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/
