Customer Reviews

The Ohio Gang: The World of Warren G. Harding

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An older book on Warren Harding's cronies, it still gives us a bird's-eye-view into the backroom politics that got Harding nominated and elected. Charles Mee provides excellent background on the major actors in the Harding coterie. You'll be introduced to the notorious smoke-filled hotel room, where, during the convention, the power-brokers met and decided on Harding, who was considered "the best of the second raters."

In was also in this hotel room, where Harding was asked the question if there was anything in his background that would preclude his being elected...and asking for a few minutes to think about it...then lied, saying, "No." That was followed with the Republican Party having to pay hush money and provide an overseas vacation to Carrie Phillips and her husband, to get them out of town during the campaign, after it was learned that he was having an affair with Carrie. (He also didn't tell them he was seeing Nan Britton at another hotel in town.)

This is a book not to be missed; it is always listed in the bibliography of books written by historians who accurately detail Harding's adulterous lifestyle in biographical studies about this, our worst president.

I felt compelled to read this book after reading the chapter on Warren Harding in Nathan Miller's book "Star Spangled Men" (also highly entertaining). Where Miller's chapter gives us a sample, Mee's book gives us the buffet. Mee paints a vivid picture of a Warren Harding in way over his head. Harding is well meaning, but has no place on the big stage. Neither do the men he brings with him...
This book is an easy read with decent dialogue and unforgettable characters (for all the wrong reasons). Give it a try. You won't be upset with the decision.

came on time, early in fact, and all in good shape. a trustworthy source.