The Odd Death of Pres. Harding - Historum

**crossroadclarence** · August 2nd, 2011, 11:16 PM

Here's an interesting subject: On this day in American history, Warren G. Harding died in office under highly unusual circumstances.

Quote:

Within minutes of Warren G. Harding’s death at either 7:10, 7:20, or 7:30 p.m. on August 2, 1923, rumors began to circulate. No one present at his demise could give the correct time of death. No one seemed to be sure who was on hand in the San Francisco hotel room when he breathed his last. Most of all, the four physicians who had been caring for Harding for the previous week could not agree on the cause of death. It had something to do with his heart. On the other hand, perhaps it was a stroke. Alternatively, it could have been both, exacerbated by the ptomaine poisoning that he may or may not have experienced a few days earlier in Vancouver. Despite the confusion over the time of death, surely an autopsy would resolve the uncertainty about what killed Warren G. Harding.

Any theories?

Sources: http://my.ilstu.edu/~ftmorn/cjhistory/casestud/harding.html

and The mysterious death of President Warren G. Harding — A Mysterious Death — Crime Library on truTV.com

**crossroadclarence** · August 3rd, 2011, 01:23 AM

More of the mystery:

Quote:

Except --- there was no autopsy. Mrs. Harding --- the “Duchess,” as her husband called her --- would not permit it. Within an hour of his death, he was embalmed, rouged, powdered, dressed, and in his casket. By morning, he was on a train, headed back to Washington, D.C.It is little wonder that newspaper reporters, servants, and minor attending officials speculated about the circumstances of the death of the 29th President of the United States. How could an event so important to the life of the nation be so shoddily handled? Or was there some secret, something about this death that needed covering up?
The entire affair was so bizarre that it was inevitable that conspiracy theories arose. Was it suicide? If so, why? Was it murder? If so, who did it?The mysterious death of President Warren G. Harding — A Mysterious Death — Crime Library on truTV.com

**tjadams** · August 3rd, 2011, 06:56 AM

His death goes well with President Taylor's odd & untimely passing.

**jegates** · August 3rd, 2011, 09:39 AM

Interesting...have never put much reading behind this topic, but will now. Thanks for the information.

kingmaker7 · August 9th, 2011, 08:23 PM

Like Taylor, President Harding's death is particularly interesting because political rivals and subordinates profited in one way or another. However, Taylor's remains were unearthed a few years ago and examined--with no evidence found of poisoning.

Harding has not been exhumed.

Florence Harding was quite the political force herself, perhaps even more eager to be the First Lady than Harding ever wanted to be President. Similar suspiciously powerful First Ladies would include Edith Wilson and Helen Taft.

Does that give Florence Harding less of a reason to kill her husband? He was caught up in the Tea Pot Dome Scandal at the time so maybe she wanted to save his legacy?

One of the best parts about history is that it's not over.

**tjadams** · August 9th, 2011, 09:08 PM

Semi off topic here, but an interesting presidential nugget.
The last president of the Republic of Texas, Anson Jones, committed suicide in 1858.

**crossroadclarence** · August 9th, 2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingmaker7

Like Taylor, President Harding's death is particularly interesting because political rivals and subordinates profited in one way or another. However, Taylor's remains were unearthed a few years ago and examined--with no evidence found of poisoning.

Harding has not been exhumed.

Florence Harding was quite the political force herself, perhaps even more eager to be the First Lady than Harding ever wanted to be President. Similar suspiciously powerful First Ladies would include Edith Wilson and Helen Taft.

Does that give Florence Harding less of a reason to kill her husband? He was caught up in the Tea Pot Dome Scandal at the time so maybe she wanted to save his legacy?

One of the best parts about history is that it's not over.

Quite right. What could prevent an exhumation in our time??

ssfeldjager · August 11th, 2011, 07:29 PM

Conspiracy theories: ya gotta love 'em.

**unclefred** · August 27th, 2011, 10:14 AM

After his death, the Duchess locked herself behind doors and burned box after box of the President's papers, correspondence and records. The warehouse where many of them were kept had black smoke pouring from the chimney for days.

"While visiting San Francisco, Harding died, in part because of Sawyer's harmful treatment of purging. The president was only 57, and his death marked yet another scandalous intrigue. All sorts of conspiracies circulated — suicide, poisoned by his jealous wife, killed to cover up further scandals. Mrs. Harding added to the brouhaha by rushing back to Washington in advance of her husband's body to systematically burn White House documents and records. Then, a year later she died — along with Harding's secrets — while convalescing at a sanitarium run by Doc Sawyer"

Hidden History: For scandal, you can't top Harding - Sun Sentinel