ALABAMA: A Man Was the Cause of It All

Alabama's huge (6 ft. 8 in., 260 Ibs.), boar-browed Governor James ("Kissin' Jim") Folsom was feeling fine when he set out on a drive to Washington last week. He hoped to testify before a congressional committee on tidelands oil. He planned to go to New York to see some fashion models who had voted him No. I Leap Year Bachelor, and thus get his picture in the papers. As a self-avowed presidential candidate, he also hoped to rebroadcast a campaign promiseĀ—that he would take his "ole cornshuck mop and his ole suds bucket" and sweep up the Democratic Party.

But when...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!