Gracie Allen for President

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I grew up listening to Burns and Allen on the radio and then on TV. I've been reading a memoir by George Burns, Gracie, a Love Story, about their life together. I just read in the AARP Bulletin that laughing helps the heart as much as exercise, and this book is funny. What I didn't know was that Gracie Allen ran against F.D.R. and Willkie for President of the USA on the Surprise Ticket in 1940. Did you know that? I didn't know that because I hadn't been born yet. It was quite a famous campaign, and although Gracie got several write-in votes, both she and Willkie lost to F.D.R. Gracie did one of those whistle stop train tours and gave 34 short speeches from a caboose in 34 different towns between Los Angeles and Omaha, the city which hosted her convention. The first stop was in Riverside and here's how she opened her speech to the 3,000 people waiting for her there: "As I look out and see all these trusting and believing faces shining up at me with love and respect, tears come into my eyes. And do you know why? My girdle is killing me." Her promises? Among them were providing old age for people with pensions. She wrote a book of advice for others running for public office and suggested they remember people's faces "even if they didn't want to call them names." She said a woman president was needed to "pave the way for other political jobs for women....And anybody knows that a woman is better than a man when it comes to introducing bills in the house." Before I became aware of George Burns and Gracie Allen, they had already become stars. It was fun to learn how they got there and what Gracie was really like at home. Did you ever watch or listen to Burns and Allen? What was your impression of their show? Note: I do know book titles should be in italics, and I tried to do that, but last time I tried it the code didn't work, so it might look weird.