"WE HAVE ENOUGH SOCIALISTS IN WASHINGTON"

PRESIDENT'S FATHER WOULD VOTE DEMOCRATIC IN IOWA SENATE RACE

Des Moines, Iowa (JFK+50) On September 29, 1922, the Evening Star reports Dr. George T. Harding*, President Warren G. Harding's father, said yesterday that if he were living in Iowa he would vote for the democratic candidate for the United States Senate, Clyde L. Herring**.

Since the senior Harding's son is a Republican, this may be somewhat disconcerting to the President of the United States, not to mention the members of the political party he represents.

Dr. Harding is here in Des Moines in connection with the G.A.R. encampment and is the guest of former Agriculture Secretary E. T. Meredith***.

According to the Star, Dr. Harding called Smith W. Brookhart****, the republican candidate for the U.S. Senate representing Iowa,  "a socialist."

Dr. Harding is quoted as saying...

"We have enough of these socialists in Washington now causing trouble, and we don't want anymore of them."

JFK+50 NOTE

Smith W. Brookhart (R) defeated Clyde L. Herring (D) in the U.S. Senate race of 1922. 

*George Tyron Harding (1843-1928) was born in Blooming Grove, Ohio & graduated from Iberia College, 1860.  CTH served in Union army in the Civil War, & earned the Doctorate of Medicine, 1873.  He was the 1st presidential father to outlive his son & 2nd to live through his son's term of office.

**Clyde LaVerne Herring (1879-1945) was born in Jackson, Michigan & served in the Spanish-American War.  He was Governor of Iowa, 1933-1937 & U.S. Senator (D-Iowa), 1937-1943. 

***Edwin Thomas Meredith (1876-1928) was born in Avoca, Iowa & became manager of the Farmer's Tribune, 1894.  ETM served as Secretary of Agriculture under Woodrow Wilson, 1920-1921.  In 1922 he started a magazine which became Better Homes & Gardens.

****Smith Wildman Brookhart (1869-1944) was born in Arbela, Missouri & served in the Spanish-American War.  SWB was president of NRA, 1921-1925.  He served as U.S. Senator (R-Iowa), 1922-1926 & 1927-1933. 

SOURCES

"Harding Senior Backs Democrat in Senate Race," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 29, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"The Harding Hospital," Worthington Memory, August 1, 2016, www.worthingtonmemory.org/

 

 

Warren G. Harding with Dr. G.T. Harding

www.worthingtonmemory.org/

"I WAS LONESOME, SIMPLY UNBEARABLY LONESOME"

PRESIDENT'S 76 YEAR OLD DAD WEDS 52 YEAR OLD NURSE

Monroe, Michigan (JFK+50) On August 11, 1921, seventy-six year old Dr. George T. Harding*, father of the President of the United States, married his nurse, fifty-two year old Miss Alice Severns.

The couple arrived here in Monroe and immediately got their marriage license. It took less than an hour for the ceremony to be conducted at the home of Rev. Frank T. Knowles, minister of the local Presbyterian Church.

President Warren G. Harding was as surprised as anyone else when he received word of his father's marriage.  He immediately cut short the meeting he was holding.

Dr. Harding's comment on the marriage was...

"I was lonesome, simply unbearably lonesome."

*Dr. George Tryon Harding (1843-1928) was born in Blooming Grove, Ohio & received his M.D. in 1873.  GRH became the 1st presidential father to outlive his son, Warren G. Harding, & the 2nd to live through his son's presidency.

SOURCE

"President's Father, 76, Weds Aid, 52," The New York Tribune, August 12, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

Mr. & Mrs. George T. Harding

Photo by Vail from Kadzel & Herbert

The New York Herald

August 21, 1921