Florence Kling Harding

Florence and Almond Sugary Cookies

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First Ladies - 1900 to 2000

Florence Kling Harding*

President Warren G. Harding*

Florence and Movie Camera*

First Lady Florence and President Warren G. Harding
First Lady - 1921 – 1923
Quotes from Florence - 
“Well, Warren Harding, I have got you the presidency. What are you going to do with it?”
“I know what’s best for the President. I put him in the White House. He does well when he listens to me and poorly when he does not.”
​Factoids - 

• Florence Harding is the first wife of a president to be able to vote for her husband.
• Warren G. Harding gambled away a set of White House China.
• Both Florence Harding and the Airedale terrier had their own chairs to sit in during cabinet meetings.
• Florence and Warren held poker parties in the White House Library, where they served liquor (although it was illegal)!

Bio - 

• And yet another Ohio First Lady!  Florence was born into a very wealthy family, yet she had a strong sense of independence.  At 19, she married a man of questionable attitude, who left her and their baby son.  As an independent woman, she rented a room, and supported herself and her baby by teaching piano lessons and working for a newspaper, "The Marion Star".
• Warren Harding moved to Marion at 16 and managed to buy the newspaper. He met Florence and the romance began, even though he was 5 years younger than her.  Florence and Warren married in 1891 in the same house they would keep all their lives. Though Florence was divorced, during Warren’s campaign for President, she let the media believe that she was a widow.
• Florence encouraged Warren to enter politics. During Warren’s Presidential campaign, Florence, or “The Duchess”, as Warren called her, worked to get him elected.  She once said, “I have only one real hobby–my husband.” She considered his campaign for President as the best time of her life.
• Florence’s time as First Lady was spent furthering change.  She worked for advancement of women through education and equal rights.  She invited women’s organizations and groups to the White House.  Florence began entertaining in the White House with garden parties and dinners. Garden parties for veterans were regular events.
• When Mrs. Harding moved into the White House, she opened mansion and grounds to the public again–both had been closed through President Wilson’s illness. She herself suffered from a chronic kidney ailment, but she threw herself into the job of First Lady with energy and willpower. 

About Warren - Warren Harding was the 29th President. He campaigned on a "return to normalcy" following World War I and focused on pro-business policies. During his presidency, women were given the right to vote under the 19th Amendment. Prohibition era began with the sale and manufacture of alcoholic liquor outlawed.  Unfortunately the increase  of illegal bars, home-produced alcohol, and gangsters followed.  Warren died suddenly in office in 1923, leaving Calvin Coolidge as his successor.

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Almond Sugary Cookies

Almond cookies were very popular during Warren Harding's Presidency.  World War I ended and the White House was opened again to the public and to many social events. The food was plentiful and Almond Cookies were served, as a favorite of Warren's. 

​Ingredients
2 & 1/4 cups flour 
1 & 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup salted butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 & 1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)
Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cookie sheet by greasing or lining with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, stir together the flour, salt, and baking soda.  Set aside. 
3. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and almond extract.  i
4. Gradually add in the flour mixture, beating until just combined.
5. Scoop up dough into balls of about 1 tablespoon.  Roll into sliced almonds, if using. 
6. Place the cookie balls on the prepared cookie sheet and  bake for 11 minutes. Cool on a rack before serving.

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Portrait Credits*
Florence Harding - Oil painting - Artist - Philip de László, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; movie camera - National Photo Company collection at the Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Warren G. Harding - National Photo Company Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons