PRESIDENT'S LUCK IS WITH HIM MATCHING PENNIES
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 7, 1921, President Warren G. Harding "matched pennies* with the fourteen Senators with whom he took luncheon at the Capitol."
The New York Tribune reported that the game was "to decide who should pay" for the luncheon. The President's luck was with him as Senator James W.Wadsworth, Jr.** was "stuck" with the bill for the entire party.
*Matching pennies is a simple game played between 2 players, even & odd. Each secretly turns their penny to heads or tails. Players then reveal their pennies. If both match, even keeps both. If not, odd keeps both.
**James W. Wadsworth, Jr., (1877-1952) was born in Geneseo, NY & graduated from Yale University in 1898 where he had been a member of Skull & Bones. JWW served in the Spanish-American War & as a US Senator 1915-1927 & US Congressman 1933-1951.
SOURCE
"Harding Wins Matching Pennies With Senators," The New York Tribune, July 8, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
