80: “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus:” A History

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 December 2020

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“Church bristled and pooh-poohed at the subject when I suggested that he write a reply to Virginia O’Hanlon.” This is the story of America’s most famous editorial. Virginia O’Hanlon is an inquisitive eight-year-old. She’s debated with her friends and studied out the matter, but she still can’t decide: is there a Santa Claus? At her father’s suggestion, she writes to New York’s great arbiter of truth: The Sun. Her letter is handed to an editorial writer by the name of Francis “Frank” Pharcellus Church. But Frank doesn’t want to answer the letter. Emotionally scarred by what he witnessed reporting on during the Civil War, Frank is a cynic. Further, as a man without a wife, children, or faith, a religious or faith-filled holiday focused on children really isn’t his thing. What exactly can he say to this little girl? The result is the most famous editorial in the history of American newspapers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today on Good Different News, reality TV star admits it's nothing like reality, and more
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0:20.2	Search Suzuki Cars, Suzuki, Good Different.
0:23.4	Offer replies to UK Private Retail Purchases from participating Suzuki dealer terms and exclusions
0:36.9	of LycCars.Suskey.co.uk.
0:38.9	Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
0:40.9	Welcome to our fourth annual Christmas special.
0:35.2	Keeping with our tradition of telling a Christmas story that aligns chronologically with our
0:38.9	current era of American history, today we head to 1890s New York, where a girl is desperate
0:44.5	to know if there really is Santa Claus.
0:48.0	Her question will yield one of the most celebrated editorials ever published in an American newspaper.
0:53.5	So let's distract you from that yet to be delivered present with a timeless tale of faith
0:57.4	and hope.
0:58.4	You know, the exact things you're relying on regarding that late package.
1:02.2	Oh, and lastly, a quick thanks to my dear friend Tim O'Brien at Shaping a Pinion Podcast
1:07.4	for his help with sources while researching this episode.
1:10.9	With no further ado, here we go.
1:14.4	History that doesn't suck is a bi-weekly podcast delivering a legit, seriously researched
1:18.3	hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories.
	...

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