Did the Democratic Party hire a comedian to play pranks on Richard Nixon?

QUESTION Did the Democratic Party hire a comedian to play pranks on Richard Nixon during his election campaigns?

This was Richard Gregory 'Dick' Tuck (1924-2018), a Democratic Party operative who made a career of political pranks, specialising in tormenting Richard Nixon.

The pair first crossed paths in 1950 when Tuck was a Second World War veteran studying political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Tuck was working part-time for Helen Gahagan Douglas, a Democrat running against Nixon for the California senate seat. Nixon had tried to smear Douglas as a communist sympathiser.

The university, unaware of the affiliation, unwittingly asked Tuck to organise Nixon's visit to the university. Tuck arranged for the unsuspecting candidate to speak in one of the largest auditoriums available and barely publicised the event. 

He introduced Nixon with a long-winded speech, then called the bemused Nixon to the microphone, saying the candidate would speak to the sparse audience about a topic 'all Californians care about, the International Monetary Fund'.

Richard Gregory 'Dick' Tuck (1924-2018), a Democratic Party operative who made a career of political pranks

At the 1956 Republican convention, where Nixon was to be chosen as President Eisenhower's vice-presidential candidate, Tuck paid garbage trucks to pass by, carrying the slogan 'Dump Nixon' 

Tuck made a career out of annoying Nixon. At the 1956 Republican convention, where Nixon was to be chosen as President Eisenhower's vice-presidential candidate, Tuck paid garbage trucks to pass by, carrying the slogan 'Dump Nixon'.

He was also known to pose as a fire marshal at Nixon appearances and give reporters low estimates for the size of the crowds. But Tuck never officially confirmed reports that he had donned a conductor's uniform and waved a train out of San Luis Obispo while Nixon was still speaking from its rear.

Daniel Reed, Malvern, Worcs.

QUESTION How did Mike 'the headless chicken' survive for 18 months without a head?

Mike the Headless Chicken, also known as Miracle Mike, was a real chicken who achieved fame for living without a head for over a year.

In September 1945, a farmer named Lloyd Olsen was slaughtering chickens on his farm in Fruita, Colorado. When he decapitated one chicken, Mike, he missed the jugular vein.

To Olsen's surprise, instead of dying like the other chickens, Mike remained alive and even attempted to peck for food. Realising this, Olsen decided to care for him. He fed Mike a mixture of milk and water — and even grain —through an eyedropper.

Amazingly, Mike survived and thrived, growing to nearly eight pounds during the rest of his life.

Scientists and veterinarians who examined Mike speculated that the brainstem, which controls rudimentary functions like breathing and heart rate, was still partially intact, allowing him to maintain these functions and survive. However, since he lacked higher brain functions, he couldn't see, hear or process information as a normal chicken would.

Mike the Headless Chicken, also known as Miracle Mike, was a real chicken who achieved fame for living without a head for over a year

Mike's remarkable survival garnered widespread attention, and he became a popular attraction at sideshows and carnivals.

Sadly, Mike eventually choked to death on his own mucus (the syringe Olsen used to help Mike clear it having been left at a sideshow) in a motel room while on tour in Phoenix, Arizona, in spring 1947.

J. G. Ashley, Hull.

QUESTION What films have had their endings changed because the original was too depressing?

Several films have altered their endings because of concerns that the original endings were too depressing or bleak for audiences.

Some notable examples: Fatal Attraction (1987) at first ended with Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) committing suicide and framing Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) for her murder. However, test audiences hated this ending, so it was reshot to have Alex killed by Dan's wife, allowing for what was deemed a more satisfying resolution.

The original screenplay for Pretty Woman (1990) by J. F. Lawton was titled Three Thousand and had a much darker tone, focusing on the grim realities of prostitution. It ended with Vivian (Julia Roberts) being left by Edward (Richard Gere) after paying her for her services. However, this was changed to a more romantic and uplifting ending where Edward rescues Vivian from her life as a prostitute and they ride off into the sunset together.

Fatal Attraction (1987) at first ended with Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) committing suicide and framing Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) for her murder

Little Shop Of Horrors (1986) initially had the same ending as the off-Broadway musical on which the film was based. This saw Seymour (Rick Moranis) killed by the carnivorous plant Audrey II, and the plant taking over the world. Again, test audiences disliked this ending, so it was reshot to give a happier conclusion with Seymour defeating Audrey II and therefore saving humanity.

Ed Timpson, Cheltenham, Glos.

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Write to: Charles Legge, Answers To Correspondents, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email [email protected]