Florence Harding: Difference between revisions
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| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1860|8|15}} |
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| birth_place = [[Marion, Ohio|Marion]], [[Ohio]] |
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==Early Life== |
==Early Life== |
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She was born Florence Kling, |
She was born Florence Kling, eldest of three children of Amos Kling, a prominent Marion, Ohio banker of German descent, and Louisa Bouton Kling, whose French Huguenot ancestors had fled religious persecution. Aiming to become a concert pianist, Florence studied at the [[Cincinnati Conservatory of Music]], but in 1880, at nineteen, she made a common-law marriage with Henry Athenton DeWolfe<ref>The Marion Star, Tuesday, January 27, 1880, page 4</ref>, divorcing him in 1886. The marriage produced one son Marshall Eugene. |
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==Marriage to Harding== |
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At the age of 19, Florence eloped with Henry "Pete" Athenton DeWolfe, her childhood friend and neighbor, and they were married in Columbus on January 22, 1880. (See ''The Marion Star'', Tuesday, January 27, 1880, page 4: "HENRY DEWOLFE and his fair bride nee Florence Kling, who were married in Columbus last Thursday morning [January 22], are in Cleveland, visiting relatives.") Scholastic researchers have been unable to locate official documentation or a legal marriage license for the couple, but ''The Marion Star'' of Saturday, January 31, 1880, page 4, states: "In the Lancaster ''Gazette'' of January 29th, we notice that [a] marriage license was issued to Henry DeWolfe and Florence M. Kling." Nine months later, on September 22, 1880, Florence gave birth to a son [[Marshall Eugene DeWolfe]] (also known as Marshall Eugene Kling). DeWolfe proved a [[spendthrift]] and a heavy drinker. Shortly after the birth of their son Florence left her husband and returned to Marion. She divorced DeWolfe in 1886 and resumed her maiden name; he died in 1894 at age 35. |
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In 1890, Florence became engaged to Warren Gamaliel Harding, owner of the Marion Star, and at twenty-five, her junior by five years. Against her father's will, they married on July 8th 1891. They had no children of their own, but Florence's son Marshall lived with them intermittently, and received encouragement from Warren Harding to work in journalism. |
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She refused financial help from her wealthy father and supported herself and her son by giving piano lessons. Eventually, she let her parents raise the boy. Marshall eventually succumbed to the effects of alcoholism and tuberculosis, and died in 1915 at the age of 34. |
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During her husband's illness, Florence became Business Manager of the ''Marion Star'', immediately demonstrating both the talent and the character to run a newspaper. She organised a circulation department, improved distribution, trained the newsboys, purchased equipment at keen prices, and installed the first local news-wire service. One of the newsboys, [[Norman Thomas]], later the [[American Socialist Party|Socialist]], declared that Warren was the front-man, but Florence was the real driving power of the Marion Star. |
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== Mrs. Harding == |
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In 1905, Florence needed emergency surgery for nephritis ('floating kidney'), and was treated by homeopathic doctor [[Charles E. Sawyer]]. His close links with the Harding family, and Florence's total trust and dependence on him, would later prove controversial. During her convalesence, Warren began an affair with a close friend of hers, Carrie Phillips. It was one of a number of dalliances, which led her to consider divorce, though she never pursued it. |
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Florence met "Wurr'n" -- as she pronounced his first name -- in 1890. Harding was the young publisher of the town's only daily newspaper, the ''[[Marion Daily Star]]'' (now the ''Marion Star''); they soon became engaged. Her father, Amos Kling, was displeased with her choice. He even accosted his future son-in-law on the street, calling him names and threatening his life |
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if he did not leave his daughter alone. |
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By 1914, Warren's political career had taken him to the US Senate, greatly helped by Florence's management of his finances, social life and public image. By 1920, he was a contender for the Republican presidential nomination, though not a front-runner. Florence gave him keen support, apparently influenced by a Washington clairvoyant 'Madame Marcia' Champrey, who correctly forecast that Warren would become President, but added that he would die in office.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} The election was overshadowed further by attempted extortion by Carrie Phillips, threatening to reveal Warren's adultery.<ref>National First Ladies Library</ref> However, Florence's newspaper experience gave her an advantage over other candidates' wives, and she skilfully deflected press enquiries about her first marriage by implying that she had been widowed. She also earned the approval of [[William Howard Taft|ex-President Taft]]. |
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Warren Harding, aged 25, married Florence Harding, aged 30, at his home in Marion, Ohio, on July 8, 1891. The couple did not have children of their own; however, Florence's son lived with them from time to time. The young man idolized his stepfather, and hoped to become a newspaperman himself one day. |
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==In the White House== |
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The marriage was less than happy. Harding neglected his wife and sought refuge from her demands in the camaraderie of his friends and with other women. But her martial demeanor and managerial skills helped him build his newspaper into a financial success. |
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On March 4th 1921, Florence Harding became [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]], immediately taking an active role in national politics, at times even appearing to dominate the President. She had a strong influence on the selection of government ministers, and at the inauguration, observers believed that she was prompting her husband with a speech written by her. |
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As circulation manager of the ''Marion Star'' for 14 years, Florence saw that the paper was distributed efficiently and subscriptions were paid up. "Mrs. Harding in those days ran the show," recalled one of her newsboys, [[Norman Thomas]], later the [[American Socialist Party|Socialist]] presidential candidate. "Her husband was the front,...it was she who was the real driving power in the success that the ''Marion Star'' was unquestionably making its community." |
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Florence made her views known on everything from the League of Nations to vivisection, racism and women's suffrage. When [[Marie Curie|Madame Curie]] visited the White House, Florence praised her as an example of a professional achiever who was also a supportive wife. Florence's own special agenda was the welfare of war veterans, whose cause she championed wholeheartedly. In all of this, her timing was fortunate, as women's activism in public affairs was an important theme in 1920's America. |
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== The First Lady == |
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Harding became [[United States Republican Party]] nominee for President in 1920 and "the Duchess", as he called her, worked tirelessly for his election. In her own words: "I have only one real hobby—my husband." |
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As a White House hostess, Florence presided over elegant parties, where her husband would refer to her as The Duchess. But she also moved with the times, flying in planes, launching new fashions like the silk neckband, showing after-dinner movies, and discreetly serving alcohol to guests during [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]]. |
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Florence had never been a guest at the [[White House]]; and former President [[William Howard Taft]], meeting the President-elect and Mrs. Harding, discussed its social customs with her and stressed the value of ceremony. Writing to his wife [[Helen Taft]], he opined that the new First Lady was "a nice woman" and would "readily adapt herself." As First Lady, Mrs. Harding hosted elegant garden parties and mixed readily with guests. |
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==''The Strange Death of President Harding''== |
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By 1923, both Florence and her husband were suffering from dangerous illnesses, but still undertook a coast-to-coast rail tour, which they called the Voyage of Understanding. Florence proved highly popular at their many schduled stops, but Warren was visibly ailing. After a bad reaction to seafood, he was rushed to San Francisco's Palace Hotel, where he died. |
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On this tour, Warren had been under the care of Charles E. Sawyer, who is believed to have misdiagnosed the President's condition, and administered stimulants that brought on his fatal heart attack. As Florence did not request an autopsy, and also destroyed many of his papers, a conspiracy theory was put forward in a semi-fictional book ''The Strange Death of President Harding'', sensationally claiming that Florence had poisoned her husband. This is now seen as a code for Florence placing excessive trust in the incompetent Sawyer, resulting in Warren's death. |
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In Washington, Mrs. Harding became deeply interested in [[astrology]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} Early in 1920, when Harding was still a dark-horse contender for the Republican presidential nomination, she visited [[Madame Marcia]] ([[Marcia Champrey]]), a noted [[clairvoyant]] in the capital, who predicted that her husband was a shoo-in, but added that he would die suddenly in office.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} Mrs. Harding embarked with her husband on his nationwide "Voyage of Understanding" in the summer of 1923. She was at his side when the President died in [[San Francisco, California]] on August 2,1923. |
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==Widowhood== |
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Following the death of President Harding, the former First Lady set about making a new life for herself. Her intention was to remain in Washington, temporarily staying at Friendship, the estate of her best friend, [[Evalyn Walsh McLean]], best known as |
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Florence had intended to make a new life in Washington, and was planning a tour of Europe. But when her kidney ailment returned, she followed Sawyer's advice, and took a cottage in the grounds of his sanitarium in Marion. Her last public appearance was at the local Remembrance Day parade, where she stood to salute the veterans. A few days later, she died of renal failure. |
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the owner of the [[Hope Diamond]]. However, when Mrs Harding's long-standing kidney ailment flared up, her friend and the former Surgeon General, Dr. [[Charles E. Sawyer]], insisted that she return to Marion for treatment and recovery. She died there of [[renal failure]] less than 16 months later, and was buried next to her husband. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 16:54, 3 February 2013
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Florence Harding | |
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 | |
| First Lady of the United States | |
| In office March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 | |
| Preceded by | Edith Bolling Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Grace Coolidge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 15, 1860 Marion, Ohio |
| Died | November 21, 1924 (aged 64) Marion, Ohio |
| Resting place | Marion, Ohio |
| Spouse(s) | Henry DeWolfe (divorced) Warren G. Harding |
| Children | Marshall DeWolfe |
| Occupation | Publisher |
| Signature |  |
Florence "Flossie" Mabel Kling Harding (previously DeWolfe; August 15, 1860 in Marion, Ohio – November 21, 1924), wife of President Warren G. Harding, was the First Lady of the United States from 1921 to 1923.
She married the somewhat-younger Harding when he was a newspaper publisher in Ohio, and she was acknowledged as the brains behind the business. Known as The Duchess, she adapted well to the White House, where she gave notably elegant parties.
Early Life
She was born Florence Kling, eldest of three children of Amos Kling, a prominent Marion, Ohio banker of German descent, and Louisa Bouton Kling, whose French Huguenot ancestors had fled religious persecution. Aiming to become a concert pianist, Florence studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, but in 1880, at nineteen, she made a common-law marriage with Henry Athenton DeWolfe[1], divorcing him in 1886. The marriage produced one son Marshall Eugene.
Marriage to Harding
In 1890, Florence became engaged to Warren Gamaliel Harding, owner of the Marion Star, and at twenty-five, her junior by five years. Against her father's will, they married on July 8th 1891. They had no children of their own, but Florence's son Marshall lived with them intermittently, and received encouragement from Warren Harding to work in journalism.
During her husband's illness, Florence became Business Manager of the Marion Star, immediately demonstrating both the talent and the character to run a newspaper. She organised a circulation department, improved distribution, trained the newsboys, purchased equipment at keen prices, and installed the first local news-wire service. One of the newsboys, Norman Thomas, later the Socialist, declared that Warren was the front-man, but Florence was the real driving power of the Marion Star.
In 1905, Florence needed emergency surgery for nephritis ('floating kidney'), and was treated by homeopathic doctor Charles E. Sawyer. His close links with the Harding family, and Florence's total trust and dependence on him, would later prove controversial. During her convalesence, Warren began an affair with a close friend of hers, Carrie Phillips. It was one of a number of dalliances, which led her to consider divorce, though she never pursued it.
By 1914, Warren's political career had taken him to the US Senate, greatly helped by Florence's management of his finances, social life and public image. By 1920, he was a contender for the Republican presidential nomination, though not a front-runner. Florence gave him keen support, apparently influenced by a Washington clairvoyant 'Madame Marcia' Champrey, who correctly forecast that Warren would become President, but added that he would die in office.[citation needed] The election was overshadowed further by attempted extortion by Carrie Phillips, threatening to reveal Warren's adultery.[2] However, Florence's newspaper experience gave her an advantage over other candidates' wives, and she skilfully deflected press enquiries about her first marriage by implying that she had been widowed. She also earned the approval of ex-President Taft.
In the White House
On March 4th 1921, Florence Harding became First Lady, immediately taking an active role in national politics, at times even appearing to dominate the President. She had a strong influence on the selection of government ministers, and at the inauguration, observers believed that she was prompting her husband with a speech written by her.
Florence made her views known on everything from the League of Nations to vivisection, racism and women's suffrage. When Madame Curie visited the White House, Florence praised her as an example of a professional achiever who was also a supportive wife. Florence's own special agenda was the welfare of war veterans, whose cause she championed wholeheartedly. In all of this, her timing was fortunate, as women's activism in public affairs was an important theme in 1920's America.
As a White House hostess, Florence presided over elegant parties, where her husband would refer to her as The Duchess. But she also moved with the times, flying in planes, launching new fashions like the silk neckband, showing after-dinner movies, and discreetly serving alcohol to guests during Prohibition.
The Strange Death of President Harding
By 1923, both Florence and her husband were suffering from dangerous illnesses, but still undertook a coast-to-coast rail tour, which they called the Voyage of Understanding. Florence proved highly popular at their many schduled stops, but Warren was visibly ailing. After a bad reaction to seafood, he was rushed to San Francisco's Palace Hotel, where he died.
On this tour, Warren had been under the care of Charles E. Sawyer, who is believed to have misdiagnosed the President's condition, and administered stimulants that brought on his fatal heart attack. As Florence did not request an autopsy, and also destroyed many of his papers, a conspiracy theory was put forward in a semi-fictional book The Strange Death of President Harding, sensationally claiming that Florence had poisoned her husband. This is now seen as a code for Florence placing excessive trust in the incompetent Sawyer, resulting in Warren's death.
Widowhood
Florence had intended to make a new life in Washington, and was planning a tour of Europe. But when her kidney ailment returned, she followed Sawyer's advice, and took a cottage in the grounds of his sanitarium in Marion. Her last public appearance was at the local Remembrance Day parade, where she stood to salute the veterans. A few days later, she died of renal failure.
References
- Original text based on White House biography
External links
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