Issue #146: Miracle on 34th Street: How politics kept Santa out of a mental institution
Judge Harper bows to electoral concerns
For the last few years, I have aimed to get a Christmas themed newsletter out during the Holiday season. A little something fun to take a break from the serious politics I often cover. Last year, I did a deep-dive into how the neighborhood from HOME ALONE has seen its politics shift. Yes the infamous Kevin McCallister house is based out of a suburb north of Chicago - and I delved into how that community shifted from a steadfast Republican suburb to an anti-Trump and increasingly anti-GOP community.
That article mixed a combination of Christmas themes with real politics. This article, however, will offer nothing of contemporary importance. Rather this is good old nostalgia, as I am looking at Miracle on 34th Street, and how craven politics kept good old St Nicholas out of a mental institution.
The Story of Miracle on 34th Street
For my readers don’t obsessively watch the classic 1947 movie every year, I will offer a quick recap. Of course you can also read the full plot on Wikipedia here.
The story is overall very straight forward. It follows the story of Kris Kringle, a nice old man who agrees to take part in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade after the hired Santa is drunk. After the success of the parade, Kris is hired to work as the Santa at the Macy’s shop. Kris becomes close with Doris Walker, who is a manager at the store and recruited Kris for the parade, and her young daughter Susan. He also becomes close with Doris’ neighbor, attorney Fred Gailey.
The movie follows several plot points, but the main plotline is Kris never hiding that he is THE Santa Claus, but of course no one believes him. That said, the entire movie shows actor Edmund Gwenn perfectly capture the joy of Santa in a modern city. Gwenn would win the best supporting actor Oscar for this performance.
Kris’ insistence that he is Santa leads to questions about his mental fitness. It involves him even agreeing to a psychological evaluation. During a series of questions with Doris, aimed to see if Kris has a grasp on reality, a few political questions come up. Kris shows that he knows who past President’s and Vice Presidents are.
Who was the 1st President of the United States? George Washington
Who was the Vice President under John Quincy Adams? Daniel D. Tompkins
This moment is actually notable because it reflects a mistake in the script. Daniel D. Tompkins was NOT the Vice President to John Quincy Adams. The script had an error because it assumed the 5th VP would match with the 5th President. However, since James Madison has two VPs, with Tompkins being his 2nd, the number of VPs to Presidents does not match up. Adam’s real VP was John C Calhoun (who was the 6th Vice President).
After Kris has a confrontation with the movie’s main villain, Macy’s wannabe “Psychiatrist,” Granville Sawyer, he is involuntarily committed to Bellevue Hospital. However, Fred Gaily works to represent Kris and get him out of the institution.
This leads us to the main political dynamic of the movie.
Legally, is there a Santa Claus?
The movie culminates with a hearing before Judge Henry X. Harper on if Kris is a risk to himself or others. The District Attorney gets Kris to say that he is in fact Santa Claus on the stand. The DA then requests Judge Harper make a definitive ruling if there is, or isn’t, a Santa Claus. At that moment, Judge Harper’s campaign manager, Charlie Halloran, makes a loud grunt and gets the Judge to call for a recess.
Then, in the Judge’s quarters, Halloran lays out the political facts of the case. A full video of the meeting is below but I’ll lay it out as well.
Halloran lays things out to Judge Harper in plain terms; he cannot rule there is no Santa Claus. If he does so, he risk’s his re-election bid.
Halloran is definitely referencing the Democratic Primary. The court in question is the State’s Supreme Court, which contrary to most other states, is NOT the top court. Rather, the Supreme Court is basically the trail courts in NY. Judge Harper would have been representing the district of New York County, aka Manhattan.
At this time, like today, Manhattan was a very Democratic county. In 1944, three years before this movie released, Manhattan gave FDR 66% of the vote.
While it has no relevance, I had to include a close up of the infamous 34th Street the movie is referencing.
Pushing back on Halloran’s warning, Judge Harper says
But, Charley, listen to reason. I'm a responsible judge. I've taken an oath. How can I seriously rule there is a Santa Claus?
Halloran waste’s no time with a killer retort.
All right. You go back and tell them the New York State Supreme Court rules there's no Santa Claus. It's all over the papers. The kids read it and they don't hang up their stockings. Now, what happens to all the toys that are supposed to be in those stockings? Nobody buys them. The toy manufacturers are going to like that. So they have to lay off a lot of their employees... UNION employees. Now you got the C.I.O and the A.F. of L. against you; And they're gonna adore you for it. And they're gonna say it with votes.
And the department stores are gonna love you, too, and the Christmas card makers, and the candy companies.
Oh, Henry, you're going to be an awful popular fellow.
And what about the Salvation Army? Why, they got a Santa Claus on every corner and they take in a fortune.
But you go ahead, Henry. You do it your way. You go on back in there and tell them that you rule there's no Santa Claus. Go on.
As Halloran leaves the chambers, he delivers one more biting piece of political advice.
To which a resigned Judge Harper quips, rather defeated…
The meeting sets up Judge Harper to look for any avenue to avoid ruling there is no Santa Claus. After Fred calls the son of the district attorney to the stand, it forces the DA to admit that Santa Claus exists, lest he kill his young son’s dreams. (No this would never work in a real case, lol). However, even with the court establishing Santa is real, it does not mean our Kris is the real Santa.
This of course sets up the most famous scene of the movie. Fred finds out that, in response to the trial’s publicity, the post office has opted to send all children’s letters to Santa to the courthouse. This leads to the scene of countless mailman hauling bags of letters to the courthouse.
Judge Harper, seeing a clear out, declares
Since the United States government declares this man to be Santa Claus, this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed.
Its a heartwarming moment for our heroes. But we get one final look at the REAL hero of this movie, Halloran giving Judge Harper a satisfied nod.
You can see a full video of the climatic scene here.
This dramatic court victory sets the movie up for a very happy ending. Kris gets to make his deliveries (though you never see it), while Fred and Doris become a couple. And of course, the very ending seeing little Susan get her Christmas wish, a house for her and her mother out of the city.
The movie ending is one of the most iconic in history, with a last look at Kris’ cane sitting next to the fireplace of the house that Susan wanted.
Of course, I’d like to think there was one epilogue to the entire story. I’d venture that when up for his Judicial re-election, Judge Harper would have a litany of endorsements in the Democratic primary.
Politics saved Christmas that year.