Monday, September 14, 2020

He doesn’t believe his relatives

 Or, more likely he’s looking for fame. “He’” is James Blaesing, the grandson of former President Warren Harding. His mother was the result of an affair between President Harding and Mr. Blaesing's mother, Elizabeth Ann Blaesing. Harding’s other relatives have acknowledged that Blaesing is, in fact, related to Harding. However, he has initiated a court case to prove with ‘scientific certainty’ that he is Harding’s grandson. He wants to have Harding’s remains exhumed to confirm they are related.

There has been genetic testing done. In 2015, the testing confirmed a match between Mr. Blaesing's DNA and that of two Harding descendants. Blaesing's biological link to Harding was officially declared by AncestryDNA, a division of Ancestry.com. But, Mr. Blaesing says "I did the test and we brought it to the public in 2015. It's now 2020 and no one has asked me one thing.”

Blaesing’s efforts have probably been triggered by the planned upgrade of Harding’s grave and the establishment of a new presidential centre in Marion, the Ohio city near which he was born in 1865. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Harding’s election so there will likely be a certain level of media coverage, which Blaesing seems desirous of. 

But Mr Blaesing said he and his mother have not received the recognition they deserve. He feels that he deserves to "have his story, his mother's story and his grandmother's story included within the hallowed halls and museums in this town".

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