This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/warren-g-harding-centuryold-sex-scandal-has-29th-us-president-trending-on-twitter-10453843.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. Ms Britton passed away in 1991 at the age of 94; her daughter died in Oregon on November 17, 2005. | |
| 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. |