When Americans sit down with their families for Thanksgiving dinner, most of us will probably gorge ourselves on the same traditional Thanksgiving menu, with turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin pie taking up the most real estate on our plates. How did these dishes become the national "what you eat on Thanksgiving" options, though? 
 
 The pilgrims may not have had turkey 
 
 Turkey may not have been on the menu at the 1621 celebration by the pilgrims of Plymouth that is considered the first Thanksgiving (though historians and fans of Virginia's Berkeley Plantation might quibble with the "First" part). There were definitely wild turkeys in the Plymouth area, as colonist William Bradford noted in his journal. However, the best existing account of the pilgrims' harvest feast comes from colonist Edward Winslow, author of Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Winslow's first-hand account of the first Thanksgiving included no explicit mention of turkey. He does, however, mention the pilgrims gathering "wild fowl" for the meal, although that could just as likely have meant ducks or geese. 
 
 So why do we chow down on turkey, then? 
 
 It helps to know a bit about the history of Thanksgiving. While the idea of giving thanks and celebrating the harvest was popular in certain parts of the country, it was by no means an annual national holiday. Presidents would occasionally declare a Thanksgiving Day celebration, but the holiday hadn't completely caught on nationwide. Many of these early celebrations included turkey; Alexander Hamilton once remarked that, "No citizen of the U.S. shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day." 
 
 When Bradford's journals were reprinted in 1856 after being lost for a century, they found a receptive audience with advocates who wanted Thanksgiving turned into a national holiday. Since Bradford wrote of how the colonists had hunted wild turkeys during the autumn of 1621 and since turkey is a uniquely American (and scrumptious) bird, it gained traction as the Thanksgiving meal of choice for Americans after Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863. 
 
 Moreover, there were pragmatic reasons for eating turkey rather than, say, chicken at a feast like Thanksgiving. The birds are large enough that they can feed a table full of hungry family members, and unlike chickens or cows, they didn't serve much utilitarian purpose like laying eggs or making milk. Unlike pork, turkey wasn't so common that it didn't seem like a suitable choice for a special occasion, either. An interesting 2007 piece in Slate discussed these reasons for turkey's prominence, but also made another intriguing point. The publication of A Christmas Carol in 1843 may have helped force along the turkey's cause as a holiday delicacy when Scrooge magnanimously sends the Cratchit family a Christmas turkey. 
 
 There was no cranberry sauce, either 
 
 While the cranberries the pilgrims needed were probably easy to come by, making cranberry sauce requires sugar. Sugar was a rare luxury at the time of the first Thanksgiving, so while revelers may have eaten cranberries, it's unlikely that the feast featured the tasty sauce. What's more, it's not even entirely clear that cranberry sauce had been invented yet. It's not until 1663 that visitors to the area started commenting on a sweet sauce made of boiled cranberries that accompanied meat. There's the same problem with potatoes. Neither sweet potatoes nor white potatoes were available to the colonists in 1621, so the pilgrims definitely didn't feast on everyone's favorite tubers. 
 
 They did have plenty of venison, though 
 
 Winslow mentions in his writings that the governor sent out a party of four men to do some fowling for the feast, but the pilgrims and Wampanoag also enjoyed five deer as part of their feasting. The meat supposedly arrived at the celebration as a gift from the Wampanoag king Massasoit. On top of the venison, other meats probably included lots of fish and shellfish, which were staples of the pilgrims' diets. So if you want to wolf down a lobster or some oysters in lieu of turkey on Thursday, nobody can fault you for being historically inaccurate. 
 
 And pumpkin pie didn't cap things off 
 
 It may be the flagship dessert at modern Thanksgiving dinners, but pumpkin pie didn't make an appearance at the first Thanksgiving. The pilgrims probably lacked the butter and flour needed to make a pie crust, and it's not clear that they even had an oven in which they could have baked a pumpkin pie. That doesn't mean pumpkins weren't available for the meal, though; they were probably served after being baked in the coals of a fire or stewed. Pumpkin pie became a popular dish on 17th-century American tables, though, and it might have shown up for Thanksgiving as early as the 1623 celebration of the holiday. 
 
 
 
 More from Mental Floss... ||||| Obama Gives Cliched Proclamation November 24, 2010 Listen To It! WMP | RealPlayer Audio clips available for Rush 24/7 members only -- Join Now! 
 
 
 
 BEGIN TRANSCRIPT 
 
 
 
 "A beloved American tradition, Thanksgiving Day offers us the opportunity to focus our thoughts on the grace that has been extended to our people and our country. This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe -- who had been living and thriving around Plymouth, Massachusetts for thousands of years -- in an autumn harvest feast centuries ago. This Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on the compassion and contributions of Native Americans, whose skill in agriculture helped the early colonists survive, and whose rich culture continues to add to our Nation's heritage," at their casinos and on their reservations. I added the last. He didn't say casinos and reservations. 
 
 
 
 "We also pause our normal pursuits on this day and join in a spirit of fellowship and gratitude for the year's bounties and blessings." He also mentions Washington's proclamation in passing. "Amidst the uncertainty of a fledgling experiment in democracy, President George Washington declared the first Thanksgiving in America, recounting the blessings of tranquility, union, and plenty that shined upon our young country." I am not making this up. The whole myth of the first Thanksgiving, Obama is cementing it in stone here. "This Thanksgiving Day we reflect on the compassion and contributions of Native Americans whose skill --" this has gotta be a parody. Somebody is toying with me. Somebody is seeing if they can get one past me. Somebody is trying to take advantage of me being not as focused on the day before Thanksgiving and falling for this prank, 'cause somebody has sent me supposedly the presidential Thanksgiving proclamation written by Obama and it actually says, "This Thanksgiving Day we reflect on the compassion and contributions of Native Americans whose skill in agriculture helped the early colonists survive and whose rich culture continues to add to our nation's Heritage. This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe -- who had been living and thriving around Plymouth, Massachusetts for thousands of years --" So we were the invaders. 
 
 
 
 The Indians are minding their own business. We were incompetent idiots. We didn't know how to feed ourselves. So they came along and showed us how, and that's what Thanksgiving is all about. Now, he says nothing about the Constitution in his Thanksgiving proclamation, because he's got a problem with it. He also says this: "This harvest season, we are also reminded of those experiencing the pangs of hunger or the hardship of economic insecurity. Let us return the kindness and generosity we have seen throughout the year by helping our fellow citizens weather the storms of our day," primarily brought on by me. Now, if that's part of it then I'm gonna maybe think that this actually is Obama's Thanksgiving Day proclamation. I thought I was being hoaxed. I really thought I was being scammed. I thought somebody was taking advantage of me here thinking I'm not all that here, not all that focused the day before Thanksgiving, trying to get a phony Obama Thanksgiving proclamation past me. But there it is, it's from the WhiteHouse.gov website. (laughing) 
 
 
 
 Every cliche that is wrong about Thanksgiving shows up in his proclamation. The Pilgrims show up at Plymouth. The Indians had been there for thousands of years. We get off the boats. We don't know how to feed ourselves. The Indians show us how. They shared their skill in agriculture, which helped the early colonists survive and whose rich culture continues to add to our nation's Heritage. Is it possible he believes it? I don't doubt that he believes it, and even if he doesn't believe it, he wants everybody else to believe it. Obama believes that this nation is fatally flawed since its founding, even before its founding, so it stands to reason -- you know, a lot of people did not hear the true story of Thanksgiving until I wrote it in my book in the early nineties. I can remember Snerdley and H.R. were stunned when they heard the first story of Thanksgiving, the real story, because we'd all been taught a variation of the Indians saved us. We had to draw pictures of it in school, that's exactly right, art projects of the Indians saving us. So anyway, I have George Washington's original proclamation here, and we'll share that with you as the program unfolds. RUSH: You're kidding me? Obama has an official Thanksgiving proclamation? Obama has an official Thanksgiving proclamation? I'm gonna read George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving proclamation today. I've just been told that Obama has one, and here's how his begins."A beloved American tradition, Thanksgiving Day offers us the opportunity to focus our thoughts on the grace that has been extended to our people and our country. This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe -- who had been living and thriving around Plymouth, Massachusetts for thousands of years -- in an autumn harvest feast centuries ago. This Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on the compassion and contributions of Native Americans, whose skill in agriculture helped the early colonists survive, and whose rich culture continues to add to our Nation's heritage," at their casinos and on their reservations. I added the last. He didn't say casinos and reservations."We also pause our normal pursuits on this day and join in a spirit of fellowship and gratitude for the year's bounties and blessings." He also mentions Washington's proclamation in passing. "Amidst the uncertainty of a fledgling experiment in democracy, President George Washington declared the first Thanksgiving in America, recounting the blessings of tranquility, union, and plenty that shined upon our young country." I am not making this up. The whole myth of the first Thanksgiving, Obama is cementing it in stone here. "This Thanksgiving Day we reflect on the compassion and contributions of Native Americans whose skill --" this has gotta be a parody. Somebody is toying with me. Somebody is seeing if they can get one past me. Somebody is trying to take advantage of me being not as focused on the day before Thanksgiving and falling for this prank, 'cause somebody has sent me supposedly the presidential Thanksgiving proclamation written by Obama and it actually says, "This Thanksgiving Day we reflect on the compassion and contributions of Native Americans whose skill in agriculture helped the early colonists survive and whose rich culture continues to add to our nation's Heritage. This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe -- who had been living and thriving around Plymouth, Massachusetts for thousands of years --" So we were the invaders.The Indians are minding their own business. We were incompetent idiots. We didn't know how to feed ourselves. So they came along and showed us how, and that's what Thanksgiving is all about. Now, he says nothing about the Constitution in his Thanksgiving proclamation, because he's got a problem with it. He also says this: "This harvest season, we are also reminded of those experiencing the pangs of hunger or the hardship of economic insecurity. Let us return the kindness and generosity we have seen throughout the year by helping our fellow citizens weather the storms of our day," primarily brought on by me. Now, if that's part of it then I'm gonna maybe think that this actually is Obama's Thanksgiving Day proclamation. I thought I was being hoaxed. I really thought I was being scammed. I thought somebody was taking advantage of me here thinking I'm not all that here, not all that focused the day before Thanksgiving, trying to get a phony Obama Thanksgiving proclamation past me. But there it is, it's from the WhiteHouse.gov website. (laughing)Every cliche that is wrong about Thanksgiving shows up in his proclamation. The Pilgrims show up at Plymouth. The Indians had been there for thousands of years. We get off the boats. We don't know how to feed ourselves. The Indians show us how. They shared their skill in agriculture, which helped the early colonists survive and whose rich culture continues to add to our nation's Heritage. Is it possible he believes it? I don't doubt that he believes it, and even if he doesn't believe it, he wants everybody else to believe it. Obama believes that this nation is fatally flawed since its founding, even before its founding, so it stands to reason -- you know, a lot of people did not hear the true story of Thanksgiving until I wrote it in my book in the early nineties. I can remember Snerdley and H.R. were stunned when they heard the first story of Thanksgiving, the real story, because we'd all been taught a variation of the Indians saved us. We had to draw pictures of it in school, that's exactly right, art projects of the Indians saving us. So anyway, I have George Washington's original proclamation here, and we'll share that with you as the program unfolds. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: We'll go to Moore, Oklahoma, with David. I'm glad you waited, sir. Welcome to the EIB Network. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: Mega dittos, Rush, and happy Thanksgiving to you and your entire family. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Thank you very much, sir. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: I am the father of 11 Rush babies, and one thing that we love about you is the historical perspective that you provide and -- 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Thank you very much. I appreciate it. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: -- for al the historical information you give us. Every Fourth of July we read your father's story 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Thank you very much. That would be the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: Yes, sir. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Right. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: We study the Pilgrims intently in our home, and one of the things that you said this morning I took a big issue with. I think I understand where you're coming from. The first Thanksgiving, as we understand it, that the Pilgrim fathers gave and held was not giving thanks to the Indians. It wasn't giving thanks necessarily for the Indians. But it was giving thanks to God -- and one of the benefits and blessings they saw as coming from him was the relationship they enjoyed with the Indians. And so when they held their feast, of course, they invited the Indians to join them -- 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Right! 
 
 
 
 CALLER: -- and they held it with them, and I think you may be reading too much into it by saying that Obama's trying to perpetuate that entire myth, although I wouldn't put it past him. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: No! I'm just reading what he wrote in there! 
 
 
 
 CALLER: Sure. Sure. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: He said that Thanksgiving is about the Indians saving us, with their agriculture and everything else. The true story of Thanksgiving is socialism failed. Of course we showed them gratitude! We shared our bounty with them, not because we didn't know how to make it. It was because we first failed as socialists. Only when we turned capitalists did we have plenty. The Indians didn't teach us capitalism. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: That's true. That's true. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: They did look at Massasoit... Bradford called Massasoit the protector of the Pilgrims and they did recognize that without his protection they might have been toast with the other tribes around, and Massasoit did show great courage in welcoming the Pilgrims. You know, he'd been burned before by a pirate named Black that had stolen away a lot of his tribes members, so for Massasoit to not come in immediately and attack the Pilgrims was a blessing from God, and they recognize that, and so they were thankful. But there also came a time when Massasoit was truly thankful for the Pilgrims, and they actually saved his life on more than one occasion -- 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Right. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: -- and he was grateful for them. So they enjoyed peaceful relations for 50 years. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: What have I said that you gives you the idea that I disagree with this. I mean, after all the Indians had to show the Pilgrims where the water sources were. They didn't know any of that stuff. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: Sure. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: There had there to be mutual sharing. What did I say that gives you the...? 
 
 
 
 CALLER: Well, I think to imply that they weren't thankful at all for the Indians or what the Indians had done for them or to say that the Indians did not protect them and weren't in some ways (garbled). 
 
 
 
 RUSH: No! I didn't say that. They clearly were because they shared the first feast with them. They shared all the bounty with them. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: Then we have no disagreement. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: It was free range turkey! 
 
 
 
 CALLER: You're 99.7% rating is still intact, then. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: (laughing) 
 
 
 
 CALLER: (laughing) 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Look, I enjoy the scrutiny. I'm always interested to know how people hear what I say. Because I'm a professional communicator, and if I fail to communicate what I mean, I need to know that. So you've served a very valuable purpose here because I did not mean to imply that we steamrollered over these people. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: Well, and I know that much of what you say is also designed to provoke thought and to make people think, to be absurd sometimes and make people go to the limits of absurdity and look at their own beliefs. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Well, that's exactly right. We do illustrate absurdity by being absurd here. Those who forget that quickly can lose their minds. 
 
 
 
 CALLER: Well, God bless you and your family, Rush. 
 
 
 
 RUSH: Thank you David. Same to you. Where are you gonna be for Thanksgiving, at home or are you traveling? 
 
 
 
 CALLER: (silence) 
 
 
 
 RUSH: He hung up out there. (interruption) We did not steamroll the Indians. Not at Thanksgiving. That came later. We didn't steamroll 'em at Thanksgiving. BREAK TRANSCRIPTRUSH: We'll go to Moore, Oklahoma, with David. I'm glad you waited, sir. Welcome to the EIB Network.CALLER: Mega dittos, Rush, and happy Thanksgiving to you and your entire family.RUSH: Thank you very much, sir.CALLER: I am the father of 11 Rush babies, and one thing that we love about you is the historical perspective that you provide and --RUSH: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.CALLER: -- for al the historical information you give us. Every Fourth of July we read your father's story "The Americans Who Risked Everything" and there's never a dry eye and we love that. So we love you, Rus. Keep it up.RUSH: Thank you very much. That would be the signers of the Declaration of Independence.CALLER: Yes, sir.RUSH: Right.CALLER: We study the Pilgrims intently in our home, and one of the things that you said this morning I took a big issue with. I think I understand where you're coming from. The first Thanksgiving, as we understand it, that the Pilgrim fathers gave and held was not giving thanks to the Indians. It wasn't giving thanks necessarily for the Indians. But it was giving thanks to God -- and one of the benefits and blessings they saw as coming from him was the relationship they enjoyed with the Indians. And so when they held their feast, of course, they invited the Indians to join them --RUSH: Right!CALLER: -- and they held it with them, and I think you may be reading too much into it by saying that Obama's trying to perpetuate that entire myth, although I wouldn't put it past him.RUSH: No! I'm just reading what he wrote in there!CALLER: Sure. Sure.RUSH: He said that Thanksgiving is about the Indians saving us, with their agriculture and everything else. The true story of Thanksgiving is socialism failed. Of course we showed them gratitude! We shared our bounty with them, not because we didn't know how to make it. It was because we first failed as socialists. Only when we turned capitalists did we have plenty. The Indians didn't teach us capitalism.CALLER: That's true. That's true.RUSH: They did look at Massasoit... Bradford called Massasoit the protector of the Pilgrims and they did recognize that without his protection they might have been toast with the other tribes around, and Massasoit did show great courage in welcoming the Pilgrims. You know, he'd been burned before by a pirate named Black that had stolen away a lot of his tribes members, so for Massasoit to not come in immediately and attack the Pilgrims was a blessing from God, and they recognize that, and so they were thankful. But there also came a time when Massasoit was truly thankful for the Pilgrims, and they actually saved his life on more than one occasion --RUSH: Right.CALLER: -- and he was grateful for them. So they enjoyed peaceful relations for 50 years.RUSH: What have I said that you gives you the idea that I disagree with this. I mean, after all the Indians had to show the Pilgrims where the water sources were. They didn't know any of that stuff.CALLER: Sure.RUSH: There had there to be mutual sharing. What did I say that gives you the...?CALLER: Well, I think to imply that they weren't thankful at all for the Indians or what the Indians had done for them or to say that the Indians did not protect them and weren't in some ways (garbled).RUSH: No! I didn't say that. They clearly were because they shared the first feast with them. They shared all the bounty with them.CALLER: Then we have no disagreement.RUSH: It was free range turkey!CALLER: You're 99.7% rating is still intact, then.RUSH: (laughing)CALLER: (laughing)RUSH: Look, I enjoy the scrutiny. I'm always interested to know how people hear what I say. Because I'm a professional communicator, and if I fail to communicate what I mean, I need to know that. So you've served a very valuable purpose here because I did not mean to imply that we steamrollered over these people.CALLER: Well, and I know that much of what you say is also designed to provoke thought and to make people think, to be absurd sometimes and make people go to the limits of absurdity and look at their own beliefs.RUSH: Well, that's exactly right. We do illustrate absurdity by being absurd here. Those who forget that quickly can lose their minds.CALLER: Well, God bless you and your family, Rush.RUSH: Thank you David. Same to you. Where are you gonna be for Thanksgiving, at home or are you traveling?CALLER: (silence)RUSH: He hung up out there. (interruption) We did not steamroll the Indians. Not at Thanksgiving. That came later. We didn't steamroll 'em at Thanksgiving. END TRANSCRIPT Read the Background Material...  WhiteHouse.gov: Presidential Proclamation--Thanksgiving Day 
 
 *Note: Links to content outside RushLimbaugh.com usually become inactive over time. OBSCENE PROFIT CENTER 
 
 Become an EIB Advertiser! 
 
 Click for more Information Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Copyright & Trademark Notice | The Rush Limbaugh Show® Premiere Radio Networks © All Rights Reserved, 2010. ||||| Almost 400 years after the Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving, archaeologists have unearthed evidence of the original 1620 settlement in Plymouth, Mass. 
 
 Researchers from UMass Boston’s Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research made the find on Burial Hill in Plymouth. Burial Hill includes a cemetery that was thought to be part of the original settlement, according to the Boston Globe, although the site had never been dug by archaeologists before. 
 
 The discovery was announced this week, some 395 years after the first Thanksgiving in 1621. 
 
 NATIVE AMERICANS CULTIVATED WILD TURKEYS LONG BEFORE FIRST THANKSGIVING 
 
 A team led by Fiske Center Associate Director David Landon were thrilled to discover 17th-century artifacts such as pottery, tins, trade beads and musket balls. The artifacts were discovered around so-called “post and ground construction” – holes for wood where structures once stood. 
 
 The finds sparked cautious optimism among the team that they had found a location inside the settlement walls. Soon, they discovered the remains of a calf buried in a pit. The calf, dubbed “Constance” by the team, was a vital clue the settlement. Because native people didn’t have domestic cattle her remains prove that she lived and died within the original Plymouth settlement. 
 
 “Constance is a great symbol of this. Oftentimes success in the colony depended on herds of cattle. It became a centerpiece of the economy. So the calf does connect us to that story,” said Landon, in a press release. 
 
 16TH-CENTURY SHIPWRECKS FOUND AMID ROCKET DEBRIS OFF FLORIDA COAST 
 
 Living history museum Plimoth Plantation, which is about 3 miles south of Burial Hill, partnered with UMass Boston on the project. 
 
 “Finding physical evidence of the original Pilgrim settlement is an incredibly exciting discovery that can fundamentally change our understanding of the 17th-century Atlantic world,” explained Kathryn Ness, Plimoth Plantation’s curator of collections, in an email to FoxNews.com. “The UMass Boston team’s discovery as a whole proves that, despite 400 years of development, Plymouth Colony is still here and ready to tell us more about the everyday life of the Pilgrims.” 
 
 The discovery will prove extremely valuable in Plimoth Plantation’s work, according to Ness. “At our living history museum, these and future findings will help us further refine our exhibits, as we use archaeological evidence and historical documents as the basis for our portrayal of the past,” she said. 
 
 EXPLORERS FIND 2ND-OLDEST CONFIRMED SHIPWRECK IN GREAT LAKES 
 
 Landon’s team have been working to find evidence of the original settlement prior to the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Plymouth Colony in 2020. The researchers’ discovery came during the first year of a three-year $200,000 National Endowment of the Humanities grant to study the Plymouth Colony and the colonists’ relations with the indigenous Wampanoag people. 
 
 More research will be conducted on the Burial Hill site next summer by Landon and his team. 
 
 “We are excited to see what else they find!” Ness told FoxNews.com. 
 
 Other experts have also been shedding new light on America’s pre-colonial history. Researchers at Florida State University, for example, have uncovered evidence that wild turkeys were a common part of Native American life long before the first Thanksgiving. Native Americans were managing and raising turkeys as early as 1200 – 1400 A.D., they explained, in a paper published Monday in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 
 
 Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
– The pilgrims may not have eaten any turkey at the "First Thanksgiving" in 1621—no mention of turkey is specifically mentioned in Edward Winslow's account of the feast, but he does mention that a lot of venison was eaten, and they probably ate fish and shellfish as well—so why is it the traditionally accepted main course for Thanksgiving today? Well, the Week explains, William Bradford's journals were rediscovered and reprinted in 1856, and he wrote about the wild turkey hunts the colonists engaged in in 1621. Plus, turkey is a very American bird, and a large enough one to feed a table full of people, so when Abraham Lincoln officially made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, that's what was on the menu. The pilgrims didn't eat cranberry sauce, either, considering sugar was a luxury at the time and it's kind of an integral ingredient in the sauce. (They may have eaten plain cranberries, though; National Geographic notes that the fruit was a sort of Native American "superfood.") And neither sweet potatoes nor white potatoes were around in America quite yet, so those weren't on the menu either, nor was pumpkin pie—since the pilgrims probably didn't have the butter or flour they would have needed to make the crust. If you'd like to be historically accurate at least when it comes to the beverages, the pilgrims probably drank hard apple cider, the Daily Beast reports.