Episode 233: Nan + Warren
Jul 03, 2025•23 min
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Summary
This episode explores the story of Nan Britton and her 1927 tell-all book, "The President's Daughter," which claimed her child was fathered by President Warren G. Harding. It recounts her teenage crush, the beginning of their secret affair, the birth of their daughter Elizabeth, and Britton's struggles to publish her story to support her child and advocate for children born out of wedlock. The episode touches on Harding's reputation for affairs, the public's reaction to Britton's book, and the eventual DNA confirmation of her claim decades later.Episode description
Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm.
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. I have recently launched a newsletter. You can subscribe to it at thememorypalacepodcast.substack.com.
Music
- Jobs, Winter Memory, and Slow Flood by Dark Dark Dark
- Carla et Roger aux sports l'hiver from the score to Le bel age by Georges Delareau
- Mt Baker by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
- All Creatures will Drink Joy by American Cream Band
- Every High (Piano Solo) by Kyson
- Vals Efter Lasse I Lyby by Lofoten Cello Duo
Notes
- You can read The President's Daughter here.
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