Carolyn Harding Votaw
Encyclopedia
Phoebe Carolyn Harding Votaw (October 21, 1879-October 22, 1951) the youngest sister of Warren G. Harding
, 29th President of the United States
, was a missionary, then a public officeholder in Washington D.C. before and during his administration.
She was born in Caledonia, Ohio
, in 1879, and graduated from high school in Marion, Ohio
, in 1898. To distinguish her from her mother, Phoebe Dickerson Harding, she was known by her middle name Carolyn. From 1905 to 1914, she served as a missionary in Burma with her husband, Heber H. Votaw, a Seventh Day Adventist minister, whom she wed in 1903. They moved to Washington while Harding was a U.S. Senator from Ohio
. There, she was an early member of the Women’s Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
, serving as a probation officer, and running a program for unwed mothers. During that period, her husband served as a clerk to Senator Harding, then as an assistant clerk for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Philippines, which Harding chaired in 1919 and 1920.
Soon after her brother was elected to the presidency in 1920, she was appointed to head the social service division of the U.S. Public Health Service, while her husband was named by Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty
as Superintendent of Prisons and chairman of the boards of parole at each institution. Mrs. Votaw also served as an advisor to the Federal Board of Vocation Education within the Veterans’ Bureau
, which caused her name to arise during testimony in the successful prosecution of the Bureau’s director, Charles R. Forbes
, on corruption charges. She arranged a tour of the White House for Nan Britton
, with whom Harding allegedly had an extensive affair, and their child, Elizabeth Britton.
In 1924, after President Harding died in office, Heber Votaw's intergrity was challenged in a U.S. Senate hearing on misconduct within the Daugherty Department of Justice. William J. Burns
, then the head of the Bureau of Investigation, alleged that Votaw called him off an investigation of a narcotics smuggling ring at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary
, fearing the adverse publicity it would generate. He resigned the following year, citing ill health.
The Votaws lived at 7633 Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, Maryland
.
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
, 29th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, was a missionary, then a public officeholder in Washington D.C. before and during his administration.
She was born in Caledonia, Ohio
Caledonia, Ohio
Caledonia is a village in Marion County, Ohio, United States. The population was 578 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Caledonia is located at ....
, in 1879, and graduated from high school in Marion, Ohio
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
, in 1898. To distinguish her from her mother, Phoebe Dickerson Harding, she was known by her middle name Carolyn. From 1905 to 1914, she served as a missionary in Burma with her husband, Heber H. Votaw, a Seventh Day Adventist minister, whom she wed in 1903. They moved to Washington while Harding was a U.S. Senator from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. There, she was an early member of the Women’s Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
The Metropolitan Police Department, also known as the DC Police, DCPD, MPD, and MPDC is the municipal police force in Washington, D.C...
, serving as a probation officer, and running a program for unwed mothers. During that period, her husband served as a clerk to Senator Harding, then as an assistant clerk for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Philippines, which Harding chaired in 1919 and 1920.
Soon after her brother was elected to the presidency in 1920, she was appointed to head the social service division of the U.S. Public Health Service, while her husband was named by Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty
Harry M. Daugherty
Harry Micajah Daugherty was an American politician. He is best known as a Republican Party boss, and member of the Ohio Gang, the name given to the group of advisors surrounding president Warren G...
as Superintendent of Prisons and chairman of the boards of parole at each institution. Mrs. Votaw also served as an advisor to the Federal Board of Vocation Education within the Veterans’ Bureau
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
, which caused her name to arise during testimony in the successful prosecution of the Bureau’s director, Charles R. Forbes
Charles R. Forbes
Charles Robert Forbes was appointed the first Director of the Veterans' Bureau by President Warren G. Harding on August 9, 1921 and served until February 28, 1923. Caught for Army desertion in 1900, he went on to serve in the military and was a decorated World War I veteran. He first became active...
, on corruption charges. She arranged a tour of the White House for Nan Britton
Nan Britton
Nan P. "Nanny" Britton was a figure associated with the Presidency of Warren G. Harding due to her claim that Harding fathered her illegitimate daughter shortly before his election as President....
, with whom Harding allegedly had an extensive affair, and their child, Elizabeth Britton.
In 1924, after President Harding died in office, Heber Votaw's intergrity was challenged in a U.S. Senate hearing on misconduct within the Daugherty Department of Justice. William J. Burns
William J. Burns
William J. Burns , known as "America's Sherlock Holmes," is famous for having conducted a private investigation clearing Leo Frank of the murder of Mary Phagan, and for serving as the director of the Bureau of Investigation from August 22, 1921 to June 14, 1924...
, then the head of the Bureau of Investigation, alleged that Votaw called him off an investigation of a narcotics smuggling ring at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary
United States Penitentiary, Atlanta
United States Penitentiary, Atlanta is a medium-security federal prison for men in Atlanta, Georgia. It also has a detention center for pre-trial and holdover inmates and an adjacent camp for minimum security male inmates...
, fearing the adverse publicity it would generate. He resigned the following year, citing ill health.
The Votaws lived at 7633 Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
.