The story that circulates about how NORAD started tracking Santa is pretty heart-warming, but doesn’t completely hold up. So there’s some myth-busting here, and maybe the tiniest bit of bah-humbug.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The story that circulates about how NORAD started tracking Santa is pretty heart-warming, but doesn’t completely hold up. So there’s some myth-busting here, and maybe the tiniest bit of bah-humbug. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

The story that circulates about how NORAD started tracking Santa is pretty heart-warming, but doesn’t completely hold up. So there’s some myth-busting here, and maybe the tiniest bit of bah-humbug.

NORAD Tracking Santa: A Cold War History

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fa6bfaf2-ad2d-4d35-81cb-ae2800525522/transcript

Bernhard von Gudden was renowned as a reformer of asylums in Germany. But that legacy has been eclipsed by his part in getting King Ludwig II of Bavaria deposed.

Research:
Bhattacharyya, Kalyan B. “Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden and the Mad King of Bavaria.” Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology vol. 20,4 (2017): 348-351. doi:10.4103/aian.AIAN_489_16
Crossland, David. “Suicide of Mad Ludwig was murder, says film‑maker.” The Times of London. June 29, 2018. https://www.thetimes.com/world/article/suicide-of-mad-ludwig-was-murder-says-film-maker-2x9s8hnkl
Danek, A et al. “The dream king's psychiatrist Bernhard von Gudden (1824-1886). A life committed to rationality.” Archives of neurology vol. 46,12 (1989): 1349-53. doi:10.1001/archneur.1989.00520480093026
Dalvi, Madhusudan. “The Fairy Tale King and His Royal Psychiatrist: The Contribution to Neuroscience of Dr Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden, Psychiatrist to King Ludwig II – Psychiatry in History.” The British Journal of Psychiatry 222.5 (2023): 187–187
“Death in Lake Starnberg.” Bavarikon. https://www.bavarikon.de/en/exhibitions/king-ludwig-ii-of-bavaria-life-legacy-legend/disempowerment-and-death/death-in-lake-starnberg
“The death of King Ludwig II.” Cambridge University Library. https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/germanic-collections/about-collections/spotlight-archive/death-king-ludwig
Diethelm, Oskar. AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF SOMATIC TREATMENT IN PSYCHIATRY. 1939. American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 95, no. 5, American Psychiatric Publishing, Mar. 1939, pp. 1165–1179, doi:1176/ajp.95.5.1165
“John Conolly.” Royal College of Physicians. https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/john-conolly
“Ludwig II. The Final Days of the Fairy Tale King: The Report.” Museum Starnberger See. https://www.museum-starnberger-see.de/en/exhibitions/upcoming/ludwig-ii/texts-and-audio-recordings/the-report
“Ludwig II. The Final Days of the Fairy Tale King: From the Autopsy Report of Ludwig II.” Museum Starnberger See. https://www.museum-starnberger-see.de/en/exhibitions/upcoming/ludwig-ii/texts-and-audio-recordings/autopsy-report
“Mad King Ludwig a Suicide.” The Philadelphia Times. June 15, 1886. https://www.newspapers.com/image/52212265/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJFUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjUyMjEyMjY1LCJpYXQiOjE3OTI1MjQ5OTQsImV4cCI6MTc5MjYxMTM5NH0.Y3yJW-PPNj0sg3HvMXT8ADdExIsxEbJ_2jQOnkNJPjDs_rHlGdri61QOCmh97k1NREVtpH0_u7oBOa_8sOWncQ
Müller, Jürgen L. “Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden, 1824–1886. 2002.” American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 159, no. 3, American Psychiatric Publishing, Mar. 2002, p. 379, doi:1176/ajp.159.3.379
Neumann, Conny. “Was ‘Mad’ king Ludwig Murdered?” Der Spiegel. Nov. 7, 2011. https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/fresh-doubt-about-suicide-theory-was-mad-king-ludwig-murdered-a-515924.html
“OTTO, MAD MONARCH OF BAVARIA, DEAD; The End Came Suddenly at Fuerstenried Castle, Near Munich. INSANE FOR 43 YEARS Nominally Succeeded His Mad Brother Ludwig, but Never Exercised Royal Power.” New York Times. Oct. 13, 1916. https://www.nytimes.com/1916/10/13/archives/otto-mad-monarch-of-bavaria-dead-the-end-came-suddenly-at.html
Sarikcioglu, Levent. “Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden: an outstanding scientist.” Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry vol. 78,2 (2007): 195. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2006.106633
Steinberg, Reinhard, and Peter Falkai. “Was King Ludwig II of Bavaria misdiagnosed by Gudden and his colleagues?.” European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience vol. 271,4 (2021): 799-807. doi:10.1007/s00406-020-01161-8
Taylor, Allen. “The 125th Anniversary of the Death of King Ludwig II.” The Atlantic. June 13, 2011. https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/06/the-125th-anniversary-of-the-death-of-king-ludwig-ii/100085/
Workman, Charles. “Bernhard Von Gudden.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 1336, 1886, pp. 285–86. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25268832. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

 

Bernhard von Gudden was renowned as a reformer of asylums in Germany. But that legacy has been eclipsed by his part in getting King Ludwig II of Bavaria deposed.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Bhattacharyya, Kalyan B. &ldquo;Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden and the Mad King of Bavaria.&rdquo; Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology vol. 20,4 (2017): 348-351. doi:10.4103/aian.AIAN_489_16</li>
<li>Crossland, David. &ldquo;Suicide of Mad Ludwig was murder, says film‑maker.&rdquo; The Times of London. June 29, 2018. https://www.thetimes.com/world/article/suicide-of-mad-ludwig-was-murder-says-film-maker-2x9s8hnkl</li>
<li>Danek, A et al. &ldquo;The dream king's psychiatrist Bernhard von Gudden (1824-1886). A life committed to rationality.&rdquo; Archives of neurology vol. 46,12 (1989): 1349-53. doi:10.1001/archneur.1989.00520480093026</li>
<li>Dalvi, Madhusudan. &ldquo;The Fairy Tale King and His Royal Psychiatrist: The Contribution to Neuroscience of Dr Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden, Psychiatrist to King Ludwig II &ndash; Psychiatry in History.&rdquo; The British Journal of Psychiatry 222.5 (2023): 187&ndash;187</li>
<li>&ldquo;Death in Lake Starnberg.&rdquo; Bavarikon. https://www.bavarikon.de/en/exhibitions/king-ludwig-ii-of-bavaria-life-legacy-legend/disempowerment-and-death/death-in-lake-starnberg</li>
<li>&ldquo;The death of King Ludwig II.&rdquo; Cambridge University Library. https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/germanic-collections/about-collections/spotlight-archive/death-king-ludwig</li>
<li>Diethelm, Oskar. AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF SOMATIC TREATMENT IN PSYCHIATRY. 1939. American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 95, no. 5, American Psychiatric Publishing, Mar. 1939, pp. 1165&ndash;1179, doi:1176/ajp.95.5.1165</li>
<li>&ldquo;John Conolly.&rdquo; Royal College of Physicians. https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/john-conolly</li>
<li>&ldquo;Ludwig II. The Final Days of the Fairy Tale King: The Report.&rdquo; Museum Starnberger See. https://www.museum-starnberger-see.de/en/exhibitions/upcoming/ludwig-ii/texts-and-audio-recordings/the-report</li>
<li>&ldquo;Ludwig II. The Final Days of the Fairy Tale King: From the Autopsy Report of Ludwig II.&rdquo; Museum Starnberger See. https://www.museum-starnberger-see.de/en/exhibitions/upcoming/ludwig-ii/texts-and-audio-recordings/autopsy-report</li>
<li>&ldquo;Mad King Ludwig a Suicide.&rdquo; The Philadelphia Times. June 15, 1886. https://www.newspapers.com/image/52212265/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJFUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjUyMjEyMjY1LCJpYXQiOjE3OTI1MjQ5OTQsImV4cCI6MTc5MjYxMTM5NH0.Y3yJW-PPNj0sg3HvMXT8ADdExIsxEbJ_2jQOnkNJPjDs_rHlGdri61QOCmh97k1NREVtpH0_u7oBOa_8sOWncQ</li>
<li>M&uuml;ller, J&uuml;rgen L. &ldquo;Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden, 1824&ndash;1886. 2002.&rdquo; American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 159, no. 3, American Psychiatric Publishing, Mar. 2002, p. 379, doi:1176/ajp.159.3.379</li>
<li>Neumann, Conny. &ldquo;Was &lsquo;Mad&rsquo; king Ludwig Murdered?&rdquo; Der Spiegel. Nov. 7, 2011. https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/fresh-doubt-about-suicide-theory-was-mad-king-ludwig-murdered-a-515924.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;OTTO, MAD MONARCH OF BAVARIA, DEAD; The End Came Suddenly at Fuerstenried Castle, Near Munich. INSANE FOR 43 YEARS Nominally Succeeded His Mad Brother Ludwig, but Never Exercised Royal Power.&rdquo; New York Times. Oct. 13, 1916. https://www.nytimes.com/1916/10/13/archives/otto-mad-monarch-of-bavaria-dead-the-end-came-suddenly-at.html</li>
<li>Sarikcioglu, Levent. &ldquo;Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden: an outstanding scientist.&rdquo; Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry vol. 78,2 (2007): 195. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2006.106633</li>
<li>Steinberg, Reinhard, and Peter Falkai. &ldquo;Was King Ludwig II of Bavaria misdiagnosed by Gudden and his colleagues?.&rdquo; European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience vol. 271,4 (2021): 799-807. doi:10.1007/s00406-020-01161-8</li>
<li>Taylor, Allen. &ldquo;The 125th Anniversary of the Death of King Ludwig II.&rdquo; The Atlantic. June 13, 2011. https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/06/the-125th-anniversary-of-the-death-of-king-ludwig-ii/100085/</li>
<li>Workman, Charles. &ldquo;Bernhard Von Gudden.&rdquo; The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 1336, 1886, pp. 285&ndash;86. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25268832. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Bernhard von Gudden was renowned as a reformer of asylums in Germany. But that legacy has been eclipsed by his part in getting King Ludwig II of Bavaria deposed.

Bernhard von Gudden: Ludwig II’s Psychiatrist

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/604f25f1-c877-4f9e-846c-b4f701815b6e/transcript

In the 1950s, two men tried to corner the market on onions on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and manipulate futures contracts. Then Congress took up legislation to expressly forbid contracts for the sale of onion futures. 

Research:
Butz, Earl L. “VINCENT W KOSUGA, SAM S. SIEGEL, AND NATIONAL PRODUCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.” Docket 73. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. CEA Cases. 6/18/1956. https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@lrceacases/documents/ceacases/kosuga-jun1956-644.pdf
Chicago Tribune. “Chicago Onion Dealer Named for Price Fix.” 6/22/1956. Page 43.
Chicago Tribune. “Siegel Denies Manipulating Onion Futures.” 6/22/1956. Page 43.
Commodity Exchange Authority. “Futures Trading in Onions.” United States Department of Agriculture. December 1956.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “History of the CFTC.” https://www.cftc.gov/About/HistoryoftheCFTC/history_precftc.html
Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “VINCENT W. KOSUGA, SAM S. SIEGEL, AND NATIONAL PRODUCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.” Decision and Order. 6/3/1960. https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@lrceacases/documents/ceacases/kosuga-jun1960-555.pdf
Lambert, Emily. “The Futures: the Rise of the Speculator and the Origins of the World’s Biggest Markets.” Basic Books. 2011.
Miller, Rena S. “Introduction to Derivatives and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.” U.S. Congress. Report. 3/13/2025. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48451
Mininger, Wayne. “Public Comment: Agricultural Commodity Definition, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Final Rule: Pages 25-26.” SEC. https://www.sec.gov/comments/s7-16-11/s71611-13.pdf
NPR Planet Money. “Episode 657: The Tale Of The Onion King.” 10/14/2015. https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/14/448718171/episode-657-the-tale-of-the-onion-king
Romer, Keith and Robert Smith. “The tale of the Onion King (Update).” NPR Planet Money. 6/22/2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/22/1106861476/the-tale-of-the-onion-king-update
Romer, Keith. “The Great Onion Corner And The Futures Market.” NPR Planet Money/Morning Edition. 10/22/2015. https://www.npr.org/2015/10/22/450769853/the-great-onion-corner-and-the-futures-market
S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. “Vincent W. Kosuga, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Jack H. Kelly, Defendant-appellant, 257 F.2d 48 (7th Cir. 1958).” October 13, 1958. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/257/48/78496/
S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. “Chicago Mercantile Exchange v. Tieken, 178 F. Supp. 779 (N.D. Ill. 1959).” 12/2/1959. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/178/779/1642330/
S. Supreme Court. “Kelly v. Kosuga, 358 U.S. 516 (1959).” 2/24/1959. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/358/516/
Warwick Valley Dispatch. “Vince Kosuga to be Named Pine Island Citizen of the ” 10/14/1987. https://www.pineislandny.com/Scrapbook/0048_sp_sm.pdf
Binghamton Press Bureau. “Both Engines Are Torn Off as Ship Makes Forced Landing.” Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin. Page 1. 9/7/1948.
Roesch, Roberta Fleming. “Couple’s Success Recipe: ‘We Know Our Onions.’” Wilkes-Barre Record. Page 9. 10/23/1964.

In the 1950s, two men tried to corner the market on onions on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and manipulate futures contracts. Then Congress took up legislation to expressly forbid contracts for the sale of onion futures.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>Butz, Earl L. &ldquo;VINCENT W KOSUGA, SAM S. SIEGEL, AND NATIONAL PRODUCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.&rdquo; Docket 73. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. CEA Cases. 6/18/1956. https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@lrceacases/documents/ceacases/kosuga-jun1956-644.pdf</li>
<li>Chicago Tribune. &ldquo;Chicago Onion Dealer Named for Price Fix.&rdquo; 6/22/1956. Page 43.</li>
<li>Chicago Tribune. &ldquo;Siegel Denies Manipulating Onion Futures.&rdquo; 6/22/1956. Page 43.</li>
<li>Commodity Exchange Authority. &ldquo;Futures Trading in Onions.&rdquo; United States Department of Agriculture. December 1956.</li>
<li>Commodity Futures Trading Commission. &ldquo;History of the CFTC.&rdquo; https://www.cftc.gov/About/HistoryoftheCFTC/history_precftc.html</li>
<li>Commodity Futures Trading Commission. &ldquo;VINCENT W. KOSUGA, SAM S. SIEGEL, AND NATIONAL PRODUCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.&rdquo; Decision and Order. 6/3/1960. https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@lrceacases/documents/ceacases/kosuga-jun1960-555.pdf</li>
<li>Lambert, Emily. &ldquo;The Futures: the Rise of the Speculator and the Origins of the World&rsquo;s Biggest Markets.&rdquo; Basic Books. 2011.</li>
<li>Miller, Rena S. &ldquo;Introduction to Derivatives and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.&rdquo; U.S. Congress. Report. 3/13/2025. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48451</li>
<li>Mininger, Wayne. &ldquo;Public Comment: Agricultural Commodity Definition, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Final Rule: Pages 25-26.&rdquo; SEC. https://www.sec.gov/comments/s7-16-11/s71611-13.pdf</li>
<li>NPR Planet Money. &ldquo;Episode 657: The Tale Of The Onion King.&rdquo; 10/14/2015. https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/14/448718171/episode-657-the-tale-of-the-onion-king</li>
<li>Romer, Keith and Robert Smith. &ldquo;The tale of the Onion King (Update).&rdquo; NPR Planet Money. 6/22/2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/22/1106861476/the-tale-of-the-onion-king-update</li>
<li>Romer, Keith. &ldquo;The Great Onion Corner And The Futures Market.&rdquo; NPR Planet Money/Morning Edition. 10/22/2015. https://www.npr.org/2015/10/22/450769853/the-great-onion-corner-and-the-futures-market</li>
<li>S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. &ldquo;Vincent W. Kosuga, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Jack H. Kelly, Defendant-appellant, 257 F.2d 48 (7th Cir. 1958).&rdquo; October 13, 1958. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/257/48/78496/</li>
<li>S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. &ldquo;Chicago Mercantile Exchange v. Tieken, 178 F. Supp. 779 (N.D. Ill. 1959).&rdquo; 12/2/1959. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/178/779/1642330/</li>
<li>S. Supreme Court. &ldquo;Kelly v. Kosuga, 358 U.S. 516 (1959).&rdquo; 2/24/1959. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/358/516/</li>
<li>Warwick Valley Dispatch. &ldquo;Vince Kosuga to be Named Pine Island Citizen of the &rdquo; 10/14/1987. https://www.pineislandny.com/Scrapbook/0048_sp_sm.pdf</li>
<li>Binghamton Press Bureau. &ldquo;Both Engines Are Torn Off as Ship Makes Forced Landing.&rdquo; Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin. Page 1. 9/7/1948.</li>
<li>Roesch, Roberta Fleming. &ldquo;Couple&rsquo;s Success Recipe: &lsquo;We Know Our Onions.&rsquo;&rdquo; Wilkes-Barre Record. Page 9. 10/23/1964.</li>
</ul>

In the 1950s, two men tried to corner the market on onions on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and manipulate futures contracts. Then Congress took up legislation to expressly forbid contracts for the sale of onion futures. 

Onion Futures Act

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6d788f2c-652e-4f09-b98a-b4f20154f5a7/transcript

This 2022 episode covers Helen Duncan, sometimes described inaccurately as Scotland’s last witch, or the last person imprisoned for witchcraft in Britain, or the last person to be tried under the UK’s 1735 Witchcraft Act.

This 2022 episode covers Helen Duncan, sometimes described inaccurately as Scotland&rsquo;s last witch, or the last person imprisoned for witchcraft in Britain, or the last person to be tried under the UK&rsquo;s 1735 Witchcraft Act.

SYMHC Classics: Helen Duncan

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/552ca6ad-0114-4ad3-a085-b4f20154daf7/transcript

NORAD Tracking Santa: A Cold War History

In 1 playlist(s)

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips