Episode 200: The Moonshine Stimulus
- Playlist
- Download
- Embed Embed Close embed modal iframe src="http://www.npr.org/player/embed/436961838/436967359" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"> ">
- Transcript
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to Warm Springs, Georgia in the 1920s. He suffered from polio and used the warm waters for physical therapy. Around town however, another story circulates. FDR was fond of the region's moonshine.
On today's show, we go to Warm Springs to find out if the rumors are true: Did FDR really buy moonshine during Prohibition? Did he really violate the Constitution he had sworn to protect?
In our quest for truth, we meet the daughter of FDR's favorite fiddle player and an economist, who explains how a divisive moral issue became a celebrated business stimulus plan.
Find us: Twitter/ Facebook/ Spotify/ Tumblr.
FDR is often credited with popularizing the dirty martini, some say he even celebrated the repeal of Prohibition with one. Here's a recipe to make your own "FDR Martini" at home.
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.9())