Fun fact: eight presidents were from Ohio, more than any other state (I’m not counting VA bc it’s a tie but they were a state way longer)! More fun fact: I’d bet only 1% of Americans could name even 1 of these, and it is… Ulysses Grant. Even funner fact: this is bc all eight of them sucked ass! Most fun fact of all: a full 50% of the 8 managed to die while in office.
Dammit I almost never fess up to having been raised in Ohio, and yes we did have to learn this in school 😔
One can still stand on that front porch! Harding’s museum/home is quite interesting. The grandfather clock in his Ohio home stopped at the moment of his death in San Francisco. In 1939 a boy named John Wesley Dean was born in Marion. In his youth, John Dean had the Harding house on his newspaper route. Then in his early 30s Mr. Dean himself went on to help scandalize another Republican President, Richard Nixon.
Hitting very close to home (north central Ohio, that is) on this one. I never realized the Harding connection to the Seinfeld cock fighting episode where Kramer names the rooster “Little Jerry”.
He went off the rails when he learned to play all those instruments, including the trombone, then let it slide. Sometimes it’s the small things that do the worst damage.
The front porch thing maybe worked partly because his opponent was ALSO from Ohio (and also a journalist). It's kind of a mystery on some level why Harding won so decisively as his opponent was a decent enough guy who wanted to continue some of the policies that Teddy and Taft had pushed for.
Sort of like the mystery of how Kamala when from least popular girl to well on her way to making head girl in two weeks? Do you believe in magic (in a young girls heart?). Must be something of that sort.
Thank you!! It's part Dickens retelling, part coming-of-age story about pickpockets in 19th century London making their own deeply problematic families of terrible people who make bad decisions. Sort of a villain origin story for the characters of Fagin and Bill Sikes.
I am so looking forward to Fagin The Thief. I have loved Oliver Twist since I was about 10 and will devour any sort of adaptation so this is very exciting.
Loved today’s essay, particularly the conversation in the smoke-filled room and the pictures and captions. Warren G Harding looks a bit like Gregory Peck in that first photo, so very presidential. I also clocked that photo of Jim Carter, but being from the UK, Downton Abbey is something of an institution
Congrats on the book! I'm looking forward to it. I love Dickens talkback novels. Have you read Will Eisner's graphic novel about Fagin?
The only thing I know about Warren G. Harding is that he has an entirely too flattering cameo in the excellent novel "Carter Beats the Devil" by Glen David Gould, about a stage magician who is remarkably not a dirtbag.
I have not yet! I've never been much of a graphic novel person, but I should pick that up specifically probably. I did enjoy Carter Beats the Devil though!
Great piece! As a 35-year veteran of the newspaper business, I take umbrage at your characterization of the state of the business. I take umbrage, but you’re absolutely correct.
I hope so! I'm trying to make it available outside the US and Canada but unfortunately I have very little control over that. I'll announce it loudly here should it happen!
Fun fact: eight presidents were from Ohio, more than any other state (I’m not counting VA bc it’s a tie but they were a state way longer)! More fun fact: I’d bet only 1% of Americans could name even 1 of these, and it is… Ulysses Grant. Even funner fact: this is bc all eight of them sucked ass! Most fun fact of all: a full 50% of the 8 managed to die while in office.
Dammit I almost never fess up to having been raised in Ohio, and yes we did have to learn this in school 😔
One can still stand on that front porch! Harding’s museum/home is quite interesting. The grandfather clock in his Ohio home stopped at the moment of his death in San Francisco. In 1939 a boy named John Wesley Dean was born in Marion. In his youth, John Dean had the Harding house on his newspaper route. Then in his early 30s Mr. Dean himself went on to help scandalize another Republican President, Richard Nixon.
Hitting very close to home (north central Ohio, that is) on this one. I never realized the Harding connection to the Seinfeld cock fighting episode where Kramer names the rooster “Little Jerry”.
He went off the rails when he learned to play all those instruments, including the trombone, then let it slide. Sometimes it’s the small things that do the worst damage.
THEN LET IT SLIDE
[pun slow clap]
I’m sorry about that. I’m so very sorry. I thought I was in remission, but then something like that slips out.
The front porch thing maybe worked partly because his opponent was ALSO from Ohio (and also a journalist). It's kind of a mystery on some level why Harding won so decisively as his opponent was a decent enough guy who wanted to continue some of the policies that Teddy and Taft had pushed for.
Sort of like the mystery of how Kamala when from least popular girl to well on her way to making head girl in two weeks? Do you believe in magic (in a young girls heart?). Must be something of that sort.
I think Harding v. Cox might be one of the campaigns least comparable to the current election in almost every way.
Mysterious happenings though, wouldn't you say?
You do have a way with words, Allison. And you have shown us that American politics is not so very different so many years on.
Hilarious!
What is the new book about? I’ll be sure to get it wherever it is
Thank you!! It's part Dickens retelling, part coming-of-age story about pickpockets in 19th century London making their own deeply problematic families of terrible people who make bad decisions. Sort of a villain origin story for the characters of Fagin and Bill Sikes.
Thanks for replying Allison
This sounds great, I love hearing about re-telling, or alternative versions of known stories.
I hope you keep writing the Dirtbag stuff, I literally laugh out loud every time (I still tell people about the mad Lactation of St Bernard painting!)
Some of these people are insane, proper Disney villains but extra. Most evil of all the Disney villains of course being Frolo…unquestionably
Can’t wait for the next dirtbag!
I cannot for the life of me sort out where I heard of the Teapot Dome Scandal, but I do know about it. But I forgot Harding’s name. What a ding dong!!
I am so eager for your new book!!!!!!!!!!
I am so looking forward to Fagin The Thief. I have loved Oliver Twist since I was about 10 and will devour any sort of adaptation so this is very exciting.
Loved today’s essay, particularly the conversation in the smoke-filled room and the pictures and captions. Warren G Harding looks a bit like Gregory Peck in that first photo, so very presidential. I also clocked that photo of Jim Carter, but being from the UK, Downton Abbey is something of an institution
Also, Beauty and the Beast was absolutely what came to mind when I read Teapot Dome scandal!
Yesss to Oliver Twist childhood fixations and also to Mrs. Potts always being an appropriate historical reference <3
He is my candidate for the worst President of them all.
Congrats on the book! I'm looking forward to it. I love Dickens talkback novels. Have you read Will Eisner's graphic novel about Fagin?
The only thing I know about Warren G. Harding is that he has an entirely too flattering cameo in the excellent novel "Carter Beats the Devil" by Glen David Gould, about a stage magician who is remarkably not a dirtbag.
I have not yet! I've never been much of a graphic novel person, but I should pick that up specifically probably. I did enjoy Carter Beats the Devil though!
Great piece! As a 35-year veteran of the newspaper business, I take umbrage at your characterization of the state of the business. I take umbrage, but you’re absolutely correct.
I laughed out loud while reading this, Allison.
Please can we have an audiobook of your new book that is available to people in Australia?
I hope so! I'm trying to make it available outside the US and Canada but unfortunately I have very little control over that. I'll announce it loudly here should it happen!
Seattle? Seattle? It's a matter of pride here that he died in San Francisco. That and Fatty Arbuckle.
oh god you're right, thanks! I've updated the post. I would never deny San Francisco its title of Top Place to Die