Oh, you're going to LOVE the explanation for the broken mints......
vpw had standing instructions to have mints at the podium for when he showed up. (He did NOT explain it was to cover the booze on his breath, which would have helped understanding.....) At one point, vpw mentioned in passing that he broke the mints. So, naturally, an instruction went around IMMEDIATELY- always break the mints FOR vpw before he gets there....eventually going to "break them in 3 pieces."
So, vpw started showing up to the podium, intending to put an intact mint in his mouth, and crack it open to use the interior to hide the booze on his breath with the stronger interior. One day, he got there, and the mints were all cut up. So, he went with it. That kept happening. After a few weeks, and after that became a long-standing tradition to break the mints in 3 pieces no matter what- vpw was speaking at the podium, and made a passing comment about all the mints he could find being these little smashed bits or whatever. Immediately, people began pointing out he said he broke the mints, so they were saving him trouble. "I meant, I break them IN MY MOUTH!"
vpw never meant them to cut up his mints, he meant to hide all the booze on his breath. But he mentioned it out loud, some time after he insisted that "the suggestion of a general is tantamount to an order" , and after he'd equated himself with every kind of leader, generals included. So, the dutiful people tried to help him.
I SWEAR I have not made up ANY of this.