He would spend much of his life in Marion, a small city in rural Ohio, and would become closely associated with it. When Harding rose to high office, he made clear his love of Marion and its way of life, telling of the many young Marionites who had left and enjoyed success elsewhere, while suggesting that the man, once the 'pride of the school', who had remained behind and become a janitor, was 'the happiest one of the lot'. Like most politicians of his time, Harding accepted that patronage and graft would be used to repay political favors. Give up? Not until the convention is over. Not until the convention is over. Think of your friends in Ohio!' On learning that Daugherty had left the phone line, the future First Lady retorted, 'Well, you tell Harry Daugherty for me that we're in this fight until Hell freezes over.'