Manuel Herrick: the "Okie Jesus Congressman"

If for no other reason than being, perhaps, the most eccentric congressman in US history, Manuel Herrick, the “Okie Jesus Congressman,” deserves to be remembered.
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Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #Oklahoma

[@Alleged_Mercenary]

If Herrick were alive today I'm sure he would easily find a place in politics.

[@nelsonbrum8496]

And he would be considered too normal...

[@lamardeal3547]

​@@nelsonbrum8496❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤llllll B, v

[@davewoodmancy5124]

He was with the right party

[@acars9999]

Absolutely. He might even have a hard time standing out.

[@kathryngoff7089]

I concur. Nowadays, not only would he have been elected, he'd be a shoo-in for multiple reelections.

[@BenAD1974]

As an Okie I'm always happy when some of our history comes up, even if it is about one of our EcCentRic characters. 😊

[@dugroz]

Random capitalization???? :)

[@catofthecastle1681]

You should do one of these on Hattie Caraway, the female congresswoman elected in her own right, after her husband died in office. She was pro farmer and anti lynching! She was first placed in her husband’s position in 1931 and served our country in various ways until 1951, I think!

[@allenatkins2263]

I think Will Rogers, talking about the Okies who moved to California, said "By moving, they improved the I.Q. of both places.".

[@goodun2974]

Based upon reading the scandalous transcripts of the taped, 3 hour long "hot mic" conversations between sheriff's deputies and members of the county government in southeast Oklahoma, I would say that many of a lesser intellect remained in Oklahoma. The jealousy, petty grudges, class-based grievance, greed, and sheer powerlust, are like something out of 8th grade prom politics.

[@jaremygolightly3279]

​@@goodun2974 show us on the doll where the o.p. hurt you.

[@normajeanmcdaniel4491]

OMG! 😂 I love this! And, as a California Girl w Okie roots, I think it's true! 💯 - just me in Palm Springs 🌴

[@goodun2974]

@@jaremygolightly3279 "There are 3 kinds of men. The one who learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves". Will Rogers

[@nelsonbergman7706]

Wil Rogers also said "I am not a member of any organized party. I am a Democrat"

[@vernebowers8116]

There have been many colorful and talented Okies! Thanks for telling us about this one. 😊

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

The KZbin algorithm didn't know what to do with this one!!

[@alidaweber1023]

This poor soul sure knew how to put the "pain" into "campaign."

[@ThomasEJohnson]

I’m surprised no one has made a movie about him.

[@greggi47]

Have I ever been disappointed by any of your subject choices? No. A few times I have been less enthusiastic, but even in those cases I have learned something. You are not, of course, merely a trivialist. It is good to be reminded that our history is not limited to big, famous, earth-shaking events and people. Keep at it, and thanks.

[@seatedliberty]

I choose to believe that, genetic and historical evidence to the contrary excepted, H. Ross Perot is Herrick's son.

[@PinkyJujubean]

There needs to be a movie about this guy. If anyone is a perfect candidate for a biopic its him

[@jec1ny]

Sounds like an amusing character. Definitely a few fries short of a Happy Meal. But generally harmless.

[@stuartriefe1740]

Wow, just made it… I’ll slip in to a seat in the back. Greetings to all fellow students from central Connecticut! Good morning!

[@josephhoag2366]

As a native Oklahoman, I readily admit that the state politics have been, to say the least, colorful. Gov. David Hall served 17 months for bribery and extortion, and I was glad to see him held accountable; also, it was common knowledge that often roads would be paved up to the driveway of a county commissioner and no further. Then there was Gene Stipe, called the Prince of Darkness. And it goes on and on. However, seeing what's going on in modern politics, the old guys look like pikers....Carla H.

[@johnscott6083]

A great episode. It makes me feel better and worse at the same time.

[@terryhollands2794]

This is a wonderful story, it lifted my spirit, and gives me hope, thank you.

[@RetiredSailor60]

Good Monday morning History Guy and everyone watching

[@normajeanmcdaniel4491]

I love the eccentrics! My great Grandparents fled OH to CA in the Dust Bowl, and always called themselves "Okies" at home. I realize it's now probably a slur, but they were proud to hv made it alive! Go eccentrics! 👍- just me in Palm Springs 🌴

[@nonoyorbusness]

Sounds better than the bunch we've got at present!

[@Wil_Liam1]

Wouldn't take much to do that..

[@FYMASMD]

Looking forward to you putting your name on the ballot. 🙄

[@Louis-kk3to]

You damn right 🤠

[@nonoyorbusness]

@@FYMASMD Sadly I don't have the required 7 million dollars 😕😞!

[@robertweldon7909]

I ascribe to the premise that eccentric people are the folks that make the world go around. Many are the innovators who have created our modern world. Others are known for their down home logic, like Louisiana senator Kennedy, and others are just a bit over the hill. Where you place Mr. Herrick in this is up to you, but I'll bet he had a good time being the "nut" that he was. ;-)

[@LewisBeck]

Really interesting, History Guy; well done, as usual! Your story puts me in the mind of a equally eccentric old gentleman who lived in Whitehorse, Yukon and who consistently ran for mayor. His odd ideas about how women should be treated included such things as "rolling them in the mud and taking a whip to them" when they misbehaved. He was never elected, of courses, but his ongoing campaign lent a lot of colour to Whitehorse elections!!

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

awesome vid sir - everything old is new again

[@steveshoemaker6347]

l now know about Manuel Herrick and that he was a nut of some sort.....BUT I DO KNOW FOR SURE WE GOT A LOT OF NUT'S IN CONGRESS IN 2024 .......Thank THG🎀 for this fine History video 👍 Old nasty Shoe🇺🇸

[@res00xua]

Thanks to the channel that started my KZbin channel addiction!

[@donalddodson7365]

Great story! Thank you, Team THG. I suspect if we actually had a truly independent "free press," if a far greater number of American politicians would be eligible for committal to asylums or jail today? 😂😢😮

[@neilreynolds3858]

Asylum first; jail when they recover.

[@rickbrandt9559]

Always "listening for "Highway Wildflowers" !!!!!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

It could be worse people to imagine being! When I was a kid I pretended to be The 6 million dollar 💵 Man!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

@@genesun71 I made the noise writing this comment

[@peterisaacs1344]

Fascinating story

[@PhantomLover007]

I was fully invested in hearing if he was a pirate. Lol.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

I am not eccentric, I am special.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

10:38 I'm Shocked! 🙂

[@proudvirginian]

The thing I find just odd was that there was Republican control in Oklahoma in 1918. I would've thought they'd have been just as Democrat heavy as the South

[@goodun2974]

THG noted in a comment to another person here that 1920 was an outlier; Oklahoma typically voted with the South, but the third district was heavily republican district.

[@BasicDrumming]

I appreciate you and thank you for making content.

[@debbyparker5431]

Have you done a video about Huey Long of Louisiana ? That would be a good one . ❤

[@kevinobrien2311]

Kelly of the Washington Post should know better -- but perhaps common sense or fear of lawsuits prevents him from mentioning any of 2024's candidates for US President as a present-day heir of the Manuel Herrick legacy. A few members of the current Congress, expelled or still seated, might also vie to inherit that legacy ... 🙃.

[@frankgulla2335]

Thank you, THG, for the tale of OJC, as we would obviously call him today. Certainly one of the stranger persons to become famous (infamous) in USA history.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Back in the Saddle Again Naturally

[@johnfun3394]

I believe he was just ahead of his times, people pretend to be all sorts of things today. Doesn’t matter to me except everyone should be nice. Fat chance! Thanks

[@beerdrinker6452]

You deserve more than 1.32m subscibers.

[@kellybasham3113]

Love your videos

[@sspencer9972]

He'd fit right in this year 😂

[@froush9546]

I've got to admit that it's not the histary per se, but the stragling too stop laughing long enouf to eat my breakfest.

[@jamesengland7461]

So much for the Bible Belt not running this self-proclaimed savior out on a rail. Kind of like now.

[@paulmcmanus6222]

I think that this is another one that falls in the category of Some Mothers Do Have Them!

[@paulsmodels]

He would fit right in today's political climate in the U.S. He and Trump could argue back and forth about who is the real savior of America.

[@jeffbangkok]

Good evening from the mango farm

[@okieredrose11]

In our deeply Republican present, it is easy to forget that there were a ton of radical political groups and figures in early Oklahoma politics. I’m a fourth generation Okie. My grandparents even went to California in the Depression but eventually moved back to Oklahoma.

[@governorblack]

I was raised in Oklahoma, its political history has been, colorful to say the least!

[@Wil_Liam1]

Show me a moral reformer and I'll show you someone with something to hide...

[@jliller]

So your argument is there are two types of people in the word: the openly immoral and hypocrites?

[@RichardIresonMusician]

Ah yes, the most moral among us.....the moral crusader....no wait...

[@goodun2974]

From Okie Jesus to Orange Jesus......history might not repeat, but it often rhymes.

[@clyde2801]

Not to be confused with the profane mixed martial arts plumber that we currently sent to DC as a Senator.

[@davidward9282]

I'd love to see your take on Arizona senator Carl Hayden.

[@douglassauvageau7262]

"Democracy is often untidy". Donald Rumsfeld

[@TM-ev2tc]

You should do a video of the incident depicted in the movie "Killers of the Flower Moon" from Oklahoma in the 1920s about some of the people of the Osage Indian Tribe.

[@goodun2974]

You could begin by reading the detailed historical account in the book of the same title. The movie was pretty good but, being a Scorsese movie, incorporates some odd affectations.

[@jamesslick4790]

I'd vote for him RN!

[@arlosmith2784]

In the Trump/Mike Johnson era of today, this guy would be in House leadership 👎

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

Apparently,he didn't live long enough to see the "politicians" we have today.

[@neilreynolds3858]

I'd vote for him. All of our politicians think they're saviors of some kind. He has all the qualifications to become Speaker.

[@bumbo9622]

I'm from Oklahoma so therefore I know😂

[@PilotInCommand777]

Have you done a video on the 1988 Pepcon plant explosion in Henderson, Nevada? I lived 1 mile away from the plant when it happened.

[@suzanneflowers2230]

I dare say worse candidates have been voted in.

[@gonzostrangelove6107]

Hey! My little home town in Oklahoma prominently and multiply mentioned in a History Guy video! How about that.

[@wooderdsaunders4640]

Why didnt Scott ot another canidate use a write in ballot, or was that not done back then?

[@steven20653]

I don’t know what it says about the state of current candidates for office, but I’d probably vote for this nutter over most folks I’ve seen on the ballot.

[@MrMatteNWk]

5:04 Grammar, spelling, and random capitalization, oh how things don't change, even going from hand written letters to Twitter

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Herrick insisted that his letters be published as written- very like Twitter.

[@danstotland6386]

Gone are the days of Congressional genius. Representative Herrick would have blended and fit in with the MAGA faction. He might have found disagreement with ex president Trump concerning his messiahdom. But I have no doubts that he would have modified his exalted opinion of himself, (for party unity). just as he changed his beard and dress. We miss such good men.

[@merlinwizard1000]

32nd, 11 March 2024

[@robertneal4244]

Do you have any idea why there are so many typographical errors in the newspaper articles shown? I lost count of them.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Those were mostly not typographical errors on the part of the papers. Those are the results of Herrick demanding that his letters be published as written.

[@robertneal4244]

WOW! Eccentric indeed. Perhaps he should have studied spelling and vocabulary instead.@@TheHistoryGuyChannel

[@jliller]

@@robertneal4244 Many a self-published book full of errors was not written by an author unable to afford an editor or proofreader, but rather an author who considered themselves above such things and refused to seek feedback or, if sought, refused listen.

[@robertenyart9982]

Mr. Herrick would blend right into the Maga/Republican Party.

[@Louis-kk3to]

It takes men like himself too ster things up in Washington D C 🤠🥸

[@cabdaly]

yeah! named after “old and feathers” Winfield Scott, not that guy

[@jkilby27able]

👍👍👍👍

[@kenjackson5685]

1st class...

[@johnblais2065]

Surely not ,

[@DarcyS369]

Outta Kash OK-

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

1920 was an outlier- Oklahoma typically voted with the south. The 3rd district just happened to be a republican district.

[@ragdolltech3526]

Thinks hes Jesus.... Makes me think of GG Alan

[@jec1ny]

Poll question: How many of you would vote for this guy in preference to the two candidates running for president in 2024?

[@davefrey5998]

Brings to mind bobert & green !!

[@janlindtner305]

Have you completely stopped talking about hats?👍👍

[@phyllistaylor4381]

As an Okie, I can tell you that a yellow dog could get elected to Congress from Oklahoma as long as he was the Republican.

[@robertmurphree7210]

now Oklahoma's house and senate are mostly republican, however before 1960, Oklahoma was almost as solidly democrat as it is now republican.

[@robertmurphree7210]

A "yellow dog democrat" is someone that votes the straight democratic ticket. My aunt Julie was lifelong democrat and was Oklahoma historian who wrote and knew about Kate Bernard and active in politics. My uncle was Republican in Oklahoma state senate from OKC in the 1960s.

[@robertmurphree7210]

split in republican party between moderates and tea party extremists is almost as deep as republican and democrat

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Hey History Guy, 👋 🤓what's your favorite song by the New Edition? They're old friends of mine. I just saw them twice over the last week beginning their Residency!

[@goodun2974]

Being a researcher and History Guy, Lance's preference would be the Old Edition.....😉

[@brianpesci]

Sounds like a current republican candidate, may God help us all.

[@THE-HammerMan]

I wonder if Donald Trump could make any claims of distant relation or at least sympathetic adherence to Mr. Herrick's antics.

[@tng183]

If not Donald, certainly George Santos is related to Herrick.

[@archlich4489]

That outro music is beautiful. Is that Fleetwood Mac?

[@kevinbarry71]

Certainly better than any Republican we have today

[@retirementpirate3665]

Bless your heart.

[@kevinbarry71]

@@retirementpirate3665 same to you buddy

[@retirementpirate3665]

@@kevinbarry71Wow, what a come back and in such a short time. I feel the burn. In fact you have convinced my to change my party affiliation.

[@kevinbarry71]

@@retirementpirate3665 it's too bad you're elementary school teachers couldn't teach you English. Comeback is one word. And some people like you don't know the difference between "my "and "me". If the evil Donald Trump has not convinced you to abandon the republican party then you are simply fact proof.

[@scottrichards3587]

Reincarnated as M.T.Green😅

[@jillatherton4660]

😄

[@jamessmith3978]

Yup, he was a true republican.

[@pierceaero3005]

😎 Cool story Bro. Still Jesus' Moonshines' M.A.S.H.'d patients in Hollywood nursing homes I cared for decades later. Drunk History Reruns' What's Happening Now, still too. Got Bath Tub Gin? Some that survived that suffered Aphasia. Heartbreaking people. 😢

[@jliller]

"Some that survived that suffered Aphasia." You apparently among them?

[@pierceaero3005]

@jliller I have pulled a few people OUT of aphasia. From elderly in nursing homes to children in abuse shelters. I appeared to have a snack for it. You are heading there chemically and actually think you are cleaver. Swallower.

[@alec_f1]

He'd fit right in with the weirdos in there now. Boomer Sooner!

[@terryrobertson8382]

Sounds a lot like Trump to me.

[@hansheden]

So Trump isn't the first.

[@goodun2974]

From Okie Jesus to the Orange Cheesus, history might not repeat but it often rhymes.....

[@mikeseier4449]

@@goodun2974As opposed to our current “leader” that mumbles through a speech,Tries to shake hands with people that aren’t there and sniffs children’s hair?🧐

[@goodun2974]

@@mikeseier4449 , yes, thankfully our current president is indeed in opposition to the un-edumacated, know-nothing lunacy and fake religiosity of the "former guys" mentioned above.

[@grant6173]

I've watched this twice. The comments reinforce my low opinion of the ding-dongs in that area. And the general foolishness of the United States. Not the country. The people in that country.

[@uraswami8077]

Looks like Gavin Nuisance is carrying that Herrick mentality, or lack of, quite well.