dallas and go into hiding.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay. I got hiding. Pregnant.

[Dave Anthony]

He goes to stay at the Mayflower hotel in Washington D.C. nice and private. It's just if anything.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, no, go to dc. That's where that. Without question, that's where you could kind of be covert.

[Dave Anthony]

So this makes it more of a target. It's so dangerous for him to be there that the FBI told them that it would just be safer to go back to Dallas.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay. Yahoo.

[Dave Anthony]

A security detail was set up around HL's home until he ordered them to leave. So now as he's focusing more on politics, his HLH products, food company and writing an unsuccessful sequel to Alpaca, he wrote another.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Alpaca 2. The cleanup of one Alpaca 2 llamas. A Peter man writing another. That's awesome.

[Dave Anthony]

Now his sons are starting to come into their business. You know Bunker who, who is a dweeb but idolizes his dad like sure. You know, even though he's constantly called a idiot by him, he doesn't let blowing all his fortune on dry oil well stop him from trying to impress daddy. Bunker gets into his head that the next huge oil find would take place in the Middle East. Libya.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh boy.

[Dave Anthony]

And using HL's those contacts, Bunker is granted the drilling rights. Wow. To Libya.

[Gareth Reynolds]

To all of it.

[Dave Anthony]

Yep. This time he would show HL that he wasn't all that dim witted. And then Bunker finds one of the largest untapped oil reserves in the world. The Sarir oil field. It was more oil than Hassi had ever found. Producing a hundred thousand 000 barrels of oil a day. Bunkers on track to become as rich as his father.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Holy.

[Dave Anthony]

He follows his dad's political footsteps, supporting white supremacist George Wallace for president along with daddy. Obviously he also inherited his father's view on Jews being a different breed than Christians. But still hired them in his businesses as he thought they were quote smart and cunning and said that he quote never took a Jew, never took bad start, never took a gift. Jew in the mouth.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, Jesus Christ. I mean just despicable.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That really is like the, the way that we allow it. Not only allow it, but it's like a theme.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's like the theme. The theme of this country is this.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, it is. Both Herbert and Lamar are also very desperate to please daddy. Herbert was bookish and focused on school and he gets a degree in geology which HL laughed at.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Have you even read Alpaca 1 and 2?

[Dave Anthony]

One of the reasons you get a degree in Geo.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, I would get.

[Dave Anthony]

It's about oil.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Imagine it would be helpful.

[Dave Anthony]

Jesus Christ. So he goes into Oil. Just like Bunker And Herbert and Bunker work together quite a bit. It. In 1970, a policeman pulled over a guy for running a stop sign. When the policeman walked up to the car, he sees inside several pieces of equipment, which it turns out, are supplies for wiretapping.

[Gareth Reynolds]

O.

[Dave Anthony]

The man who had been pulled over, who's a private detective, admitted that that is exactly what the equipment was.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That guy's good, by the way. Glad you hired that guy.

[Dave Anthony]

And he'd been hired by Bunker and Herbert Hunt.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But when you hire a wiretap guy is one of the first things you assume that if the wiretap guy gets caught, he's not going to say it's for wiretapping or for who's who. It's for who it's for.

[Dave Anthony]

Yes, Officer. This is to wiretap on behalf of my very rich clients.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Huh? No, I was just going to say you kind of.

[Dave Anthony]

No, it's for. It's for Booker and Herbert Hunt. I'm.

[Gareth Reynolds]

For what?

[Dave Anthony]

I'm wiretapping their political enemies.

[Gareth Reynolds]

These wires, what are they?

[Dave Anthony]

I'm doing illegal surveillance for the Hunt brothers.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I thought you were like a radio guy.

[Dave Anthony]

No, I'm committing crimes for the Hunts.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Just assuming you're some radio.

[Dave Anthony]

I'm trying to tape everyone. We're bribing the world.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wait, what are you talking about?

[Dave Anthony]

We're gonna take down the government.

[Gareth Reynolds]

In your car?

[Dave Anthony]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I was just gonna say, you gotta. Next time make sure you fully stop at the stop sign.

[Dave Anthony]

Okay, but wait.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What is all this stuff?

[Dave Anthony]

I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You just said you work for H.L. hunt and his kids.

[Dave Anthony]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So you. What, you're wiretapping people illegally?

[Dave Anthony]

A little bit.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wait, what do you mean?

[Dave Anthony]

Maybe?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Jesus Christ. Did you just said it all?

[Dave Anthony]

Go, Go.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You're driving.

[Dave Anthony]

I was hoping that would make you go away.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No, no, I'm here.

[Dave Anthony]

I'm tapping your house.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All right, get out of the. Obviously. Get out of the car. We're gonna beat you.

[Dave Anthony]

Okay, so Herbert Bunker and Herbert the.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Cap was unbelievably thorough.

[Dave Anthony]

They'd use his services to listen in on phone calls made by top brass in their dad's Hunt oil company. You just get their own co they're wiretapping their cousin.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But you. This is it. It's like. Just breeds the worst parts of you. These. This just. It. It's.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, they can.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Cancer.

[Dave Anthony]

They can. If they can. If they can learn what the top guy at their dad's company is doing, then they can make deals or whatever to impress their dad.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But it is a. Money is a cancer on the soul of society.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, it is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Without question.

[Dave Anthony]

They're also tapping HL's private secretary and possibly their half brother, Ray.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I was actually wiretapping myself, dad. I got a lot of trusted. And by the way, here's the dossier, what I was talking about. Some of it's pretty scandalous.

[Dave Anthony]

Bunker said that they only did it to protect their dad's money because people he worked with were stealing tens of millions from him.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is part of the advantage to having 15 children is that you do actually create this culture where your kids are like gonna overly defend you because that's the only way to get a slice of your affection and love. Yeah, it's pretty cool.

[Dave Anthony]

Associates at Hunt Oil said this was all absurd and that the only person stealing from HL was HL so he could pay less in taxes. The story of the Hunt brothers going behind the backs of the family and employees who had worked for HL for decades got so big that Bunker and Herbert ended up hiring a public relations specialist who quickly got them to pose for a happy portrait with the whole extended family, Ray included.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh my God. Unreal, man, unreal.

[Dave Anthony]

The wiretapping case would come to court five years later with the Hunt brothers main defense being that they didn't even know wiretapping was illegal.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's fair that we plead dumb as.

[Dave Anthony]

Hey, what do you plead? I'm a idiot. I'm a dumb.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Quiet. Your honor, the boys plead stupid.

[Dave Anthony]

Your honor, I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Shut up. Your honor, the boys are very stupid.

[Dave Anthony]

You're honor, I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I mean, look at them. Look at these idiots. They're empty headed. They were raised by a rich man who crawls around creeping, singing yahoo. Your honor, you're not allowed to raise your hand. Your Honor, I'd also like to add.

[Dave Anthony]

That's not a defense. You can't say you don't know a crime. That's not a defense.

[Gareth Reynolds]

By the way, the new defense. I don't remember. That's what they always say now. Yeah, I don't recall that.

[Dave Anthony]

I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't know. Maybe I did. I don't recall it.

[Dave Anthony]

The president of the detective agency Bunker had hired to place the wiretaps said he told Bunker, no uncertain terms, that if they got caught they could be in trouble criminally and civilly.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So wait a. When I got pulled over though, I was thinking that I was basically. What should I have said? Should I said no to them? I don't understand the Cop. He pulled me over. I didn't know what to do. I was in a panic.

[Dave Anthony]

But the guy's basically saying that if his. If his detective gets pulled over that he's going to rat on him. Which is what happened.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, but also.

[Dave Anthony]

Although. What?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hire that guy.

[Dave Anthony]

But can I also just say, like, if you have a bunch of wire timing equipment, drive better.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Don't look.

[Dave Anthony]

Have your.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Have your tail lights with weed back in the day.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You hit every stop.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. Or a body or.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Huh?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What's up?

[Dave Anthony]

If you got a body in the car, full stops. Signal when you turn right. The whole shebang. Make sure you're. Make sure your brake lights are checked.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't think we're saying the same thing.

[Dave Anthony]

Don't let the blood drip out the back. The whole shebang.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't know if. Why would you hire a wiretap guy when one of the guarantees is that he's going to tell on you?

[Dave Anthony]

I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Like, I'd be like, wait, what? I'll pay more to not do that. Can you just be like, you work for the phone company first?

[Dave Anthony]

I'm one of the richest guys around.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Like, I have so much money. Can't, like, the first couple things you say be more like, I'm a wire fiend?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I love wires.

[Dave Anthony]

It's for my girlfriend and I. I.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Work for John Morse.

[Dave Anthony]

Have you heard of ASMR porn?

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's weird. ASMR porn.

[Dave Anthony]

So Bunker maintained that he was being unfairly targeted by the Feds.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hilarious.

[Dave Anthony]

Because he hadn't allowed members of the CIA Ray to use his business in Libya to spy on Mohammad Gaddafi.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wow. Well, that guy will tell you that'll be fine.

[Dave Anthony]

He also believed he's being picked on for his conservative political beliefs. Ruth, stepbrother, Ray's mother, even came to their defense and told the court, quote, I didn't do anything for them. So Bunker and Herbert are looking at that 30 year sentence counts. Okay, six. There's six counts of wire tapping. So 30 year sentence. But in the end, the court decided that as they had been trying to help their father and didn't know that what they were doing was a federal crime, they would be acquitted.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, me. Straight up acquitted.

[Dave Anthony]

That's not a thing. How many times? I mean, just on TV shows or at. I. It's not. You can't say, I didn't know it was. That's not a thing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's not. You're not allowed to enter that plea for a reason.

[Dave Anthony]

It's not a Thing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

If you. If that plea was an option, literally everyone that would it be it. Without question. How do you plea? I didn't know.

[Dave Anthony]

I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Get out of here. What about you? I didn't know.

[Dave Anthony]

The detectives that placed the wiretaps went to prison for three years.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's. It's. It's shocking. Shocking.

[Dave Anthony]

This is just American in nutshell.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, it is. The rich have rules and then you have some.

[Dave Anthony]

Lamar was less involved in the business intrigue and became obsessed with sports. He is no athlete, but he loved to watch football.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay.

[Dave Anthony]

In 1959, 27 year old Lamar created the American Football League with himself.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, my God.

[Dave Anthony]

President.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wait a minute. Minute.

[Dave Anthony]

Huh?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wait a minute.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, yeah. You know this is going. He also created his own team within the league, the Kansas City Chiefs.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Lamar. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Dave Anthony]

But as much money as Lamar poured into the team.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh my God.

[Dave Anthony]

They could not improve.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I didn't even think about this.

[Dave Anthony]

HL told his son that he was playing not working. And it was reported Lamar's team was costing him 1 million a year. But. But he stuck with it. And slowly the Chiefs improved. Lamar also bought a team in the North American Soccer League, the Dallas Tornado, and helped start the world championship tennis tournament. In 1970, Lamar won his greatest achievement yet when his Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. Lamar actually coined the name super bowl inspired by a toy his kids been playing with. A Super ball. He was instrumental in the merger between the AFL and the NFL in the same year.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, my God. Okay, listen, listen, listen to me. If you enjoy this show.

[Dave Anthony]

Take your glasses off.

[Gareth Reynolds]

If you enjoy this. If you like this show. We've done this with Coors. We've done this with many things. The Chiefs. You cannot support the Kansas City Chiefs. The name is disrespectful.

[Dave Anthony]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The Tomahawk chop that you continue to do, despite the outcries of people who are offended by it, for good reason. You continue to do it. You are founded on this. You cannot, you look. Relocate your brain. You can't. You can't. You can't keep doing this.

[Dave Anthony]

David Keckner.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Huh?

[Dave Anthony]

David Keckner, we love you, but stop it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But even Patrick Mahomes would say, look, at this point, I wouldn't even support us. I mean, we are founded like we're in an organ. This organization is like. Like flaming dog in a bag.

[Dave Anthony]

It's so funny when they got rid of the end racism thing on the. At the end of the.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You know what's a nightmare field and.

[Dave Anthony]

It was chief sweat underneath it. You're like, you're not any.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You know, it's a nightmare is. I started doing standup about how the NFL had painted themselves into a corner with that.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And like removing that.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Was going to be really tough.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And. And then they did and nobody really gave it. It was kind of the. The. The last remaining relic of the George Floyd.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Murder.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It was like. That was kind of the last one and it kind of was so. Really was interesting to go. Like officially, nothing changed.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, that's right. Well, no cops got more money. While. While his kids are up proving themselves. HL who is now old, was becoming a bit more self conscious. Conscious. He became terrified of the idea that people would think he was a foolish old man and would frequently corner employees in the office and demand to know if they thought he was silly.

[Gareth Reynolds]

A weird old man stopping you for that.

[Dave Anthony]

You're doing creeping Yahoo.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Excuse me.

[Dave Anthony]

Excuse me.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Can I ask you a question?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. You work at this company, right?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. Yeah, sure.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Come across a bit silly at times.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, like a lot.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

What?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Oh, my God. I wasn't silly. Are you silly?

[Dave Anthony]

Are you the emperor from Star Wars?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, I don't know exactly you. But I. I'm not a silly you.

[Dave Anthony]

Yes. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I can still shoot a load.

[Dave Anthony]

Okay.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Please get away from. And I'll make another boy.

[Dave Anthony]

I'm good. Thank you. His life and opinions continue to be his favorite subject and he published two autobiographies within which he made several false claims about his lineage and never once mentioned Frania or their children.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, crazy.

[Dave Anthony]

The newly baptized Christian also glossed over the blame he faced for Kennedy's assassination as well as gambling. On November 29, 1974, HL died at 85 years of complications from. From cancer and pneumonia. He left his family three oil companies, a refinery, HLH products, ranches, a stable with over a thousand thoroughbreds, mines, farms, tons of real estate. It was, according to Hunt's biographer, quote, the largest single fortune owned by one family on earth. Split between Ruth's grand. Sorry, between Ruth's children and Lida's children. The two groups of siblings went their separate ways and split up the companies and their offices. Bunker was especially annoyed that HL had left so much in the hands of Ray as he was born out of wedlock. Later, HL Would you feel free to look up a picture of Bunker while you're just. So you can see. Later, HL would be the inspiration for the character JR Ewing of Dallas, the TV show.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wow.

[Dave Anthony]

Bunker turned out to be more like HL than his dad would ever admit. He was a fundamentalist Christian. Lent support to the John Birch Society.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, cool. Oh, my God. Yeah, real look. Oh, boy. Hey. Oh, Christ.

[Dave Anthony]

He's really. He looks like a gross old Texas dude.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Groper.

[Dave Anthony]

He was terrified of what he saw as the looming atheist takeover of America. And he always was looking for the next project. And one day, he decided that project would be silver. Bunker hired researchers to look into the silver market. And they told him that they believed silver would soon reach an all time high price due to growing consumption and shrinking production. Bunker and brother Herbert bought silver futures contracts, not too short, but to keep them for the long term. They were so afraid of the US crumbling to atheistic influences that they were worried their paper money would be one day worthless. So now they're. They're. They're the right wing crazy conspiracy guys.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

But they're super rich.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Right?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. So they're gonna get shit done.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You gotta drink this silver.

[Dave Anthony]

So to preserve the wealth and power, they needed something like silver. And in 1970, we haven't even had.

[Gareth Reynolds]

A chance to grieve H.L.

[Dave Anthony]

No, we haven't.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He's gone.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, that's fine. In 1973, Bunker and Herbert took delivery of 25 million ounces of silver.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, my God.

[Dave Anthony]

The Hunt brothers were obsessed with silver. And they discussed silver all day, every day. According to a colleague, soon they had 55 million ounces of silver in their possession. Almost one tenth of the world's supply.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Holy.

[Dave Anthony]

To hide this massive amount of silver, which is worth about 300 million, so about 2 billion today. They decided it needed to be taken to Switzerland.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Sure.

[Dave Anthony]

So they hired three 707s to take the silver to Switzerland. And 12 cowboys to guard it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, look, I was gonna let you just. Just say details, but come on. Armed with lassos.

[Dave Anthony]

So it gets to Switzerland safely. They almost ran out of space to store it. Word got out that a huge cachet of silver was owned by one family, which causes a panic in commodities. It seems like one family is going to corner the world.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Supply silver, which is not great.

[Dave Anthony]

So people all over the world start buying as much as they can, which leads to silver prices soaring.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, they soar.

[Dave Anthony]

Bunker and Herbert are now thrilled. Right.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

And Bunker makes trips, but this is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Going to fall apart.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, Bunker makes trips to the Middle east and to convince Chic and Kings to start buying silver, which makes the price go up higher. Margaret Hunt and Silver Bubble. Yeah. Margaret Hunt And s. Several other members of the Hunt family are now annoyed with Bunker and Herbert's silver obsession, which they think is leading to them to neglect the oil business.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What a beautiful family you've created. What a lovely group of people you've created. It's beautiful.

[Dave Anthony]

They have so much money tied up in silver that the Hunts have been unable to obtain money for new oil leases.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, God. It's just. I mean, but we've all had that family dinner table conversation.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. I mean, we've all been where you're.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Kind of just going like, honey, I'm worried we're neglecting the oil.

[Dave Anthony]

Working with wealthy Arab partners, they hoarded enough silver to cause a real panic and artificially drive up the price. The Hunt brothers attempt to corner the silver market made silver jump from $6 an ounce to $50 an ounce.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, my God.

[Dave Anthony]

It's now so expensive that Tiffany's takes out an ad in the New York Times to shame the Hunts.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You gotta be.

[Dave Anthony]

You made Tiffany's man.

[Gareth Reynolds]

For Tiffany's to just be like, we are shaming you. Tiffany's.

[Dave Anthony]

People begin melting down family silver to sell burglaries.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We. We really are incapable of handling much.

[Dave Anthony]

We can't. We can't handle. We can't.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Like, we.

[Dave Anthony]

We can't handle the idea of money.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We really can't. We can't process the idea that. But at least, like, silver is a. It's finite, so I'm not justifying this. But again, it's shiny, so it's like, who gives a. It's actually nothing. It's. There's no point to it at all. No, it's the money. The actual dollar bills is even dumber.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Because you're just kind of like this bizarre thing of like. I mean, it's just some. We're just print. Printing it there as much as you want as possible.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And yet everyone's life will be ruined over it.

[Dave Anthony]

It's like, what's the difference between bitcoin and silver? Silver is just a thing that we decided was valuable.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Dave Anthony]

Which is what we did with bitcoin.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep.

[Dave Anthony]

It's insane with gold. Like, we just decided that was going to be more.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, it was like, wasn't it? When they just sort of. When the first time the. The explorers or whatever, the pillagers saw it.

[Dave Anthony]

I think it has more scientific properties in a way. Like, whatever.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What they were like, able to build shields or.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. Or something. But still, it's not worth that much.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No.

[Dave Anthony]

Compared to other.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And I also think it Was just that it was shiny. Yeah, I think that it was shiny. And they were like, it's pretty.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And then you're just like, my wife wants it. Kill all these people.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. So people are melting down silver. There's burglaries are increasing all over the US and the brothers run out of liquid cash to buy more. So they borrow. Borrow.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So they're to buy more.

[Dave Anthony]

Mines out of their minds. They borrow a lot.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What are we talking?

[Dave Anthony]

In early 1980, the Hunt brothers own one third of all the silver in the world not owned by governments.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wow.

[Dave Anthony]

It's worth tens of billions of dollars.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wow.

[Dave Anthony]

After seeing what the Hunt brothers are up to, Commodity Exchange Incorporated. Comex introduced silver rule number seven. This made it much more difficult for the brothers to borrow from brokerage firms in order to buy silver. Banks pull back and the Hunts begin struggling to meet their margin calls. Then silver prices begin to dip lower. And on March 27, 1980, which is a day that would become known as Silver Thursday, the inability of the brothers to meet a margin call led to the price of silver plummeting to under $11 an ounce. Their assets in the billions the day before now cost them billions in debt. Not only were Bunker and Herbert now bankrupt, their scheme had put several banks in danger of going bankrupt. And there's some good news to stop this from happening. The Hunts were given a 1.1 billion line of credit so that they could meet their margins.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Of course.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Why? I mean, why?

[Dave Anthony]

Well, because they've. Their gamble is so huge that now I can take down banks.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, but that, but that. But I mean, why not just give.

[Dave Anthony]

The money to the banks and the Hunts.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Also, it's like you gotta just let eventually just be like, yeah, you made poor decisions. I'm sorry, sorry, this is bad.

[Dave Anthony]

But it's not only silver market that the Hunts have to worry about. The price of oil was dropping and they neglected their oil business as they were going after silver. By 1988, the brothers had declared bankruptcy and were. In order to pay tens of millions in fines, Bunker quote, a billion ain't what it used to be.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Dude.

[Dave Anthony]

What?

[Gareth Reynolds]

That is. Okay.

[Dave Anthony]

You get it though.

[Gareth Reynolds]

In 2008, I remember hearing comedians say, a million isn't what it used to be.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And that felt difficult to hear. Hearing that in 88 is so up.

[Dave Anthony]

So this is all really embarrassing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. I was gonna say.

[Dave Anthony]

But here's the cool thing. The government, their trusts are all safe from litigation. And they remain the some of the richest people in the us so you can only. You can't sue their.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. You can only take so much. Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

Why? I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Because. Because the richer have. Have moed their money.

[Dave Anthony]

All of hl's children with Lyta and Frania have since passed away, but his four children with Ruth Ray are still living. After Lamar hunt died in 2006, his children remain the owners of the Kansas City Chiefs, and the current CEO is Lamar's son, Clark. Hunt Petroleum, which was owned. Co owned by Margaret and Hassi's estates sold for 4.2 billion in 2008. Margaret died in 2007 and Hassi in 2005. Caroline Hunt founded Rosewood Hotel and Resorts before dying in 2018. And Bunker passed away in 2014. And Herbert in 2000. 2024. According to Forbes, the family is worth 24.8 billion.

[Gareth Reynolds]

God damn it. I mean, dude, listen.

[Dave Anthony]

You can't say.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I can't because I. I really think that. But it's. It's like if the Resnicks had a football team. I mean. Yeah, you really cannot. We. Football. Football is such a great product when you actually watch it.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, so was baseball at one time.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But you have to, you have to, you have to, you have to. It's beyond ruining rich people ruin it. It's. It's that we are celebrating. We are advancing these people. You cannot watch. Like, I already hate the Kansas City Chiefs. Like, we all already hate the Kansas City Chiefs. Unless you're a chief fan. How the fuck can you mentally separate this in your head? How can you compartmentalize on this level? I mean, no, billionaires should not exist, period.

[Dave Anthony]

I'm a. I'm a, A Manchester United fan, but it's very hard for me to support them knowing how the owners are.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

The Glazers and Ineos. This new. It's like a oil company thing, like chemicals and whatever, but they're like the guys that he's going through and just, Just destroying like all the. In the. In the club since he bought his way in. But the glaciers are just vile, terrible human beings, and it makes me not want to watch it as much. Like, I just don't watch it as much.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No.

[Dave Anthony]

You know, and that's why the packers are good. Because the packers aren't.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Packers are a. They are owned by the fans.

[Dave Anthony]

They're owned by the fans.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So, you know, there was an app I just found called Boycat.

[Dave Anthony]

Oh, yeah, Yeah, I have that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And that's one of the few things recently where I go, yeah, you know, that's pretty good. So where you can scan a label and tell if your money is going to go to support Israel.

[Dave Anthony]

Right.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And that's an easy download, it's an easy scan and you'd be actually a little gall and shocked to find out how much of your is actually supporting this.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah, the, the all the VPNs. A lot of the VPNs. ExpressVPN a lot of VPNs. Sources Kingdom the Story of the Hunt Family of Texas by Jerome To Sell Texas Rich the Hunt Dynasty from the Early Oil Days through the Silver Crash by Harry Hunt the Hunt Brothers how to How Two Billionaires Broke the Silver Market on Scottsdale Mint.com HL Hunt's long goodbye in Texas Monthly by Bill Porterfield Nelson Bunker Hunt Oil tycoon with Texas size presence dies in the New York Times Times 10/14 as October 2014 and the Hunt Brothers trial told about wiretap payments in the New York Times.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, let's just say the research was obviously incredible.

[Dave Anthony]

This was the best research. I mean she's always, Brittany Cone Brown is always really great. But this was like she literally wrote this and I just went, I'm not going to change a word. And usually I change stuff. And I was just like, I'm not changing a word. I mean I was reading it and I got to the creeping thing and I was literally just like.

[Gareth Reynolds]

When she sent it to you, was she like this is going to be hard for me to edit.

[Dave Anthony]

She said she had to cut a bunch of stuff out because she's like, there's just too much. This family's just non stop and well.

[Gareth Reynolds]

To tracing it to the chiefs. I mean it's such a, it really is. It's like, you know, we just, I don't think we will and I know you don't think we will, but we have to stop the money funnel.

[Dave Anthony]

I mean, look, to be very truthful, the only way you stop the money funnel is the way that one country did it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

And that's France. And that's literally the only way you stop it. I mean there's no, you can't do it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And you have to know like we're, we're Debbie Downers. But you have to know that there was a week before the French Revolution they were walking around going like, can you believe we're getting away with this?

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Like happens quick.

[Dave Anthony]

It does happen quick. So I, and, but then there's people that are like, there's good billionaires. Okay, send me, just send me your good billionaire name and I'll research Them, I guarantee you they're not good.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Also, your good billionaire argument is always going to be undercut by the fact that they, we could, their money could be. Even if you think someone's philanthropic, it's like Sam Simon, like Sam Simon was a billionaire on the Simpsons and he.

[Dave Anthony]

Bill Gates.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Bill Gates, right. Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

People think Bill gates in the 90s was our villain. He was the biggest villain in America and then now he's not.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You cannot, but you're also can. You're never going to be able to convince, convince anyone with math that a philanthropic billionaire is better than a 90 tax rate.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So the 90% tax rate, the 91 tax rate, that's a good billionaire. Because they were never allowed to exist.

[Dave Anthony]

Right.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Because their money that they were supposed to be hoarding, they never got the chance to hoard.

[Dave Anthony]

Right.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's, that's, that's the, that is better than a billionaire.

[Dave Anthony]

Who gives no greater example of how dangerous is to have billionaires than Elon Musk. Because yeah, just a few years ago he was giving money to Democrats and the Democrats all liked him and liberals all bought his cars because they thought it was fucking awesome. And now he's the most evil man on the planet. Like that's why you don't let someone have that much power.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You didn't, you can't reward it. And I mean these people, these billionaires were like extremely rich 15 years ago. They're. The wealth increase they've gone through in the last 15 years is.

[Dave Anthony]

Well, the last five.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But, but I mean, you know, I mean you're talking about like Mark Zuckerberg was like worth $11 million in 2008. Like, I mean their, their money was. They should not have been allowed to have that. But because they were allowed to have that, they're now allowed to have this.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And you can't walk around the streets anymore and say, boy, how do we solve these problems? When you're allowed to have Musk Bezos. Yeah.

[Dave Anthony]

Much money.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. And Zuckerberg.

[Dave Anthony]

Take the money. You want to solve all these problems.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Take their money.

[Dave Anthony]

Take the money.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Take, take their money. And why you cannot. You have a co opted government and you do not even have a government. If you sit there and you say, well, you know, how do we get it back from. Should not be your job to go and get this money back from these people. But if they're going to make the, the public do it, then that is going to have to happen. If you insist this will happen.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. It's only a matter of Time before.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't know what it'll look like. I don't know when it'll happen. It ain't gonna be good, but it's gonna be brutal, horrible. And they are armed to the teeth and they know it. Not only do they know it's coming, they are paranoid about it coming.

[Dave Anthony]

Oh, yeah, it's one of the reasons they're doing this.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But. But there you go. The stuff that Musk is doing right now in government is. Even if you think this is cost.

[Dave Anthony]

Cutting, it's so funny that people think it's. It's like saving us from corruption when it is the most unbridled, insane corruption run.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The problem is that they're not. They're. They're never going to go, oops, that was bad.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

They're going to believe a different fantasy. That'll solve it.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So you're just going to keep following different fairy trails until you realize, oh, God, I'm eating dirt hurt.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah. And if you think billionaires should exist, then just go suck on a boot for 20 years.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Shocking to me that that is a. Can at times be a controversial statement.

[Dave Anthony]

It's insane.

[Gareth Reynolds]

They should not exist.

[Dave Anthony]

It's insane.

[Gareth Reynolds]

They should not exist. And if they exist and they want to exist, they should be locked up. It's a mental disorder. Those. That's who you lobotomize. That is who you lobotomize.

[Dave Anthony]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You lobotomize people like Elon Musk and you put them near a window in a wheelchair to watch birds.

[Dave Anthony]

I got. Yeah. Anyway, this is gonna get us locked up.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, whatever. At least this dick doesn't work, Elon. Your dick doesn't. Hey, dollop fans, I know you love the dollop. You love listening to the dollop. Do you want to watch the dollop? You're like, gareth, what are you talking about? By the way, it's not Gary, it's Gareth. Well, we have partnered with Lakeside Animation and we are starting to animate some of our episodes. So if you want to go watch a five parter animation, which is actually like a 22 minute episode or 30 minute episode, I can't remember, of the rube. You can go to LakeSide Animation on YouTube and watch a really awesome animation of the rube. It. It really genuinely kicks ass and we're very proud of it. And the more you share it, the more you give it to people, the more you follow Lakeside, all that stuff, the better chance we have of making a lot more of them. We're already making a second one, so go there and watch the rube.