Meet the Tree: Why Jesse Owens Really Brought Hitler's Olympic Gift Home
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Adolf Hitler gave the legendary runner a mysterious gift: four potted oak tree saplings — one for each of the four gold medals that Owens won, while surrounded by Nazis, in one of the greatest performances in the history of sports. Almost a century later, correspondent David Fleming examines what Owens decided to do with his so-called Hitler Oaks... and why that decision remains an enduring act of American defiance. Plus: tree people, myth-busting, redlining and witch-doctor science. This episode originally aired August 6th, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices