Houdini vs. The Spiritualists: A Battle on Capitol Hill Hardcover – November 14, 2025

A gripping account of the world's greatest magician, Harry Houdini, as he waged war against the spiritualists on Capitol Hill. Here magic met politics and illusion collided with truth.In 1926, a dramatic conflict arose in the chambers of the United States Congress concerning not tariffs or taxes, but the regulation of fortune telling and the supernatural. What began as a seemingly obscure piece of legislation soon drew national attention as the famed magician and escape artist Harry Houdini stepped into the spotlight to lead a crusade against fraudulent spiritualists.This book provides the complete transcript of the four days of hearings and offers a detailed examination of the proceedings and individuals involved. Its contents shed light on these extraordinary hearings, where belief and skepticism clashed, and Congress became an unexpected venue for one of the most unusual confrontations in American history. Read more