Fifty years ago, Howdy Doodywas a freckle-faced boy marionette with 48 freckles, one for each state of the union. The redheaded Howdy marionettewas operated with 11 strings: two heads, one mouth, one eye, two shoulders, one back, two hands and two knees. Three strings were added later —two elbows and one nose.
Once known as the child cowboy star “Howdy Doody” the now all grown up Ron Paul announced he is creating an exploratory committee for a presidential run.
Representative Paul, still a cowboy from Texas even though his famous freckles are faded and the once red hair is now peppery gray, announced “ an exploratory committee,that might lead to the next decision. Depends on what kind of reception I get on your show tonight. You know, if I get booed, or something, I’ll think, ‘well maybe I shouldn’t do it.’”
The interview,was hosted by Sean Hannity, the son of Howdy’s original partner, “Buffalo Bob.”
Young Sean showed the same banter and all American love that Buffalo Bob and Howdy gave us back in those early and better days. 
“Do you think the country would be ready to say, ‘Ok, we’re gonna give up Social Security and Medicare and all these other things?’ ” Hannity asked with a furrowed brow and the same sideways look his Dad used fifty tears ago. .
“Yeah, we would. I don’t think anybody could get that through, because I think we’ll have an economic collapse. And then we’ll have to start over again. ” Paul/Howdy replied.
Sean laughed and then got serious, ” Gosh, that is a great idea! I thought the government should have closed when Nixon lost to Kennedy.”
Sean smiled and through his trademark football at the camera!.
After the show, the two friends exchanged autographed pictures.