1. From 1933, when the U.S. went off the gold standard, through 1947, the Consumer Price Index fluctuated wildly, spiking over 18%. The history of the Federal Reserve under inflationary conditions was short and provided little evidence to support an opinion either way.
2. Interview with Roberta Buffett Bialek. The others remember this story.
3. Coffee with Congress.
4. Interview with Katie Buffett. Leila apparently became obsessed with Wallis Warfield Simpson around 1936 during the abdication crisis in England.
5. Woodrow Wilson’s terms ran through February and June. Because Warren had skipped half a grade, he started his sophomore year in February.
6. Cartoonist Al Capp created Li’l Abner, who inherited his strength from his mother, the domineering Mammy Yokum, whose knockout “Good night Irene” punch maintained discipline among the Yokum clan.
7. Although most of this information is from Strength and Health, Elizabeth McCracken wrote “The Belle of the Barbell,” a tribute to Pudgy Stockton, in the New York Times Magazine, December 31, 2006.
8. Pudgy was married to Les Stockton, a bodybuilder who had introduced her to weight lifting.