The Strange Deaths of President Harding

Rating:
Summary: Whitewash, Sexist Untruths
Review: I read through this book very carefully, as well as that of John Dean's recent one on Harding. Dean's is much more balanced, and gives a sense of Harding's attributes in the context of his very real and deep weaknesses for women and drink and gambling. Why is it that Ferrell cannot see the whole man and must whitewash him into a hero? To me the real hero is one who overcomes his failings to succeed. Also, I suspect the author is old, because it is amusing that he dismisses every woman's opinion as "gossip" yet takes as bible truth the gossip of men like the mail clerk! I also read a book about his wife and noticed that this book uses a sanitized "for public eyes" version of the doctor's notes - while the Mrs. Harding book uses the raw handwritten first and real notes. And the most obvious fact - the face of Nan Britton's daughter - speaks more obviously to the fact that Harding did father the child. Why is it hard to believe that a ditzy mistress can't remember exact times and hours of everything and did as she was told to burn every single letter her great hero asked her to? If you want to see a rush job and a lot of failure in biography - this is the one. But if you want the real story of the Hardings read John Dean's book, Professor Murray's excellent book, Francis Russell - who actually interviewed many of the people involved in the 1950's when they were old-timers, and the Mrs. Harding story.

Rating:
Summary: NOT A VERY EXCITING BOOK
Review: This is an attempt to look at President Harding from a different perspective. The general opinion is that this man was one of the worse presidents this country has every had. Although Mr. Ferrell does not try to totally reverse this opinion and make President Harding out to be a great president he does attempt to explain how the Harding Administration was a reflection of the 1920s and what the people wanted and needed from their government.

The many "deaths" relates first to his physical death. President Harding was -- contrary to what his aides wanted people to believe -- not a well man and had a severe heart condition. He went on a tour to the west coast and was so beaten down physically that he was laid up on bed rest for several days with reports on his conditions being monitored by the news media. The first couple of days the reports were grim and then suddenly the reports became optimistic. Then, just as suddenly the man was dead.

The other deaths of President Harding relates to the death of his image. He reportedly had affairs and illegitimate children. His name was mired in the Teapot Dome Scandal. His accomplishments were diminished by the events that followed his administration. In the end most President Harding's accomplishments were forgotten and so, too, was President Harding.