#25: Nan Briton

Nan Britton’s legal battle for child support from President Warren G. Harding in the early 1920s was a courageous yet difficult journey that exposed the unforgiving realities faced by women in a patriarchal society. Her claim that she had a daughter with the sitting president challenged the nation’s moral and political sensibilities.

In the courtroom, Britton was subjected to ridicule and character assassination. Her pursuit of justice was portrayed as an attempt to sully the reputation of a beloved leader. Yet, despite the odds stacked against her, Britton persisted, ultimately winning a settlement. The immense courage required for women to assert their rights and seek justice in a society dominated by powerful men is no easy thing to do.