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Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Senior PGA Will Be Played at Washington-Area Club Long-Connected to Political Power
Commentary BETHESDA, MD.—Congressional Country Club's stately clubhouse occupies the highest portion of the terrain as it looks out over the property. Proximity to power is the calling card for the 380-acre Congressional CC, just 12 miles northwest of the White House and Capitol Hill. Interestingly, when the 1921 U.S. Open was played at Columbia CC in Chevy Chase, Maryland, the sitting president—Warren Harding—was the first chief executive to be on hand and present the winner with the championship trophy. Three years later, Congressional was officially opened by President Calvin Coolidge, an event worthy of a front-page story in The Washington Post. Founding members included former Presidents William Taft and Woodrow Wilson. In the years to follow, former President Herbert Hoover would be on property. Following World War II, former President Dwight Eisenhower and his Cabinet were frequent visitors. In years to come, former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama would play there, too. Originally, the club had a relatively straightforward 18-hole course designed by gifted architect Devereux Emmet. There were also swimming pools, tennis courts, a bowling alley, comprehensive banquet and dining halls, 20 overnight rooms, and a presidential suite. The nation's elite were clearly front and center. Related Stories 5/20/2025 5/12/2025 The genesis of the club came from two Indiana businessmen who founded it as a venue for politicians and cognoscenti to meet, unconstrained by red tape and formality. In the early years, golf was a secondary consideration, and during World War II, the club was commandeered as a training ground for highly secret activities. The Office of Strategic Services—later called the CIA—used the property for a number of military training operations. In 1964, 40 years after its opening, the club played host to the sport's most important event, the U.S. Open. Congressional's layout was the longest, and the main storyline coming out of that event was the searing heat and humidity that nearly caused Ken Venturi to be hospitalized. Venturi had to play two 18-hole rounds in one day, and a doctor was summoned to accompany him on his way to securing the title. Afterward, the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) changed the long-time format of 36 holes played on the final day to one round played per day over four days. The 18th hole at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., on Sept. 7, 2021. The course was the site of the 2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Gary Kellner/PGA of America In the years to follow, Congressional saw various golf course architects plant their fingerprints on the property. Prior to hosting the 1964 U.S. Open, the club engaged the services of the most sought-after architect—Robert Trent Jones Sr. Jones added nine new holes in 1957 and remodeled the original Emmet design. Additional changes were carried out by Jones's son Rees in 1989. George and Tom Fazio were also hired in 1977 and added a fourth nine. Hosting golf events of stature became part of the club's agenda. In 1976, the PGA Championship was played there, and the winner was Dave Stockton. From 1980 to 1986, the club was the venue for the Kemper Open. In 2005, the PGA Tour returned with the Booz Allen Classic. Congressional never rated highly as a golf course to many aficionados in the architectural community, but the close proximity to the corridors of power in Washington mattered more. When the Kemper was played, PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman originally hailed from the nation's capital and provided the needed impetus for the PGA Tour to grow rapidly during his tenure from 1974 to 1994. His successor also had a clear Washington connection. After practicing law in Virginia Beach for three years, Tim Finchem served in the White House during the Carter administration as deputy adviser to the president in the Office of Economic Affairs in 1978 and 1979. Finchem, prior to ascension to the commissioner's position on the PGA Tour, cofounded the National Marketing and Strategies Group in Washington. Finchem would serve as commissioner of the PGA Tour from 1994 to 2016. The USGA also saw the value in keeping Congressional on its short list of preferred venues when staging the 1995 U.S. Senior Open. Two years later, the national championship of American golf—the U.S. Open—was played and won by Ernie Els. Clinton was on hand for a portion of that event, which returned in 2011 and was won by 22-year-old Rory McIlroy with a record-setting performance. The 11th hole at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., on Sept. 6, 2021. Gary Kellner/PGA of America Through the years, the facility has used various course configurations, including having a par-three hole as the final hole (1997 U.S. Open). Two holes from the adjacent course were also used for the 1976 PGA Championship. In 2009, the 'Open Doctor,' Rees Jones, was called back to reverse the direction of the 18th—now the 218-yard 10th, with the rest of the routing shifted accordingly, making the long and testing 523-yard par-four 17th the new finishing hole. The closer provides a demanding ending with a peninsula green that's well-protected by water on the left and rear sides. For this week's Senior PGA, the Blue Course will again be used and will play to a par-72 at 7,152 yards. The course was updated by architect Andrew Green, who was hired in February 2019. Green tried to bring to the forefront design elements that would modernize the golf but pay homage to architectural elements from the 1920s. Fairways were widened from 25 to 45 yards. Ninety-eight bunkers existed previously on the Blue Course, averaging 954 square feet for a total of 93,450; now, there are 138 bunkers at an average size of 739 square feet for a total of 102,000. The beauty has been enhanced, and the scale of the property is now more easily seen and appreciated. The logo of Senior PGA Championship 2025. Courtesy of PGA of America Green's involvement has now given proper due to the golf side. For years, the main focal point was the 135,000-square-foot Spanish Revival building that dominates the landscape due to its imposing scale and its location on the highest point of the property, a position overlooking the start and finish of each course. The connection to the Washington area remains active, as the PGA of America has partnered to host a series of championships in the coming years. The Senior PGA will return in 2033. In addition, the club is scheduled to host the 2027 KPMG Women's Championship, the 2029 PGA Professional Championship, the 2030 PGA Championship, and, most importantly, the 2037 Ryder Cup. One of the special touches found at Congressional is that the tee markers look like the U.S. Capitol dome. This week's Senior PGA Championship marks a coming-out moment for the club. Congressional CC is now a news item where power, people, and prestige are front and center, just as they were when the club came into being more than 100 years ago.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
How Presidents profit from White House deals
The high-water mark for corruption in the American presidency has long been awarded to Republican Warren Harding who died in office in 1923 after just two years in the White House. He will for ever be linked with the 'Teapot Dome' scandal in Wyoming. Harding and several members of his cabinet enriched themselves by hundreds of thousands of dollars (many more millions in today's money) when state lands were leased to private oil companies in return for gifts and kickbacks. There has been no shortage of scandals in the Oval Office since then. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 after burglars linked to his re-election campaign broke into the Watergate headquarters of his Democratic opponents to install listening devices and tap phones. Bill Clinton's reputation is for ever tainted by sexual encounters with a young intern Monica Lewinsky. But, in the century since Harding died, cashing in on the presidency to accumulate riches has never really been a thing. Donald Trump, a born deal-maker and entrepreneur, is changing all of that. The sins of previous presidents have generally been committed in secret, away from prying eyes. In contrast, the greed and riches are being assembled by Trump and his offspring in plain sight. Matthew Dallek, a political historian at George Washington University (which is a few blocks from the White House), says Trump is showing a different side in his second incarnation as President, saying he 'now feels liberated to wear his corruption on his sleeve'. At no time has this been more evident than in last week's visit to the Middle East. Diplomacy was part of the rhetoric with his promotion of Saudi Arabia and Syria joining the Abraham Accords – the recognition and trade deals between Israel, the UAE and Morocco. The business of the US has been at the forefront of the agreements reached, with $600 billion (£450 billion) of deals signed in Saudi Arabia alone, including a ground breaking AI deal for America's computer chip champion Nvidia. In parallel, the president's 'Dragons' Den' has been in overdrive. The pact making the headlines is Qatar's offer to gift the presidency a $400 million jumbo jet inspected by Trump at Palm Beach in the weeks after the January inauguration. Much of the gilding, a key element in all of Trump's properties, is already in place. The president is seeking to skip around rules on gifts by arguing the plane is a loan until it becomes a heritage gift to his presidential 'library' after he leaves office. The precedent cited is a retired version of Air Force One, which is on loan from the US military. It is on permanent display in the Ronald Reagan Library, where it is a star attraction. If Ronnie was entitled, why not the 47th president? Less in the public eye are his sons Donald Jr and Eric, who have secured their own Middle East deals. A luxury Trump-branded hotel is scheduled for Dubai. A high-end residential tower is to be built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and a golf course and villa complex is to be constructed in Qatar. Son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was instrumental in forging the Abraham Accords, and his wife Ivanka have secured $3.5 billion of investments in a new private equity fund from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. These deals make the antics of Hunter Biden, son of Joe, in Ukraine look non-league in comparison. Luxury hotels, real estate and golf courses are at the core of the Trump family businesses and are a slow burn as they take time to come to fruition. Trump and his family's adventures in cryptocurrency offer a faster payoff. Encouraged by Elon Musk (as if he needed such support) Trump made no secret of his determination to bring crypto into the mainstream of finance before he took office. He rid Wall Street of Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Gary Gensler, who was keeping approvals for cryptocurrencies at bay. And he has disbanded the unit at the US Justice Department bringing prosecutions against crypto cheats and firms shielding terrorist finance. Crypto legislation making its way through Congress is less about protecting consumers and more about approving the Wild West of crypto traders, miners and exchanges. Crypto is the gift which keeps on giving for the President and his family. American Bitcoin, a crypto miner backed by his sons Eric and Donald Jr, is heading for a multi-billion dollar Nasdaq listing. Another scion of the administration, Brandon Lutnick, son of the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, has said he is forming his own Bitcoin acquisition vehicle. It has garnered support from tech investors Softbank and Tether. Trump's family have also struck crypto gold by attaching their names to pseudo-currencies. A group of traders allegedly scooped $100 million by buying Melania Trump's branded crypto in the days before public disclosure. One of the attractions for crypto investors is the use of anonymous wallets, which make transactions hard to trace. It has become a favoured source of cash for money laundering and terrorist financing. There has been no suggestion that Trump or any of his family are engaged in such nefarious action. But there is recognition that crypto mining, exchanges, market-making and trading have proved a shortcut to wealth accumulation. A tame Republican-controlled Congress and defanged US Justice Department mean that so far, many of Trump's activities, which in the past might have been considered scandalous, have passed by unchecked. Monetising the Trump family property and crypto fortunes is proving to be a leitmotif of the president's second term in office.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Decorated Harding sprinter earns Student Athlete of the Week
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – Warren Harding senior sprinter Alexis Rodgers has been speeding her way to the finish line for the Raiders as a four-sport athlete. 'Get out, get up and get busy,' said Rodgers. 'That's what I'm thinking when I'm in the blocks, especially before the gun goes off, just a moment of silence and then it's power, let's go.' She was on the cross-country team for half a season and also has two varsity letters on the cheer team. Rodgers was also a captain on the varsity soccer team with two varsity letters. She helped her soccer team advance to the playoffs every season she was on varsity. Where she truly shines is in track & field with four varsity letters. As a team, she aided the Raiders to a Trumbull County title in her junior season. 'When I was little, I started on the playground racing the boys, and I was always told I was faster than the boys,' said Rodgers. 'So I got on the track — it's peaceful to run, just get out here and compete.' In 2023, she was also District Champion in the 100m and 200m. Rodgers won the All-American Conference and Trumbull County Championships in the 100m, 200m, and 400m. The Raider has not advanced to states yet, but said this season she plans to make it in the 200m and 400m. The sprinter has also been a regional finalist in her freshman and sophomore seasons. 'Competition, I love competition, I love competing against other people,' said Rodgers. 'I love the feeling of the burn in my chest when I run. Then also, when I cross the finish line and I PR, I won a big meet or something. I just love that feeling.' Rodgers had to battle adversity in her junior season with a complete ACL tear at the beginning of the school year, but just three months after the injury, she was back on the track as the county title runner-up. Then, just four months after the injury, she advanced to the district finals. 'An overwhelming feeling of excitement, and I tear up sometimes, but it's just a stand-still moment,' said Rodgers. 'Like, wow, it took a lot to get back here, especially after a big injury.' Outside of Harding, she is a three-time national qualifier in AAU and has competed in the Junior Olympics from 2021-2023. Rodgers is involved with many clubs, including Key Club, Our Voices Matter, and National Honor Society. She also holds leadership positions at Harding, including as student council president. The senior has amassed at least 200 service hours with blood drives, community clean-ups, and working with preschoolers. She also makes her own programs as she built a summit for teen networking and advocacy while tutoring K-5 at her church and helping kids at the public library. In the summer, she helps kids at Inspiring Minds and organizes church mentoring programs. 'You never know what people go home to …a lot of them are in hard positions, I try to make their days spent with me the best,' said Rodgers. 'When I see that they're having a good time, it definitely like makes me feel fuzzy inside.' The track star shines in the classroom with a 4.149 GPA as well. She has not decided where she will be attending college, but she will be running track collegiately. Rodgers also wants to major in biology, pre-physical therapy, to become a pediatric physical therapist. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warren Harding graduate leaves Steelers in free agency
MIAMI, Florida (WKBN) – NFL Network's Tom Pelissero is reporting that a Warren Harding graduate and former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman has agreed to terms on a free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins. It is reportedly a 3-year contract worth $24 million. James Daniels appeared in 36 games with the Steelers with 36 starts. The 27-year-old played in just four games last season but suffered a torn Achilles. Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, he played four seasons with the Chicago Bears. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa. Daniels spent the past three seasons in Pittsburgh, after signing with the Steelers in free agency in 2022. Daniels was a three-year starter at Warren Harding, an Honorable Mention All-State lineman and a member of the WKBN Five Blocks of Granite in 2014. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coleman leads Harding to dominant District Title win
ELYRIA, Ohio (WKBN) – Warren Harding boys basketball put on a dominant performance in a 70-37 win over Hudson in the OHSAA District II Championship game at Elyria Catholic High School, Saturday afternoon. Watch above for extended highlights including Raider's senior Chaz Coleman's dominant game. After the highlights, watch for interviews with Coleman and Warren Harding head coach Keelyn Franklin. 'Super excited, obviously, my first district championship as a head coach, got one as an assistant over at Canfield so I mean this is everything that we thought it would be, super emotional,' said coach Franklin. 'All the kids worked hard. I'm just glad we were able to come out here, seal the deal.' Coleman stole the show with multiple highlight-reel dunks on the way to the Raider's title win. 'Good, I'm feeling great actually. It's our first time winning districts since 2016,' said Coleman. The Harding star scored a game-high 17 points in the victory. 'Keep playing how we played today and play hard, said Coleman. 'Play good defense and better offense.' Also, Jeremy Sampson scored 12 points off three-point shots all in the second half. Raider's Xavier Clark scored 13 and Davion Herron 11 points in the win. The victory marks coach Franklin's first district title win as a head coach. He previously won a district title with Canfield when he was an assistant coach. Harding advances to an overall season record of (19-4). The Raiders play next in the OHSAA Division II Regional Semifinal on March 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
