The Beast runs, full tilt down the lawn, through the White House gates and out onto the avenue.

Its hooves clatter against the pavement as it trails its young and helpless passenger behind.

A man gives chase. He's a stout fellow in his late 50s whose

coat tails flail behind him as he dashes forth holding onto his top hat. Yelling for the animal to stop, he makes inner pleas to God.

The child being carried forth is this man's grandson,

and they are closing in on a construction pit nearby. The man is Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States.

As he surges forth for one final sprint, his outstretched fingers catch hold of the beast's harness,

bringing it to heal. The President tries to maintain his composure, aware that he has an audience out here on the street.

The child on the other hand is all giggles and glee,

having just experienced a most exhilarating carriage ride from his pet billy goat,

his whiskers. So goes this day in Benjamin Harrison's presidency, one in which he feels chiefly executive

embarrassment. Greetings listeners, it's Don Weilben with the next in our long running series on the U.S. Presidents.

We're halfway to present day. Number 23, Benjamin Harrison, elected in the campaign

of 1888 served from 89 to 93 comes after Grover Cleveland and before well

Grover Cleveland I know weird

born of Ohio the mother of, Ohio likes to call itself, eight of them having originated there.

Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of William Henry Harrison, Old Tippecanoe, our ninth president, who, as you may recall from episode

one 23, died of a stomach ailment after one year in office.

Benjamin was the great-grandson of his namesake, Colonel Benjamin Harrison, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

His own father was a U.S. Congressman.

Benjamin Harrison the second could be forgiven for having a sense of predestiny simply for being born a Harrison.

Skilled lawyer, veteran of the Union Army,

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