Quirks and Oddities of Influential People in History

Quirks and Oddities of Influential People in History

Khalid Elhassan - August 17, 2019

Quirks and Oddities of Influential People in History
Warren G. Harding. ThoughtCo

9. Warren G. Harding Also Had a Nickname For His Penis

LBJ was not the only POTUS to give his dong a nickname. Starting in 1899, Warren G. Harding began working his way up the political ladder, from Ohio state senator, to failed Republican nominee for governor, to winner of a 1914 election to the US Senate. Throughout most of his political career, he had carried on an extramarital affair with Carrie Fulton Phillips. As historians would discover from love letters he wrote her, Harding referred to his penis as “private chief of staff”, but more often referred to it as “Jerry”.

In one such letter, Harding wrote to Phillips: “Jerry — you recall Jerry…— came in while I was pondering your notes in glad reflection, and we talked about it…He told me to say that you are the best and darlingest in the world, and if he could have but one wish, it would be to be held in your darling embrace and be thrilled by your pink lips that convey the surpassing rapture of human touch“. The affair lasted for fifteen years, before Harding finally ended it in 1920, while running for president.

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