DNA proves US President Harding fathered child out of wedlock

[webfact]

DNA proves President Harding fathered child out of wedlock
By BRETT ZONGKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — DNA testing all but confirmed Thomas Jefferson slept with his slave Sally Hemings. Now it's rewriting another lurid chapter in presidential history, this one from the Roaring '20s.

Genetic analysis has proved that President Warren G. Harding fathered a child with long-rumored mistress Nan Britton, according to AncestryDNA, a DNA-testing division of Ancestry.com.

Britton set off a Jazz Age sex scandal when she went public with her tale of forbidden love in the White House, boldly publishing her story in a 1927 best-selling memoir, "The President's Daughter." But historians long questioned her claims, and Harding defenders vilified her as a liar for nearly 90 years.

Based on DNA from Britton's grandson and descendants of Harding, the results are 99.9 percent certain, Ancestry.com said. The findings were first reported Thursday by The New York Times.

The child born of their union, Elizabeth Ann Blaesing, was the only known offspring of the 29th president. She died in 2005. Britton died in 1991.

James Blaesing, 65, who grew up hearing the story of his grandfather, the president, from Britton, his grandmother, told The Associated Press he long wanted to prove she was telling the truth. He was delighted by the DNA results.

"You know what this is? It's a love story," he said of his grandparents. "It was true love, especially on her side, and I know he felt the same way. And he got trapped."

Harding was a heartthrob U.S. senator from Ohio when the affair began. The relationship continued when Harding was president, with Britton later writing of how they made love in a White House coat closet. It ended with Harding's sudden death during his presidency in 1923.

Harding's family long maintained that Britton's book was a lie or a childhood fantasy or was perhaps dreamed up by Democratic opponents of the Republican president. Some people maintained that Harding was sterile because he had mumps as a child.

The Library of Congress recently published love letters between Harding and another woman, Carrie F. Phillips, opening further doubts about the family's denials.

Peter Harding of Big Sur, California, a grandnephew of the former president, wanted to know the truth, along with his cousin, Abigail Harding of Worthington, Ohio, who had already begun studying her family history on Ancestry.com.

But other parts of the family didn't want anyone digging into the potentially salacious details of the past.

"People have a right to know who their parents and grandparents are," said Peter Harding, a retired psychiatrist. "I think that's just a human right. There was a whole family that didn't know for sure who their father and grandfather was. They deserved to know."

Peter Harding and James Blaesing connected and agreed to do a DNA test. When the results came back, Blaesing called Abigail Harding and greeted her by saying, "Hi, cousin." The families plan to hold a reunion and get better acquainted.

But it will take time for other family members to feel comfortable with the discovery.

Historians rank Harding low among the presidents, and he is known mostly for the Teapot Dome scandal that took place during his administration. Family members who researched his history said he was in a sexless marriage and had several mistresses.

Blaesing said that if his mother and grandmother were alive today, they would be pleased by the DNA findings.

"My grandmother — right now she has the biggest smile on her face," he said. "She is so happy that this is out there."

AncestryDNA spokesman Stephen Baloglu said the Harding story shows the power of DNA in rewriting history.

"The family connection is definitive," he said. "We were happy to help the Harding family members solve this longstanding family mystery."

In the Jefferson case, a DNA analysis published in 1998 found evidence that a member of the Jefferson family fathered at least one of Hemings' six children.

On the basis of that and documentary evidence — namely, the whereabouts of Jefferson's male relatives at the time — historians have generally agreed that Jefferson and Hemings had a sexual relationship, as had long been rumored.

Questions over Harding's affairs and out-of-wedlock daughter have circulated for years. Visitors to the Harding home in Marion, Ohio, often ask whether he had a secret daughter. Tour guides have answered with a shrug and said there's evidence it's true.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-14

[Scott]

I wonder if that is the same closet that Bill Clinton used?

[Usernames]

DNA testing all but confirmed Thomas Jefferson slept with his slave Sally Hemings.

Not from what I've read.

[Just1Voice]

Saw an article a couple of weeks back that claimed DNA proof that Chelsea wasn't Bill's daughter.

Didn't bother to read it, but what the hell, it wouldn't surprise me if it was true.

[wirat69]

Saw an article a couple of weeks back that claimed DNA proof that Chelsea wasn't Bill's daughter.

Didn't bother to read it, but what the hell, it wouldn't surprise me if it was true.

When Bill and Hillary first got married Bill said, "I put a

box under the bed. You must promise never to look in it."

In all their 30 years of marriage, Hillary never looked. On

the afternoon of their 30th anniversary, curiosity got the

better of her and she lifted the lid and peeked inside. In

it were 3 empty beer cans and $81,874.25 in cash. She

closed the box and put it back under the bed. Now that she

knew what was in the box, she was doubly curious as to why

there was such a box and with those contents.

That evening, they were out for a special anniversary

dinner. After dinner, Hillary could no longer contain her

curiosity and she confessed, saying, "I'm so sorry, Bill.

For all these years, I kept my promise and never looked into

the box under our bed. However, today the temptation was too

much and I gave in. But now I need to know, why do you keep

the 3 beer cans in the box?"

Bill thought for a while and said, "I guess after all these

years you deserve to know the truth. Whenever I was

unfaithful to you, I put an empty beer can in the box under

the bed to remind myself not to do it again.

Hillary was shocked, but said, "Hmmm, Jennifer, Paula and

Monica. I'm disappointed and saddened by your behavior;

however, since you are addicted to sex I guess it does

happen and I guess 3 times is not that bad considering your

problem."

Bill thanked her for being so understanding. They hugged

and made their peace.

A little while later Hillary asked Bill, "So why do you have

all that money in the box?"

Bill answered, "Well, whenever the box filled up with empty

cans, I took them to the recycling centre."

[oneday]

Oh, how wonderful DNA is turning out to be. Catching a lot of liars.

It's good this family finally has the truth out there for everyone to see.

[DaddyWarbucks]

What is more offensive than the affairs themselves is the lying, sanctimonious ways they go about covering them up.

[sammygood]

if this is her, wouldn't you ?

[DLang]

When are so called 'developed' societies going to understand that monogamy isn't natural for humans.

[2fishin2]

Extremely slow news day?

[irwinfc]

perhaps soothing a hard on was the best way for Harding to go through hard times.

[tonypace02]

What lying? Did Harding ever lie about it? Is there evidence he was ever asked? In the 1920's, gentlemen never discussed such things. His family could only have lied about it if they knew.

[stevenl]

if this is her, wouldn't you ?

That is Sally Hemings, briefly mentioned here, not the in the OP discussed Nan Britton.

[TimmyT]

I don't understand - is it such a big deal with who a president of US who died may be a hounded years ago, slept with?! isn't it his own private life?

what is the perverse pleasure to know who slept with whom?

Edited August 14, 2015 by TimmyT

[willyumiii]

Why are people so concerned about the personal sex lives of political leaders?

It would be interesting to know the percentage of married man in the world who have ever had sex with someone other than their wife.

If a person in office is not doing their job, attack them for that.

Their personal life should be just that personal.

Ever notice that when a President is doing a good job and his opposition has nothing legitimate to complain about..they go after his personal life?

That is nothing but childish, dirty politics.

[Rancid]

If he was a French President it would have been cause for boasting.

[elgordo38]

I wonder if that is the same closet that Bill Clinton used?

Did't Monica crawl under a table? I believe Bill was a multi tasker. He had both heads going at the same time. Still loved him he was only human after all. A lot of us old farts here doing the same thing myself included.

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

[elgordo38]

What is more offensive than the affairs themselves is the lying, sanctimonious ways they go about covering them up.

Careful your age is showing Sir Knight. The days of chivalry and wearing your true loves hankerchief or favor on your arm going into battle are long gone. Lying sanctimonious ways are in style now. All the world leaders, politicians and big business leaders use them indiscriminately to curry voters favor, curry politicians favor, or used when dealing with the media to blow their own horn. Its become a high stakes game for all the marbles. Its kind of a "last man standing" syndrome.