He impersonated doctors, lawyers, and diplomats.
But in 1921, he pretended to be a US Navy Officer and did the unthinkable:
He snuck an Afghan Princess into the White House.
Here's the wild story of Stanley Clifford Weyman, the most elaborate imposter the world has ever seen:
But in 1921, he pretended to be a US Navy Officer and did the unthinkable:
He snuck an Afghan Princess into the White House.
Here's the wild story of Stanley Clifford Weyman, the most elaborate imposter the world has ever seen:
Yes, yes, yes - I promise:
We WILL dive into a whirlwind tale of an Afghan princess and a US president.
But before then?
It's important to - at least try - understand the complicated and confusing psyche of the star of our story:
Mr. Stanley Clifford Weyman.
We WILL dive into a whirlwind tale of an Afghan princess and a US president.
But before then?
It's important to - at least try - understand the complicated and confusing psyche of the star of our story:
Mr. Stanley Clifford Weyman.
Weyman is born as Stephen Weinberg in 1890 in Brooklyn.
And whilst we don’t know much about Weyman's childhood, what we do know is that he took up a very obscure hobby by the age of 20.
No, not stamp-collecting.
And not shoplifting, either.
Instead?
Impersonating people.
And whilst we don’t know much about Weyman's childhood, what we do know is that he took up a very obscure hobby by the age of 20.
No, not stamp-collecting.
And not shoplifting, either.
Instead?
Impersonating people.
But here’s the strange thing, right?
Weyman isn’t pretending to be a cop to seize someone’s horse and wagon…
Or impersonating a tax collector to make a few bucks during tax season.
No…instead, it seems Weyman takes on other identities…
Simply for the fun of it.
Weyman isn’t pretending to be a cop to seize someone’s horse and wagon…
Or impersonating a tax collector to make a few bucks during tax season.
No…instead, it seems Weyman takes on other identities…
Simply for the fun of it.
Weyman plays a lieutenant in the French Navy.
A doctor.
A psychiatrist, twice.
An officer in the US Army, five or six times.
A lawyer, countless times.
A pilot.
(Here's a real photo of his shoe closet that helps make up his countless disguises)
A doctor.
A psychiatrist, twice.
An officer in the US Army, five or six times.
A lawyer, countless times.
A pilot.
(Here's a real photo of his shoe closet that helps make up his countless disguises)
The list goes on:
A sanitation expert.
A consul-general, ad nauseam.
A United Nations Expert on Balkan and Asian Affairs.
You name it, Weyman…was it.
Never to make buck or two, but rather to revel and rub shoulders with the 'who's who' of the town.
A sanitation expert.
A consul-general, ad nauseam.
A United Nations Expert on Balkan and Asian Affairs.
You name it, Weyman…was it.
Never to make buck or two, but rather to revel and rub shoulders with the 'who's who' of the town.
After Weyman's 21st birthday, he is sentenced - get this - THIRTEEN times…
For things like fraud, forgery, impersonation of a military officer…
You get the gist.
For things like fraud, forgery, impersonation of a military officer…
You get the gist.
But each time Weyman is put behind bars, he is let out on parole very soon after, simply because:
He really never causes anyone harm.
(A 1910 stunt impersonating a US consul rep to Morocco in order to get into New York’s finest restaurants tells you all you need to know)
He really never causes anyone harm.
(A 1910 stunt impersonating a US consul rep to Morocco in order to get into New York’s finest restaurants tells you all you need to know)
All right, now that we’ve got a pretty good idea of the type of dude Weyman is, let's fast forward to 1921.
There’s a new Amir in Afghanistan by the name of Nasrullah Khan, who’s excited to forge diplomatic relations with the likes of Russia, Turkey, and of course…
The US.
There’s a new Amir in Afghanistan by the name of Nasrullah Khan, who’s excited to forge diplomatic relations with the likes of Russia, Turkey, and of course…
The US.
In June of that year, an Afghan delegation arrives in Washington, including none other than:
Princess Fatima.
People stop in their tracks.
Princess Fatima is adorned with long robes "like nightgowns".
She wears a large white sapphire ring on her right nostril.
Princess Fatima.
People stop in their tracks.
Princess Fatima is adorned with long robes "like nightgowns".
She wears a large white sapphire ring on her right nostril.
Imagine that:
A real, live princess…right here in the USA!
Newspapers go CRAZY.
Princess Fatima is on the cover of tabloids…the subject of headlines…heck, she’s even given the keys to City Hall in New York!
A real, live princess…right here in the USA!
Newspapers go CRAZY.
Princess Fatima is on the cover of tabloids…the subject of headlines…heck, she’s even given the keys to City Hall in New York!
So naturally, you’d think the White House invites Princess Fatima to Washington for a meeting or photo op or some other extravaganza that the press would eat up, right?
Well…
Wrong.
US President Warren G. Harding and staff just…don’t…care.
Like, at all.
Well…
Wrong.
US President Warren G. Harding and staff just…don’t…care.
Like, at all.
You see, the US doesn’t really think Afghanistan is for lack of a better word…important…in 1921.
Afghanistan had JUST been relinquished from their protectorate status from the British only two years prior, so they don’t seem useful or strategic for the US at the time.
Afghanistan had JUST been relinquished from their protectorate status from the British only two years prior, so they don’t seem useful or strategic for the US at the time.
In fact, a memo reveals that a State Department official writes to the Secretary of State about the Afghan visit to the US and says:
"I trust it will not be necessary to take up the President’s valuable time with this mission. We have…no particular interest in Afghanistan."
"I trust it will not be necessary to take up the President’s valuable time with this mission. We have…no particular interest in Afghanistan."
Princess Fatima after being ignored by Washington?
She’s awfully insulted.
She tells newspapers how badly she wants to meet "that handsome man" President Harding and show off the "Durya-i-Moor": her diamond purportedly worth millions.
But President Harding just…doesn’t…care.
She’s awfully insulted.
She tells newspapers how badly she wants to meet "that handsome man" President Harding and show off the "Durya-i-Moor": her diamond purportedly worth millions.
But President Harding just…doesn’t…care.
Unwelcome in Washington, the Princess stays at the Waldorf in New York City whilst tabloids SCREAM about how the President refuses to receive Afghan royalty.
And you know what?
No one seems to want to do anything about it…
Except, of course…for Mr. Stanley Clifford Weyman.
And you know what?
No one seems to want to do anything about it…
Except, of course…for Mr. Stanley Clifford Weyman.
Stanley is Stanley no more.
He is now Rodney Sterling Weyman: "the State Department Naval Liaison Officer"
Weyman rocks up to the Waldorf, meets the Princess, and apologizes "PROFUSELY" for the diplomatic oversight of not meeting her.
The Princess eats it up.
Every last bit.
He is now Rodney Sterling Weyman: "the State Department Naval Liaison Officer"
Weyman rocks up to the Waldorf, meets the Princess, and apologizes "PROFUSELY" for the diplomatic oversight of not meeting her.
The Princess eats it up.
Every last bit.
Before you know it, Weyman, the Princess, and her three sons are southbound on the Congressional Limited as part of a VIP delegation towards the Nation’s Capital…
Unannounced. Unexpected…
And unashamed.
Unannounced. Unexpected…
And unashamed.
Weyman - in true Weyman form - calls the White House as soon as they arrive,
He demands a meeting with President Harding.
He is, after all, the "the State Department Naval Liaison Officer"...with a Princess by his side.
He demands a meeting with President Harding.
He is, after all, the "the State Department Naval Liaison Officer"...with a Princess by his side.
Surely one thinks the White House declines Weyman's offer.
Think again.
With the snap of a finger, Weyman, the Princess, and her three sons are not only INSIDE the White House…
BUT THEY'RE ALSO POSING FOR A PHOTO WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN!
Think again.
With the snap of a finger, Weyman, the Princess, and her three sons are not only INSIDE the White House…
BUT THEY'RE ALSO POSING FOR A PHOTO WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN!
Unfortunately, the photo with the President and First Lady is never published, but this one is.
I mean, look at Weyman's "uniform" (far left)!
I mean, look at Weyman's "uniform" (far left)!
The New York Post, amongst others, reports on the meeting.
The best lines?
"The princess, it was learned, takes out her nose jewel when she goes to bed at night, as other women remove their earrings."
"Unlike American women, she is not afraid of rats, mice, or bats."
The best lines?
"The princess, it was learned, takes out her nose jewel when she goes to bed at night, as other women remove their earrings."
"Unlike American women, she is not afraid of rats, mice, or bats."
But it seems Weyman doesn’t just get this White House meeting (and ludicrous photo op) for shits and giggles like he normally does.
Instead?
He convinces the princess…to try and convince the State Department to give her (and in turn, Weyman)...
Free land.
And a stipend.
Instead?
He convinces the princess…to try and convince the State Department to give her (and in turn, Weyman)...
Free land.
And a stipend.
"...it is requested that this government may grant us requisite lands...and stipend," a letter to the State Department, signed by the Princess but definitely written by Weyman reads.
"We wish to be treated as members of foreign royalty and not as citizens."
"We wish to be treated as members of foreign royalty and not as citizens."
The State Department declines the request.
But that doesn’t stop Weyman.
He continues to badger the State Department - on behalf of the Royal Princess - for land, for money to cover her outstanding bill at the costly Waldorf, and even cash for her "crown jewel".
But that doesn’t stop Weyman.
He continues to badger the State Department - on behalf of the Royal Princess - for land, for money to cover her outstanding bill at the costly Waldorf, and even cash for her "crown jewel".
After incessant telegrams and phone calls, the State Department - who’s had enough already of this low-level Weyman guy - realizes there doesn’t actually EXIST a Naval Official by the name of Rodney Sterling Weyman.
A warrant is out for his arrest, and in April of the next year, he’s sentenced to two years for impersonating a US Navy Officer.
As for Princess Fatima?
She sells her diamond for $4,000 to cover her debts at the Waldorf, for a fraction of what she had originally valued it at to the President, and flees the US.
She's never really heard from again.
She sells her diamond for $4,000 to cover her debts at the Waldorf, for a fraction of what she had originally valued it at to the President, and flees the US.
She's never really heard from again.
And as for Weyman?
He eventually gets out of prison, only to continue living the life of an imposter...
From impersonating a journalist at the United Nations, to pretending to be the personal physician of famous actor ​​Rudolph Valentino...
At his very own funeral.
He eventually gets out of prison, only to continue living the life of an imposter...
From impersonating a journalist at the United Nations, to pretending to be the personal physician of famous actor ​​Rudolph Valentino...
At his very own funeral.
Weyman also gets creative in 1954 when trying to get a home improvement loan of $5,000…
For a home that doesn’t exist.
Needless to say…
He doesn't get the loan.
For a home that doesn’t exist.
Needless to say…
He doesn't get the loan.
Weyman dies in 1960 when he’s shot trying to stop a burglary from happening in New York.
An investigating detective said, aptly:
"I've known about the man's past record for years. He did a lot of things in the course of his life, but what he did this time was brave."
An investigating detective said, aptly:
"I've known about the man's past record for years. He did a lot of things in the course of his life, but what he did this time was brave."
Whilst he can be remembered for all sorts of things - some good, some bad, and mostly hilarious - Weyman does leave us with one line, a summary of his life, which he tells a reporter in 1954:
"One man's life is a boring thing. I lived many lives. I'm never bored."
"One man's life is a boring thing. I lived many lives. I'm never bored."
Like this story? Learn something new today?
Follow me @DavidZabinsky.
I tell the types of stories you didn't learn in school (or hear in the news).
Follow me @DavidZabinsky.
I tell the types of stories you didn't learn in school (or hear in the news).
For another insane “con man” story, check out the one below:
For more on Weyman, you HAVE to check out this mega-long, but beautifully written piece by the one and only St. Clair McKelway in the @newyorker from 1968.
Man, he was some writer:
newyorker.com
Man, he was some writer:
newyorker.com
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