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| Warren G Harding: Century-old sex scandal has 29th US president trending on Twitter | Warren G Harding: Century-old sex scandal has 29th US president trending on Twitter |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| She was the Monica Lewinsky of her day. | She was the Monica Lewinsky of her day. |
| Almost 100 years ago, Nan Britton scandalised Washington with her claims that she was the mother of President Warren G Harding “illegitimate child” and tales of romps in a White House closet. Many believed her; others did not. | Almost 100 years ago, Nan Britton scandalised Washington with her claims that she was the mother of President Warren G Harding “illegitimate child” and tales of romps in a White House closet. Many believed her; others did not. |
| But now the issue appear to have been settled. A report said DNA testing had confirmed that Harding, the 29 US president, was indeed the father of Britton’s daughter Elizabeth Ann Blaesing. | But now the issue appear to have been settled. A report said DNA testing had confirmed that Harding, the 29 US president, was indeed the father of Britton’s daughter Elizabeth Ann Blaesing. |
| President Warren G Harding | President Warren G Harding |
| “It’s sort of Shakespearean and operatic,” said Peter Harding, a grandnephew of the president and one of those who instigated the DNA testing, told the New York Times. | “It’s sort of Shakespearean and operatic,” said Peter Harding, a grandnephew of the president and one of those who instigated the DNA testing, told the New York Times. |
| “This story hangs over the whole presidential history because it was an unsolved mystery.” | “This story hangs over the whole presidential history because it was an unsolved mystery.” |
| Harding was elected in 1920 and died just three years later. While he was a popular leader at the time of his death, his reputation quickly suffered as a series of scandals subsequently emerged. | Harding was elected in 1920 and died just three years later. While he was a popular leader at the time of his death, his reputation quickly suffered as a series of scandals subsequently emerged. |
| Among them were the allegations, contained in Ms Britton’s 1927 memoir The President's Daughter, alleging she was the late president’s mistress and that he had fathered her child. | |
| Nan Britton wrote a memoir. 'The President's daughter' | Nan Britton wrote a memoir. 'The President's daughter' |
| The book contained no small amount of titillation and salacion, including tales of illicit sex in the White House as Secret Service agents stood watch. | The book contained no small amount of titillation and salacion, including tales of illicit sex in the White House as Secret Service agents stood watch. |
| “It was not the first time a president was accused of an extracurricular love life, but never before had a self-proclaimed presidential mistress gone public with a popular tell-all book,” the newspaper reported. | “It was not the first time a president was accused of an extracurricular love life, but never before had a self-proclaimed presidential mistress gone public with a popular tell-all book,” the newspaper reported. |
| “The ensuing furore played out in newspapers, courtrooms and living rooms across the country.” | “The ensuing furore played out in newspapers, courtrooms and living rooms across the country.” |
| Whatever else the scientific settling of the parenthood issue did, on Thursday, the 100-year-old sex scandal had Warren G Harding trending on Twitter. | Whatever else the scientific settling of the parenthood issue did, on Thursday, the 100-year-old sex scandal had Warren G Harding trending on Twitter. |