Clarence E. Landrum

In 1936, Clarence Landrum was the very definition of down on his luck. Louisiana was in the depths of the Great Depression, and Clarence spent his days begging for work so he could support his family. But then he made a political bet that would change everything.

The Grave

Many stones in Greenwood Cemetery are toppled. And I try to leave them alone. But a small one looked to have recently fallen and was easily righted. It begged to be turned over and read. And that was the day that I met Clarence Landrum. Photo by Tarah Thomas.

The Bet

In January 1936, Clarence Landrum accepted a wager made in the newspaper by W.E. Bussey. Photo Courtesy of The Shreveport Journal and Newspapers.com

The Journey

Clarence Landrum won the bet he made with W.E. Bussey. The result was Bussey would pull him in a cart to Washington, D.C. The bet made local and later national news, complete with local sponsorships and a naming contest for the cart. Photo Courtesy of The Shreveport Journal and Newspapers.com

Despite the hardships of the journey, including the original cart being destroyed in a wreck with an automobile, Landrum and Bussey were always photographed with a smile on their face and were described as gracious and likeable by everyone who met them along the way. Photo Courtesy of the Atlanta Journal and Newspapers.com

Landrum and Bussey at the end of their journey which went for 1,329 miles. Bussey pulled Landrum straight up to the gates of the White House. Photo Courtesy of the Town Talk and Newspapers.com

Bussey and Landrum would form a lasting friendship, although Landrum would die of pneumonia just two years later. Bussey would go on to live for many years and even participate in similar bets, as well as a few other notable political stunts.