Dead Presidents

No, this isn't a post about Jay-Z.


It is about one of Ohio's own dead presidents. I love history and have been eagerly working on an urban history project about Columbus since we've returned, but I've made some time for an old hobby--presidential monuments. Ohio is a great place for this hobby, as 8 presidents were born here, and 4 are buried here. Which presidents?
James A. Garfield (buried in Cleveland)
Ulysses S. Grant (famously buried in Manhattan, although his parents are buried in Cincinnati)
Benjamin Harrison (buried in Indiana)
William Henry Harrison (buried in North Bend, OH)
Rutherford B. Hayes (buried in Fremont)
William McKinley (buried in Canton)
William Howard Taft (buried in Arlington National Cemetery)
Warren G. Harding (buried in Marion)

Oddly, of these 8 two were assassinated and two more died in office. Not such good statistics for the Buckeye state...


But on to the President of this Post--Warren Gamaliel Harding, our 29th president.
Many have considered him to be the worst president in history--but I reserve that honor for Andrew Jackson, by virtue of the Indian Removal act, among other things. That said, Harding was not a terrific president by any estimation. A handsome and well-connected newspaper man, Harding won the presidency with a well planned and publicized "front porch" campaign that included visits from stars such as Al Jolson and Mary Pickford.

Once in the White House, Harding left much of the policy work to his confidants and advisers--many of whom rapidly became embroiled in scandals such as the infamous Teapot Dome. Harding was responsible for several of his own scandals, most involving women other than his wife.

But Harding died in office before most of the scandals could come to light--which resulted in this terrific monument. Harding's monument is impressive Greek Temple of Georgia Marble. The inside is open (in a nod to the Harding's wish to be buried outside) and contains a lovely Japanese garden.

Also not to be missed is the spectacular Marion Cemetery. This is an old cemetery with some spectacular monuments and angels. No trip to the cemetery would be complete without a visit to the Haunted Merchant Ball. Erected in 1896, the two-ton granite ball rolls on its base at a rate of about 2 inches a year. Many theories are forwarded about this (most likely? Coriolis effect) but I say--Haunted! Here is a shot of the Merchant Ball with me worriedly watching some large birds circling us.

There are Tons more photos about both the Harding Monument and the Cemetery in my Flickr Album too!