For years, most historians have routinely categorized Warren G. Harding as the worst president of the United States. In any poll of historians from 1948 to the present day, Harding has been lumped with U.S. Grant in either last or next to last place.
The problem, of course, was scandal.Any president whose administration is more characterized for corruption than for crises is likely to sink to the bottom. Besides political corruption, Harding was involved in sexual infidelity, which became highly publicized after his death.
The most discouraging problem for political historians was the decision of the Harding descendants to stash his papers, including some recently discovered Harding letters to Carrie Phillips, a mistress, in the Library of Congress, not to be accessed by scholars until 2014.
Now comes Carl Anthony, a young historian who has already written the stories of several First Ladies, contributing a substantial book on Harding's wife, Florence.
Interestingly enough, Florence, also known as "The Duchess," has always been at the bottom of polls of the effectiveness of first ladies, too, along with Mary Lincoln and Nancy Reagan.
In this highly literate and closely researched biography, Anthony has managed not only to resurrect the image of Florence Harding and place her on a deserved par with Eleanor Roosevelt, but he has also directed a bright light on Harding's presidency.
His conclusion is that Harding, a man "devoid of racial or religious prejudices," was surprisingly effective in attempting to change white America's attitude toward minorities. He worked very hard to push full equality in education, employment and political life for blacks.
Harding also strongly supported collective bargaining and was successful in pushing the big steel producers into eliminating the 12-hour workday.
In spite of the stereotypical characterization of him as an intellectual lightweight and reader primarily of Zane Grey novels, Anthony credits him for getting deeply into the works of Dickens, Carlyle, Pope and Shakespeare, as well as the work of American and European historians.
On the other hand, Harding was our most scandalous president, having carried on several well-documented sexual affairs, including trysts in a White House closet. His relationships included Nan Britton, a 21-year-old campaign volunteer, who bore a "love child" from the relationship.
Through all of this, Florence Harding was a strong, charismatic personality who exerted more influence on her husband and the country than any other first lady had done.
Her diary, Anthony's most important historical find, not only makes it clear how frustrated and bitter she was about her husband's adultery, but offers personal insights into the Harding presidency.
Anthony also gained access to the suppressed love letters from Harding to Carrie Phillips, as well as incontrovertible evidence that the president gave into her blackmail.
Harding depended heavily on his wife for advice and assistance in making decisions and instituting programs. She even substituted for him in speech-making, especially when his health began to fail.
This lively book serves to instruct about the personalities and problems of both Hardings while also bringing to life Jazz Age America. It is both a very good read for history buffs and a major historical contribution.