geeky
Harding's term in office was marred by numerous scandals as Harding had a knack for putting the wrong people in positions of responsibility. Once of those persons was Charles Forbes, who Harding appointed as director of the newly created Veterans Bureau, a powerful position in charge of millions of dollars in government expenditures and supplies. Forbes was later convicted of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Government and sent to federal prison in 1926. In a letter that Harding wrote to Forbes on December 30, 1918 (two years prior to Harding's election) he penned this response to a Christmas card the Harding’s received from Mrs. Forbes. It illustrates the croneyism on which Harding based his selection for important government appointments:
"Mrs. Harding commands me to write and express the pleasure we had in receiving your card. We had not known before that Major Forbes had become a Lt. Colonel. Of course, we were delighted at the promotion and greatly pleased to hear from you. The writer is doing the secretarial work because Mrs. Harding is in bed and has been there for six weeks – hydro nephrosis. We all think she is doing well now, patient included. Dr. Sawyer was here yesterday and added to her progress by comforting assurances. He inquired concerning Colonel Forbes and yourself, and we could tell him little, except that the soldier had written just before the armistice and we had heard you were in Washington through a letter from Governor Pinkham. The governor is surely a great friend of the Forbes family. By the way, he sent us a package of Korea coffee with Christmas greetings. Mrs. Harding was greatly interested in your employment and thinks it fine that you can be engaged in engrossing work in the extended absence of your husband. How fine it is for you to be really well! Long may your good fortune continue. Marcia must be fast becoming a young lady. Time fairly flies. It is four years since we first greeted her and you in beautiful Honolulu. Most likely the Lt. Colonel will be returning soon. Very likely we will get to greet him before you do, unless you are coming east. If you will come here to greet him, we will make you both welcome. We are fond of the Forbes. Happy New Year!
Harding celebrated his second and last Presidential Christmas in 1922. Harding was disappointed that he could not spend the holidays with his friends and family back in Ohio as he had wished. His wife, Florence, had collapsed from kidney failure the September prior and was still confined to a wheelchair. The President sent a gift to his sister, Abigail, a former school teacher. Accompanying the gift was a handwritten note on White House stationery. Dated December 23, 1922, the letter read:
Dear Sister Abigail,
Enclosed find a little Christmas gift, a token of a brother’s loving regard. I shall think of you at Xmas time, and I shall have a real regret that I can not celebrate in the atmosphere of home and amid the surroundings of family and friends. My love and good wishes to you.
Yours affectionately, Warren G. Harding
In addition, President Harding sent a Christmas gift of $250.00 to his mistress, Nan Britton, who had been his sister’s former student. Ms. Britton purchased a diamond and sapphire bracelet with the money she received.
Earlier in 1923, Harding was photographed buying Christmas seals from a young girl suffering with tuberculosis. The President would pass away prior to the holidays that year and would not be able to use the Christmas seals he had purchased for his official White House Christmas cards.
Harding has another Christmas connection. In the 1983 movie A Christmas Story (remember Ralphie and the Red Ryder BB Gun?) Raphie’s elementary schoool, is Warren G. Harding Elementary School. It's a real school in Hammond, Indiana. Warren G. Harding Elementary School was the childhood school of “A Christmas Story” author Jean Shepherd.