Five Absurd Incidents in U.S. Politics Since World War II
1958 Capehart's Pigeon Campaigning Stunt: Something Took Wing
Senator Homer E. Capehart was seeking re-election in 1958 for his seat in Indiana. He wanted to get his name out there. So he did. At the suggestion of the incumbent Republican, hundreds of pigeons were released over downtown Indianapolis with little packets tied to their feet stating that precincts should re-elect him. Obviously, this would work. Hoosiers love pigeons and would find this display of artistic devotion to be good campaign fodder after seeing how great of a politician Capehart had been. Capehart failed to think about one thing—pigeons are dirty, stupid birds that don't behave. Capehart's little campaign birds pooped all over the sidewalks—into storefronts, into lunch bags, and car windshields, much to the dismay of everyone who loved to see the birds on the streets. Ironically, they delivered packets to Hartke's campaign office (Capehart's competitor) when they flew there out of confusion. Pigeon droppings were reported up and down storefronts, and newspapers called it “Capehart's Pigeon Fiasco.” Vance Hartke won the election; hopefully, he found humor in his bird-pooped porch. Lesson learned: Don't involve pigeons in campaigning.
2. Jimmy Carter's UFO Sighting: A Candidate with His Head in the Clouds
In the years before he was President, Jimmy Carter was a state senator in Georgia with an eye in the skies. 1969 was the year that Carter was part of a Lions Club meeting in Leary, Georgia, but they stepped outside for a break and saw something unexpected—a bright white object that changed colors, about the size of the moon, hovering in the air for ten to twelve minutes. So, when the press started coming around during his 1976 campaign for President, it wasn't an out-of-place UFO sighting that got attention but rather this incident—yet not in a bad way. He was serious about such things, the man who would become a peanut farmer, filing a report with the International UFO Bureau and telling anyone who would listen that if he were President, he'd declassify any government-related UFO findings. Editorial cartoons populated the publications, with Carter shaking hands with little green men, as headlines announced “Future President Sees Flying Saucer!” Naturally, he never said it was from outer space but that there may be other intelligent life forms out there. But either way, with his accessibility and wide-eyed naivete, this became an adorable anecdote of his legacy. But what did other politicians observe above their heads?
George Helmy's Karaoke Campaign: Singing for Votes Down in New Jersey
In the 1970s, a New Jersey senator decided to campaign using karaoke. Senator George Helmy went from diner parking lots to county fairs all over New Jersey with a portable organist and an attractive baritone. His campaign platform consisted of singing songs reminiscent of World War II and more contemporary Frank Sinatra covers—you know he's from Jersey—and his slogan was “Harmony with Helmy.” If you've seen a diner sing-along, you might picture him singing “My Way,” I know I can. Sadly, he suggested a “sing-off” against his competition at one of the county fairs to promote his identity platform, and sadly it never happened. Helmy was not re-elected, but he did get a nice fan base from those who thought it adorable that Helmy just wanted to sing and bring joy to the political process. His nickname became “New Jersey's Crooning Candidate.” Sometimes politicians just want something else other than politics.
4. Alaskan Budget Battle Over Outhouses—No Joke!
In 1984, the Alaskan State Legislature had a budgetary battle over outhouses. Seriously. Alaskan State Legislators fought hard to give their rural villages without plumbing outhouses. But how is this even possible? According to Republican legislator Donny Olson, who represented countless rural and hard-to-reach Alaskan villages, outhouses were a matter of public health. But the urban legislators didn't understand what they needed “luxury outhouses.” Luxury? Instead of capitol floor debate (and in one's mind), Olson brought a model outhouse to the state capitol to show how basic it was. People laughed at him, and “Alaska's Throne Wars” was the front-page headline of numerous newspapers. Ultimately, the funding passed, but the fact that outhouses were a consideration to go up for debate became fodder for good old-fashioned humor—rural politics has to teach city folk something about luxury desires not necessarily needed.
Strom Thurmond's Filibuster Nap
Senator Strom Thurmond from South Carolina as well as the longest filibuster in Senate history at 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957. He was so opposed to the Civil Rights Act that he put his best foot forward to make history in extended Senating. Somewhere along his day-long tirade against what he thought would be oppression, Thurmond fell asleep. Leaning on the pulpit as he went on and on about obscure legal jargon and points he likely fell asleep mid-sentence, and an aide had to wake him up. Someone in the press box captured the grainy film footage, and minutes after he awakened, everyone in the chamber was laughing at headlines like “Thurmond Snoozes Through Civil Rights.” In his defense, he dehydrated himself and took steam baths so he wouldn't have to use the bathroom; thus, sleeping is almost excusable. Yet it proves how even the most serious (albeit controversial) of proceedings can show how human we all are.
Why These Anecdotes MatterThese stories, be it about pigeon poop or UFOs over Washington, remind us that politics isn't as dull as it seems. It's not always puppets and overreaching legislation. It's people—quirky, imperfect, hilarious, and jovial people. From a Senator who sings to one who snores in hearings, it's good to know that history can be lighthearted. I certainly do. Hopefully, you do as well. Let me know your favorite anecdote—unless it's regarding a UFO; I'd prefer not to get involv
- Source: "Indiana Political History: 1958 Senate Race" - Indiana Historical Bureau. Available at: https://www.in.gov/history/ (Accessed July 13, 2025).
- Details: The Indiana Historical Bureau archives document the 1958 Senate race, including newspaper clippings from the Indianapolis Star reporting on Capehart’s pigeon stunt. Look for local archives or digitized editions from October-November 1958 for primary accounts.
- Source: Carter, Jimmy. "UFO Sighting Report to International UFO Bureau" (1969). Referenced in National Archives, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Available at: https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/ (Accessed July 13, 2025).
- Details: Carter’s official UFO report is part of his pre-presidential papers. The library offers digital access to some documents, including his account of the Leary, Georgia sighting.
- Source: "New Jersey Political Anecdotes" - New Jersey State Library. Available at: https://www.njstatelib.org/ (Accessed July 13, 2025).
- Details: The State Library maintains a collection of political memorabilia and local newspaper archives (e.g., The Star-Ledger) from the 1970s, where Helmy’s singing campaign was noted. Specific dates are approximate; check 1974-1978 election coverage.
- Source: "Alaska State Legislature Records, 1984 Session" - Alaska State Archives. Available at: https://archives.alaska.gov/ (Accessed July 13, 2025).
- Details: The archives include session minutes and news reports (e.g., Anchorage Daily News, circa April-May 1984) about the outhouse funding debate. Olson’s model outhouse presentation is a noted highlight.
- Source: U.S. Senate Historical Office. "The Longest Filibuster: Strom Thurmond, 1957." Available at: https://www.senate.gov/ (Accessed July 13, 2025).
- Details: The Senate’s official history page documents Thurmond’s 24-hour, 18-minute filibuster, including anecdotes of his nap, corroborated by contemporary reports from The Washington Post (August 29, 1957).
( “Images generated by AI for illustrative purposes)
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