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 2 Version 3
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
(about 1 hour later)
She was the Monica Lewinsky of her day. She was - in more ways than one - 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 claim she was the mother of President Warren G Harding's “illegitimate child” and hot 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 on Thursday said DNA testing had confirmed that Harding, the 29th US president, was indeed the father of Ms Britton’s daughter, Elizabeth Ann Blaesing.
President Warren G HardingPresident 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,” 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. Among these was the corruption scam related to the sale of naval petrol reserves at Teapot Dome in Wymong.
Washington was further set alight with claims, contained in Ms Britton’s 1928 memoir The President's Daughter, alleging she was the late president’s mistress for six years and that he had fathered her child in 1919, a year before he was elected. Ms Britton - considered to have written the first ever political kiss-and-tell - 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 salaciousness, 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. Some historians have said the focus on Harding's scandals and the issue of his mistresses, have clouded perceptions of a man who was an effective president.
Monica Lewinsky has been compared to Nan Britton
James Robenalt, a lawyer and author of The Harding Affair, Love and Espionage During the Great War told The Independent that Harding had come to office as the world faced crisis in the aftermath of World War One. "He held the world together," he said.
As to Ms Britton, he said there were several similarities between her and Monica Lewinsky, who scandalised Washington in the late 1990s with her affair with Bill Clinton, the 42nd president. Both women were much younger than the man with whom they consorted, both were infatuated with them and both of them suffered abuse and insults.
"It's always the women who bear the brunt of it - the shaming - much more so than the men," said Mr Robenalt.
Whatever else the scientific settling of the parenthood issue did, on Thursday, the 100-year-old sex scandal had the long-dead Warren G Harding trending on Twitter.