Duluth Mayor George D. Johnson appeared on the CBS-TV show To Tell the Truth in an episode that aired May 31, 1965 — 60 years ago today. Mayor Johnson was the second of three characters/contestants introduced on the show. The concept of To Tell the Truth is that each character is accompanied by two imposters, and the three of them answer questions from a panel of celebrities who then try to guess which of the three is the authentic person.

Mayor Johnson was on the show because the Duluth Mongoose had been in the news less than three years prior. The mongoose, named Mr. Magoo, was illegally imported and wound up at the Duluth Zoo, now known as Lake Superior Zoo. The federal government ordered that the animal be destroyed, but efforts by Duluth citizens led to Mr. Magoo being pardoned by President John F. Kennedy.

Below is how Mayor Johnson described the situation in a narrative read by the show’s host, Bud Collyer:

I, George D. Johnson, am mayor of Duluth, Minnesota. A little over two years ago I became involved in a campaign far removed from politics. Our zoo unexpectedly came into possession of a mongoose, a small animal from India known for its ability to kill cobras. The mongoose was named Mr. Magoo and soon became a big attraction, especially with the kids.

Learning of our new acquisition, customs officials told us that importation and possession of a mongoose was illegal in this country and that Mr. Magoo would have to be destroyed. However, all of Duluth wanted to keep Magoo, and there was an avalanche of public indignation.

Through a series of legal maneuvers, including use of the help of Interior Secretary (Stewart) Udall and Senator Hubert Humphrey, we were able to save Magoo. As a result of our “No Noose for the Mongoose” campaign, the Duluth Zoo now owns the only live mongoose in the entire United States.

Signed, George D. Johnson.

The celebrity panel is made up of Tom Poston, Peggy Cass, Orson Bean and Kitty Carlisle. The full episode is below; the video at the top of this post is cut to include just the Mayor Johnson segment.