This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human. Liberty has never been just a word to we Americans. It has guided every one of our endeavors for the past two hundred and fifty years, and now it takes form in a new way. The twenty twenty six semi quincentennial coin and medal program from the United States Mint.
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In the Big Rock Candy Mountains. This is our American stories, and now Jesse Edwards brings us the story of a desk, unlike any story of a desk that you've ever heard before. August twenty fourth, eighteen fourteen, marks one of the darkest episodes in the War of eighteen twelve. On that day, British troops marched on Washington, burning public buildings, including the U.S. Capitol.
Among the losses in the Capitol were the Senate chamber and all its contents. Reconstruction took until eighteen nineteen, and when senators again took their seats in the rebuilt chamber, they occupied forty-eight new desks and chairs, custom made by Thomas Constantine, a New York cabinet maker. Constantine was paid thirty-four dollars for each Senate desk and forty-six for each chair. Today, all of Constantine's desks remain in use in the current Senate chamber, although his chairs have been replaced. As new states entered the Union, desks of similar design were ordered from other cabinet makers.
Although the four newest desks, those constructed for Alaska and Hawaii, were built in the Senate cabinet shop, there are noticeable differences in shape and dimension among the 100 desks. These result from the original semicircular arrangement in the old Senate chamber. A desk's shape reflected its position in the room. Isle desks were narrow and angled, while the center was wider and square. If the oldest were arranged in the original layout, it is believed they would have formed a perfect semicircle.
Many traditions pertaining to the Senate desks have evolved over the years, and each new class of senators that occupies them contributes to their heritage. Through careful documentation and diligent preservation, this rich legacy will be maintained for future generations. But there is one senate desk unlike any of the others, and you wouldn't know by looking at it.
Next to the eastern door to the senate chamber, the first desk on the right in the last row of desks. They call it. The candy desk. It all began on the Republican side of the Senate in 1968 when Senator George Murphy of California, who had an insatiable appetite for candy, started stocking his desk full of sweets that he would often share with his fellow senators. The tradition has continued ever since and has even become a point of pride for the select few who preside over the candy desk.
Senators John McCain and Rick Santorum have both sat in the coveted desk. The current and sixteenth tenant of the candy desk is Republican Senator from Pennsylvania, Pat Toomey. Since Hershey's chocolate is based in Pennsylvania, Senator Toomey gladly shares candy from his home state.
Well, I am happy to be carrying on a great Senate tradition. It's the tradition of the Senate candy desk. For fifty years now, one desk on the Republican side of the aisle—the first desk that senators pass as they walk into the chamber—has been the official candy desk, and there's no. That should occupy this state more than Pennsylvania, because we are America's leading confectioner. We have more candy companies than any other state.
We have ten thousand people working in this industry, and it's just a terrific industry. And I happen to really like free muscovado bars, so I'm delighted to play this role.
Now, the strange thing is, according to Senate ethics rules, Senator. To me, and anyone who bears the responsibility as keeper of the candy desk is required to place only candy that originates from their home state into said candy desk. You see, every candy company in the world would love to have their candy inside the Senate candy desk. Think of it as a form of lobbying, because that's exactly what it is.
Now you might think that keeping a desk full of candy wouldn't be this complicated, but the rule states that senators are not allowed to accept donations of more than one hundred dollars per year. The loophole is that this rule does not apply if the donations are manufactured in that senator's home state.
Now get this: if you wanted to add your brand of candy to the already existing pool of U.S. Senate candy desk candy, your company and all the other companies that want to donate must first be represented by the The National Confectioners Association, the trade organization that advances, protects, and promotes chocolate, candy, gum, and mints, and the companies that make up the thirty-five billion-dollar U.S. confectionery industry, the Democrats have also had a candy desk since at least nineteen eighty-five. A rolltop located on the front wall, belonging to the United States Senate Democratic Conference Secretary Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin, is also filled with sweets.
However, Democrats manage their candy desk on the honor system. Not to get all political, but it's interesting to see the way each side of the aisle chooses to distribute candy differently. On the right, candy companies pay lobbyists to help get their sweet, sugary product into the gaping maws of the Senate body. On the left, it's a communal dish where people. Can pay as they wish.
On the right, they find loopholes around ethics rules in order to maximize the quantity and quality of candy that makes it into the desk. On the left, the most popular candy was the plain old Hershey's Kiss. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Hershey's Kisses are one of the most popular brands of candies in the U.S. with more than 60 million produced each day at the company's two factories.
The Hershey Company ships roughly 100 pounds of chocolate and other candy four times a year to fill the candy desk. I'm Jesse Edwards. And great story, Jesse. I know a lot about Congress and American history. I did not know anything about the candy desk, and I feel like a really terrible boss.
And so he did a quick poll. The our American stories candy desk will be stocked with good and plenty for me.
Well, for my wife when she comes in occasionally, some Snickers, the little baby Snickers, and for Reagan, my beautiful daughter, Kit Kats. This is our American stories. Lee Habib here, and I'd like to encourage you to subscribe to our American Stories on Apple Podcasts, the iHeart Radio app, Spotify. Or wherever you get our podcasts, any story you missed or want to hear again can be found there daily. Again.
Please subscribe to the Our American Stories podcast on Apple Podcasts, the iHeart Radio app, or anywhere you get your podcasts. It helps us keep these great American stories coming. Liberty has never been just a word to we Americans. It has guided every one of our endeavors for the past 250 years, and now it takes form in a new way. The 2026 semi-quintennial coin and medal program from the United States.
It celebrates the founding ideals that have long shaped our coinage. Available one year only, this historic collection features new coin designs, limited edition releases, and reissues. Shop new official coins at usmint.gov/semiq. That's usmint.gov/semiq. Wait, I came in for two things.
How is this forty-seven dollars? All right, we're gonna need a plan here. Just start simple with Bank of America Advantage Safe Balance Banking. No overdraft item fees. No monthly maintenance fee if you're under 25.
Oh, that's actually really simple. Safe Balance Banking. One less thing to figure out. Learn more at ba. dot com slash simple banking.
Terms and conditions apply. Bank of America and a member FDIC. That sound? That's the National Squash League. Pro teams, the world's best players, and rallies so fast you'll forget to breathe.
Season four is in full swing, and every match streams free on YouTube. Big hits, bigger rivalries, and a front-row seat from wherever you are. Watch every match for free on YouTube. Search National Squash League and hit subscribe, or follow live updates on Instagram at nsl sport. Deciding on what to listen to is hard.
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