Nan Britton
Encyclopedia
Nan P. "Nanny" Britton (November 9, 1896–March 21, 1991) was a figure associated with the Presidency of Warren G. Harding
due to her claim that Harding fathered her illegitimate daughter shortly before his election as President.
Born in Marion, Ohio
, Britton developed an obsession with Harding, a friend of her father. As a girl, her bedroom walls were covered with images of Harding from local papers and magazine. While still less than 16 years old, she would also dawdle near his Marion Daily Star
building in downtown Marion, Ohio
hoping to bump into him on his walk home from work.
Her father, Dr. Britton, talked to Harding about his daughter's infatuation
, and in turn, Harding spoke with the girl, assuring her that one day she would find the man of her dreams. At the time, Harding was involved in a very passionate affair with Carrie Fulton Phillips
, wife of James Phillips, co-owner of Marion's Uhler-Phillips Company, a local department store
. Following her graduation from Marion High School in 1914, Britton moved to New York City
, where she hoped to start a career as a secretary.
Following Harding's death in 1923, Britton wrote what is considered to be the first kiss-and-tell book, The President's Daughter
, published in 1927. In it, she claimed to have been his mistress before and during his presidency, and that Harding was the father of her daughter, Elizabeth Ann
(1919–2005), who was later adopted by Britton's husband, Mr. Christian. One famous passage mentions their making love in a coat closet in the executive office of the White House.
According to Britton, Harding had promised to support her daughter, but after his sudden death in 1923, Harding's family refused to acknowledge the obligation. The ostensible purpose of the book was to earn money for the support of her daughter, and to champion the rights of illegitimate children. Eventually, a lawsuit (Britton v. Klunk) was brought; however, Britton was unable to provide any concrete evidence and buckled under the cross-examination
of former Marion U.S. Representative Grant Mouser
, which cost her the case.
Britton's memoirs seemed sincere, but her portrayal of Harding and his colloquialisms — which she found charming — painted a picture of a crude womanizer. In his 1931 book Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s, Frederick Lewis Allen
remarks that, on the testimony of Britton's book, Harding's private life was "one of cheap sex episodes" and that "one sees with deadly clarity the essential ordinariness of the man, the commonness of his 'Gee dearie' and 'Say, you darling'." The book was among those irreverently reviewed by Dorothy Parker
for The New Yorker
magazine as part of her famous Constant Reader column, under the title "An American DuBarry
."
At the time of her death, aged 94, on March 21, 1991 in Clackamas County, Oregon
, she was known as Nan P. Britton. She was always resolute that Harding was Elizabeth Ann's father.
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
due to her claim that Harding fathered her illegitimate daughter shortly before his election as President.
Born in Marion, Ohio
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
, Britton developed an obsession with Harding, a friend of her father. As a girl, her bedroom walls were covered with images of Harding from local papers and magazine. While still less than 16 years old, she would also dawdle near his Marion Daily Star
Marion Daily Star
The Marion Star is a newspaper in Marion, Ohio. The paper is owned by the Gannett Newspaper organization, the paper is also notable as having once been owned and published by Warren G...
building in downtown Marion, Ohio
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
hoping to bump into him on his walk home from work.
Her father, Dr. Britton, talked to Harding about his daughter's infatuation
Limerence
Limerence is a term coined c. 1977 by the psychologist Dorothy Tennov to describe an involuntary state of mind which seems to result from a romantic attraction to another person combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated...
, and in turn, Harding spoke with the girl, assuring her that one day she would find the man of her dreams. At the time, Harding was involved in a very passionate affair with Carrie Fulton Phillips
Carrie Fulton Phillips
Carrie Phillips was the mistress of Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States. Young Carrie Fulton matured into a great beauty, one that epitomized the Gibson Girl beauty so popular at the time. Her relationship with then Senator Warren G...
, wife of James Phillips, co-owner of Marion's Uhler-Phillips Company, a local department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
. Following her graduation from Marion High School in 1914, Britton moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she hoped to start a career as a secretary.
Following Harding's death in 1923, Britton wrote what is considered to be the first kiss-and-tell book, The President's Daughter
The President's Daughter
The President's Daughter is a book written by Nan Britton, a native of Marion County, Ohio, USA, who claimed in the book that during a six year relationship, she and then Senator Warren G. Harding conceived a child together in 1919...
, published in 1927. In it, she claimed to have been his mistress before and during his presidency, and that Harding was the father of her daughter, Elizabeth Ann
Elizabeth Ann Blaesing
Elizabeth Ann Britton Harding Blaesing was the alleged illegitimate daughter of Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States, and Nan Britton, a native of Marion, Ohio....
(1919–2005), who was later adopted by Britton's husband, Mr. Christian. One famous passage mentions their making love in a coat closet in the executive office of the White House.
According to Britton, Harding had promised to support her daughter, but after his sudden death in 1923, Harding's family refused to acknowledge the obligation. The ostensible purpose of the book was to earn money for the support of her daughter, and to champion the rights of illegitimate children. Eventually, a lawsuit (Britton v. Klunk) was brought; however, Britton was unable to provide any concrete evidence and buckled under the cross-examination
Cross-examination
In law, cross-examination is the interrogation of a witness called by one's opponent. It is preceded by direct examination and may be followed by a redirect .- Variations by Jurisdiction :In...
of former Marion U.S. Representative Grant Mouser
Grant E. Mouser
Grant Earl Mouser was a U.S. Representative from Ohio, father of Grant E. Mouser, Jr.Born in LaRue, Ohio, Mouser attended the LaRue Union Schools and Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio....
, which cost her the case.
Britton's memoirs seemed sincere, but her portrayal of Harding and his colloquialisms — which she found charming — painted a picture of a crude womanizer. In his 1931 book Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s, Frederick Lewis Allen
Frederick Lewis Allen
Frederick Lewis Allen was the editor of Harper's Magazine and also notable as an American historian of the first half of the twentieth century. His specialty was writing about what was at the time recent and popular history...
remarks that, on the testimony of Britton's book, Harding's private life was "one of cheap sex episodes" and that "one sees with deadly clarity the essential ordinariness of the man, the commonness of his 'Gee dearie' and 'Say, you darling'." The book was among those irreverently reviewed by Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker was an American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and eye for 20th century urban foibles....
for The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
magazine as part of her famous Constant Reader column, under the title "An American DuBarry
Madame du Barry
Jeanne Bécu, comtesse du Barry was the last Maîtresse-en-titre of Louis XV of France and one of the victims of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.-Early life:...
."
At the time of her death, aged 94, on March 21, 1991 in Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, she was known as Nan P. Britton. She was always resolute that Harding was Elizabeth Ann's father.
Sources
- Anthony, Carl Sferrazza. Florence Harding, William Morrow and Co., New York City, 1998, ISBN 0-688-07794-3
- Britton, Nan. The President's Daughter. Elizabeth Ann Guild, New York City, 1928 (reprinted 1973), ISBN 0-8369-7132-9.
- Dean, John; Schlesinger, Arthur M. Warren Harding (The American President Series), Times Books, 2004, ISBN 0-8050-6956-9
- Ferrell, Robert H. The Strange Deaths of President Harding, University of Missouri PressUniversity of Missouri PressThe University of Missouri Press is a university press founded in 1958 at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.-External links:*...
, 1996, ISBN 0-8262-1202-6 - Mee, Charles Jr. The Ohio Gang: The World of Warren G. Harding: A Historical Entertainment, M. Evans & Company, 1983, ISBN 0-87131-340-5