Warren G. Harding (29th; 1921–1923)

Another one of my favorite presidents, though history consider him to be one of the most Scandalous Presidents in U.S. History in part because of the Teapot Dome Scandal. No, I’m not talking about JFK or Bill Clinton. I’m not even talking about LBJ or Richard Nixon. I'm talking about Warren Gamaliel Harding, our 29th President. Elected largely because he "looked like a president" and promised to get government out of our lives with a "return to normalcy," Harding proceeded to rob the treasury and make his friends and corporate allies filthy rich, while putting the economy on shaky ground.

All that being said. I can understand why he couldn't keep up with the people he appointed. Like JFK and Lyndon Johnson, Harding was an unrestrained womanizer. He was busy getting some ass. The ladies thought him virile and handsome, plus he photographed well. It appears that long before JFK was sneaking women into the White House behind Jackie’s back; good ole Warren was having an illicit affair with not only a young campaign volunteer named Nan Britton, but there were other women as well. Two of the women were personal friends of his wife Florence. There were minor flings with women, whom Harding impregnated and then forced to have an abortion. One woman committed suicide when Harding refused to leave his wife. There is also some evidence that Harding may have been responsible for the accidental death of prostitute at one of the many wild parties he hosted. Damn if Harding was a modern day dick slinger.

Warren was only President for twenty-nine months before dying unexpectedly in 1923 from ptomaine poisoning. The president was only 57, and his death marked yet another scandalous intrigue. All sorts of conspiracies circulated — suicide, poisoned by his jealous wife, Florence to cover up further scandals. Talk about Hollywood movie material.

 Harding with his wife Florence, known as the Duchess, was the power behind the throne.

 The ladies thought him virile and handsome, plus he photographed well. However, he looked presidential, and that was good enough back in the 1920’s. 

Harding was even caught by his wife having sex in an Oval Office anteroom, leading the president to say: "It's a good thing I am not a woman. I would always be pregnant. I can't say no." Great to know if I ever get a time machine. 

 No president had more "women scrapes," as his attorney general put it, than Warren G. 

When I was in high school, I did report on Harding and learned of the Teapot Dome scandal in my American history courses, but I was not informed of Harding’s nickname for his penis—"Jerry."