What I like about this is that while Henry is rude, John has Bennetts back and finishes the story...a good friend.

I've never liked Henry Morgan on these old game shows. This episode is a good reminder of why.

This was the first episode of "What's My Line?" I ever saw. A friend saved it for me, knowing my fondness for Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen, who was the father-in-law of my state's longtime senator, Howard Baker. I was immediately hooked -- but was relieved to learn Henry Morgan didn't show up much -- and have been ever since. I will forever be in the debt of the person who runs this channel for giving me something to keep me going during a difficult period in my life, health wise, and for allowing me to watch the episodes I missed during the Game Show Network run of this fine, fine series.

When my father went to become an American citizen the judge asked him who his senators were. He forgot Dirksen's name but imitated his voice. The judge laughed and swore him in.

Man, you could cut the tension between John, Bennett, and Henry. You could tell Bennett and John didn't like him one bit.

Bennett took his revenge on Henry in guessing all four contestants correctly. Some sort of record.

The last goodbyes say it all. Daly doesn't thank Henry. Arlene stumbles and says happy playing instead of hoping the guest panelist is back. And Cerf seems to try to let John know the esteem he holds for him by awkwardly calling him my boy.

Lost in the Morgan and Bennett scuffle was the fact that this was probably the most underrated Mystery Guest appearance in the later years of the show. The crowd and the panel got into it and Senator Dirksen played along. This was great, probably in my top 10.

I found Bennett's calling John "my boy" at the end rather touching. What also gets me is that despite John botching the delivery of the joke so the punchline doesn't quite make sense, Bennett (almost imperceptibly) murmurs, "That's right," immediately followed by a shot showing his quiet gratitude. (3:10) Both events landed slightly awkwardly in the moment but are rather sweet in retrospect.

I've just looped back to this episode again, and clocked Henry Morgan this time, and he cut Bennett off at 14 seconds, but it was the "I was hoping you would" that really sealed the deal. I love how John stood up for Bennett.

Phyllis N. to Senator D.: "Are you tall and wildly attractive?" Senator D.: "Oui!" Good for the Senator for that answer, given the question. That made me laugh, just as he intended.

In regards to the mystery guest, it's amazing what remains timeless over the decades and centuries and those which are lost to time. This guy could walk into a 60,000 seat stadium today and not a single person would know him... yet in 1967 a relatively small tv audience erupted as if the beatles had entered the room. It's an interesting thing to be able to see through the lens of television from the past... things that are very much of their time and those that are known through the generations.

Dirksen was one of the great Civil Rights heroes in American History.

Sometimes keeping your mouth shut is a better way to communicate than having it open.

Similar to the Pamela Tiffin episode, I found that the actual occurrence was less than the buildup. Even so, this was certainly a contentious on air moment compared to the usual decorum on WML. I believe it became contentious for the following reasons. 1) It had been building up over time. There had been smaller incidents involving Morgan (one of which had been pre-recorded prior to this episode but which had not aired yet). This one escalated it and was the proverbial last straw. (Groucho, on the other hand, was there and gone; who knew if or when he would return.) 2) There is a difference in demeanor and body/face type between Morgan and Groucho. Groucho, Bennett and Arlene are charming, generally smiling and lighthearted. Groucho may be a rascal, but he isn't a heavy. He made a career lampooning heavies, the pompous, the phonies, the cheap chiselers (even if he admitted to being one himself). Morgan, Hal Block and Dorothy didn't have that kind of demeanor. They were not lighthearted. Consider the similarities in facial features, hair, body type and leer between Morgan and Block. And while Dorothy didn't leer and she didn't have a similar face or body, she was always very somber. She wasn't charming in the same way. She couldn't get away with the same things that Arlene got away with. 3) I think that Bennett and John were acknowledging Groucho's standing as an all-time great comedian. They didn't accord the same level of respect to Morgan. So Groucho's interruption was accepted. He had earned the right. Morgan's was not accepted and was considered rude. 4) Groucho had timing. Morgan lacked it in this incident. Comedy is as much about timing as it is the punch line. Morgan interrupted twice, totally stepping on Bennett's joke and ruining the timing. That's one reason why Bennett didn't continue the joke as well as because he was too angry to have the right frame of mind for it. (Also Bennett most likely lacked experience dealing with hecklers. A Don Rickles type comedian would have turned it around on Morgan.) The flow of the joke was ruined and Bennett may have realized that there was no way to resurrect it. And that's why John's attempt to save it fell flat. In general, Morgan upstaged Bennett, a cardinal sin in show business unless it has either been prearranged or the right has been earned by stature (which Groucho had far more of than Morgan).

Too bad Dorothy wasn't there to ask if he studied dentistry.

That exchange felt awkward even for me just watching it almost 50 years later, couldn't imagine how it felt being in that room. I liked Henry on IGAS but I think Garry Moore was more laid back & knew how to handle him better. Garry also saved Henry's job on that panel so he may have felt obligated to behave on IGAS. Still though, to be a mind reader in Daly's head after that look he gave Henry....

Even Hal Block was like, "Oh HELL naw!!!"

Henry Morgan is SO wrong for this program! I've gotten to the point where I cringe each time he's about to speak.

I always liked Senator Dirksen-i think the Senate dining room still serves his bean soup!

Dirksen's 1967 album won the Grammy for best spoken word album of that year.

Morgan's stuff was really quite unnecessary.

I am pleased that Morgan was not a regular panelist. He is annoying

Gil Fates wrote in his book that Henry Morgan did not return to WML Sunday night after this incident. This is technically true, but technically the time period was about a month plus 3 September 1967. Henry's last appearance had already been videotaped and was broadcast sometime in August. That episode was taped just before this one and indicates some friction on the set even at that point. Stay tuned.

I'm guessing the moderator willingly chose not to acknowledge the troublemaker at the end of the show.

I hope this is the last we see of Henry Morgan.

Henry Morgan did not fit in-he interrupted and was plain rude. they got rid of him eventually. Most panelists had class.

My family watched this show in the sixties but I was a kid and didn't get it. Now as I watch the videos I really appreciate the camaraderie and civil way they talk to each other (this video notwithstanding). Perhaps there was some phoneyness at times but it does seem like a better time to have lived.

Are we going to ignore the fact that there was a contestant named Harry Ball?

Bennet just kept knocking them out of the park!! If we could all be so invigorated by a challenge.

Betsy Palmer: Actually, there was an incident that happened on the show. They were always playing surprises on us. They would go into your home during the day when you weren't there. They'd go into your closet or the pantry and then they would show a clue. I remember there was this one show in which they had gone into our refrigerators and photographed them during the day. Then on the show they'd show a picture and we'd have to guess [which fridge belonged to whom]. There was one which was empty except for a cocktail glass (laughs). I remember I said... and I was always opening my mouth and saying things that were not meant to sound as bad as they did. I said, "Oh, well, that has got to be Henry's because he's an alcoholic!" Kliph Nesteroff: (laughs) Oh no. Betsy Palmer: Well, I didn't know that he did have an alcohol problem. He became so upset with me. I started tearing up on the show because he was so [mad]. So after that night they separated us. I used to sit next to him on the panel and then they moved me down to the other end where Bill... Kliph Nesteroff: Oh, really? Betsy Palmer: Henry did not speak to me for a long, long time. Kliph Nesteroff: Oh wow. Betsy Palmer: He really didn't. Anne and Bill Cullen had an anniversary party. They rented a little yacht that would go around the island [of Manhattan]. I remember I wasn't going to go the party. Anne said, "You must." I said, "Is Henry going to be there?" She said, "Billy says he is, but he is not going to bother you. I'll take care of him." I remember being on the boat and looking south. I was standing on the railing by myself and someone came up next to me and gave me a nudge. I looked and it was Henry. I said, "Oh. Hello, Henry." He said, "Can I... watch... the fireworks with you?" I said, "Yes." Kliph Nesteroff: Ah. Betsy Palmer: As we were watching I said to him, "I just saw a body fly up into the air!" He said, "No, no, you're imagining." I said, "I did, Henry!" And in the paper the next day it said there had been an explosion on this [other] boat and some man was blown off the boat! Kliph Nesteroff: Oh my God. Betsy Palmer: Yeah, oh my God is right! But that evening Henry and I made peace. He said, "I'm sorry, kid. I was heavy on you." But it went on for weeks. But we had those intricacies on the show and all of us had very defined personalities.

Freeze at John's reaction at 2:52. Freeze at the look John give's Henry at 2:55 or so. Wow. If looks could kill, Morgan would be a puddle of grease on the stage. And the director lingers on Henry's face to capture for the record his reaction? /discomfort? at being called out on live TV. Incidentally, John did not tell the joke right.

For years when I look at this episode I try to figure out what Morgan says to Phyllis Newman while the audience laughs after John Daly finishes the story. I'm relatively certain the recounting John gave was wrong and that Morgan at least starts with "He tell his wife..." and then I can't make it out at all. Priceless also is Phyllis who I always think looks like she has no idea what just happened/how it happened. Kind of the look I would expect from a then 34 year old up there with a bunch of much older notables at a moment like that. Anyway, either Morgan is telling the end of the joke correctly and making a face that he couldn't believe John botched the joke, or he's making a crack using the joke format. Pretty sure that for any of us who are enthusiasts, we have analyzed this one like the Zapruder Film has been.

look at 2:35 -- :37 >> you can see how upset Bennett is by Henry's interrupting his joke by the fact that he did something he never did before on WML. The panel is supposed to remain standing and in place for the final camera shot of the four of them before the camera moves to John Daly. Bennett was moving in a huff before the camera moved. Phyllis must have been upset as well, for she also moves to her seat before the camera moves to John Daly. Phyllis's body language during the exchange says a lot. She stands as though she is ready to get out of the way in case the boys go at each other with chairs.

Wow AWKWARD! Henry needs to stay on TTTT,

In 1952, at the closely contested GOP convention, Dirksen was firmly behind Robert Taft, while the old Eastern Establishment backed Eisenhower. From the podium, Dirksen looked right out at Thomas Dewey, a strong Eisehhower backer, and said, "Twice we nominated you, and twice you led us down the road to defeat." I have read that Taft intended to select Dirksen to be VP had he won the nomination. And had Taft won, given his death in 1953, Dirksen would have been President. In 1960, Nixon considered Dirksen among others to be his running mate and foolishly selected Henry Cabot Lodge; he might well have won with some of the others he considered but rejected. By 1967, DIrksen had lived long enough to see his son-in-law, Howard Baker, elected to serve with him in the Senate. Baker later also became Senate Minority Leader and, unlike Dirksen, Majority Leader as well.

Yes Bailey, your tactful way of showing how rude Henry was, and put him in his place!!

Why am I suddenly reminded of my childhood of Mad Magazine? There was a panel of graffiti in the Capitol restroom, including "Senator Dirksen uses Dippity-Doo." (a gel used with hair curlers.)

It would be interesting to know what miserable old Morgan muttered when John stood up for Bennett by finishing his story. As John finished, Morgan (obviously miffed that John was chastising him for his rude behaviour), grumbled some inaudible phrase. If anyone knows what he said, I'd be interested to hear...

Bennet nailed it right out of the gate.😎👍😎 Good job

Henry Morgan was a jerk like always on this show and you can see both John and Bennett were upset with him .

Johnny Olson is back.

My favorite mystery guest.

At the Dirksen Library, the most common reference request is did, when, and where did he say, "A million here and million there, and soon you're talking real money." Dirksen never said that, but he said something similar and the press quoted him as saying this statement. He liked it so much he adopted it as his own.

12.20 John said that 13 years ago Harry Ball was sitting next to him and both Arlene and Bennett were there. Actually Bennett was missing on that episode. It's not like he would remember him, but still...

There was one more episode with Henry Morgan on the panel, but it was taped on June 4, 1967. He would continue to make appearances on the Syndicated revival.

The panel was sharp in this episode, especially Bennett.

Say what you will about Henry Morgan's epic rudeness in the intro, but it appears to have energized everyone this evening. I found this one of the most entertaining episodes of the last season.

Secretly, I think henry morgan must have regretted this attempt at (rude) humor for the rest of his life. It certainly turned out very nasty and awkward. When he was on his game he was, actually, a very witty humorist.

I've seen Henry Morgan on a lot of shows and he always acted like an ass. I'm surprised he was able to find work, considering his abrasive personality.

I saw "The Apple Tree" in the 60s. I don't remember Phyllis Newman in it, but I do remember the star being Alan Alda. It was a great show.

Henry Morgan is a classic example of having to "turn the other cheek" when someone like himself is so disrespectful and boorish. From what I have read, he lived a very turbulent and unhappy life, so you had to be benevolent of someone who tried to take his misery out on others.

Over time, I've grown to like Phyllis Newman as a guest panelist. When she started out, she seemed rather silly to me, something of a twit, but I think she greatly improved over time. Now I always appreciate her presence as a panelist. (Henry Morgan, however, seems to get worse and worse. He was a regular panelist on "I've Got A Secret" and, there, the other three panelists seemed to know how to put him in his place when they needed to. I think he'd learned not to be excessively obnoxious to them for that reason. However, as a guest panelist on WML, he just doesn't know how to behave and he can't seem to discern the line between funny and obnoxious. Did they invite him back after this appearance?)

It seems Henry Morgan was ahead of his time (humor wise). From what I see his tease at the beginning was good hearted, he didn't mean to hurt his ego or whatever

As if his obnoxious behaviour in the very opening of the show wasn't enough, check out how he responds to Daly at 4:37. WHAT a child!! His legacy, as far as I'm concerned (cos I don't know the guy for anything else apart from being an asshole on WML), is preserved in these clips where he's behaving like a complete and utter BERK. And I mean that with every sense of the word's etymology.

Can you imagine a political leader today getting the reception and appreciation that Sen. Dirksen received?

A few weeks after this aired, Senator Dirksen had a chest X-Ray which revealed he had lung cancer. Surgery was performed to remove the mass on Sep 2nd, but suffered cardiopulmonary arrest and died on Sep 7th, 1967 at the age of 73, less than 2 months after he appeared on What's My Line.

I've always thought that asking the contestant if he or she is attractive is extraordinarily stupid. If they're not, it's embarrassing.

Phyllis Neuman has the most beautiful laugh.

Live and in color but only black and white kinescopes exist now. Still I'm glad they saved them and thanks for sharing this. I always enjoyed Henry and think he often got a bad rap.

I wanted to hear Dirksen talk but John talked too much at the end

If you want to see the horse dentist 15 years earlier look up the Helen Traubel mystery guest episode.

3:35...different era for sure. Listen to all that whistling, not even knowing it she's married! Great profession too 😂

Man that rude dude had to go several shows back. I was surprised to see he was on again. Oh well.

Just wanted to see this opening because I realized this show aired less than a week after John Daly’s ex wife was found dead in her home. Was anything ever confirmed about this, or is it yet another “What’s my Line?” mystery?

That Henry is a real putz

John Daly really has an expression on his face like he's had to swallow a spoonful of castor oil every time he departs from his traditional "Enter, and sign in please" phrase. But look at the big smile on his face as he utters the famous phrase (the way I'm sure that we all prefer it to be spoken) as the final contestant enters.

When Judy Garland appeared on WML in March 1967, Tony Randall after listening to her deep ruined voice asked if it were Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen (Republican of Illinois, US Senate minority leader) It would be interesting to know if 1) the production staff was already negotiating in March to get Dickson on the program . 2) if the production staff thought after the incident that it would be fun to get Senator Dirksen on as a mystery guest and started negotiating. 3) if someone on the senator's staff saw that episode and thought it would be a good idea for the senator to appear and started working on him and the production staff. 4) If the senator saw the episode or heard about it and then thought, "I would make a great mystery guest before the show ends" and contacted the staff. No record that I am aware of.

Everett is my favourite Republican

Austin Powers: "Judo chop!" The vibe I got from the first contestant.

IIRC, JCD was still pissed and mentioned the Morgan/Cerf incident during the intro on the next show. I think Cerf wanted to let it go, but Daly was still steamin' We'll see if my memory is still good on the next episode.

Straight from Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.Henry Morgan (born Henry Lerner Van Ost, Jr. March 31, 1915 - May 19, 1994) was an American humorist. He is remembered best in two modern media: radio, on which he first became familiar as a barbed but often self-deprecating satirist, and on television, where he was a regular and cantankerous panelist for the game show I've Got a Secret. His radio career began as a page at New York City station WMCA in 1932. He strenuously objected to the professional name "Morgan". "What about the successful announcers Harry von Zell or Westbrook Van Voorhis?" he countered. But it was no use. Thus began a long history of Henry's having arguments with executives...

Imagine Arlene saying farewell to Henry, "Good night Henry, come again!" :)

That look Daly gives at about 2:52….cutting through all the showbiz display John seems pretty angry with Morgan. And I don’t blame him.

They also did the July 30, 1967 episode.

You may or may not hate Henry, but he was a true curmudgeon and very witty and often very funny. This incident got side-tracked and came off as rude rather than off-the-cuff funny. I still like Henry. always have. but, of course, he could be nasty when he was in that mood. everybody had to be on their toes around Henry the Morgan. he required it. LOL

What with the end of both WML and I've Got a Secret, and the end of a considerable chunk of Henry Morgan's livelihood, I suspect Henry thought he wouldn't gain or lose anything from his finally getting Bennett / telling Bennett to stop going on and on and on. In the long run, Henry did not lose out. G-T used him in the syndicated WML fairly regularly. It would be interesting to know if Bennett and Henry ever came together again in Syndicated WML, but I suspect not.

Also I know there has been some discussion about this; what I can make out from Henry's aside to Phyllis is something like "he had to [say something], but is that how you tell it? No."

*Senator Everett Dirksen, sometimes know as "the Wizard of Ooze."*

Henry's job is to be funny. He didn't mean any harm. It was just a failed attempt. The horse cavity joke was kind of funny as was the don't go backward line.

My favorite Dirksen line was, "A billion here, a billion there, sooner or later you're talking about real money."

Morgan was wrong for WML..nice for IGAS..but I really wish Martin Gabek had been on the panel whenever Henry was on. Martin may have been busy during this period..he didn't appear very often in the last season or two.

Interesting that this is a b/w tape because by Fall 1966 all primetime shows on all three of the big networks were in color.

Henry Morgan was a TOTAL boor. Hated him. John clearly “fixed it”.

Mr. Ball seemed like an affable fellow. Shouldn’t he have been Dr. Ball?

I cannot imagine what the heck was going on with henry M that he acted that way. I can forgive him because I adore him and his acerbic wit in I’ve got a secret.....too bad the show got off to a bad start.

i love phylis newman. she reminds me of elaine joycE,who appeared inthe syndicateD WML,

How rude.... Poor guy he said sorry later on for laughing so loud and then was a good boy for the rest of the show

"Are you tall and wildly attractive?" Oh my yes. Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

If Mr. Ball were to be on today's version of this show...in our now much lower-class world...he'd have to sign in as Harold Ball so he'd be at least less apt to be asked "Which one?" as the first question asked of him.

I KNEW that first guy was on before. You don't see to many Horse dentists around

Boy Dirksen seems ancient these days.

Let me guess, Henry played Felix in The Odd Couple: "Heh heh, that's not spaghetti, it's linguini." Oscar throws plate across the room: "now it's garbage".

When I first saw "Henry Morgan" name and I saw that there was a "scuffle", I first thought they meant the actor Henry Morgan from "MASH" and I honestly was surprised he would be rude......so glad it was another "Henry Morgan", I am not familiar with this man, but I concur that he was nasty and rude and so happy he was put in his place!

I never liked Henry Morgan, and he gave a perfect example as to why most people didn’t like him in this episode. John and Bennett loved to give one another a hard time but were the best of friends. And they gave a perfect example of that also in this episode.

Senator Dirksen should’ve acknowledged his constituents in the audience too, though.

Mrs. Danielsen should have used her Judo on Morgan.

Is Phyllis Newman wearing a wig here? I love the 1960's, far more than I do the 1950's, but what was up with so many women wearing obvious wigs during the 60's? I still can't forget that one girl from Australia, who had on the biggest 1960's wig I have ever seen in my life (June 12, 1966 episode).

Can anyone make out what Henry Morgan says at 3:17 following John's telling of the "joke"?

Bennet and John were still angry at Henry the following week as they closed the show kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mbOefbJ8l7Lboqs.htmlm10s