Before Warren G. Harding became president of the United States, he was involved in a 15-year love affair with a woman named Carrie Fulton Phillips.
On July 29, a century after the affair, approximately 1,000 pages of love letters written by a married Harding to Phillips will be released to the public, the Library of Congress announced recently. The letters had previously been sealed for decades.
Harding's numerous extramarital trysts were no secret -- even his wife Florence Harding knew about them -- but his affair with Phillips may have been the steamiest of all.
Take this letter, dated December 24, 1910:
"My Darling. There are no words, at my command, sufficient to say the full extent of my love for you — a mad, tender, devoted, ardent, eager, passion-wild, jealous ... hungry ... love ... It flames like the fire and consumes ... It racks in the tortures of aching hunger, and glows in bliss ineffable — bliss only you can give."
Their love affair had begun five years prior, according to James David Robenalt's 2009 book “The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage During the Great War." Robenalt had access to a rare copy of the lovers' correspondence.
The affair was passionate to say the least; on January 2, 1913, Harding wrote:
“My Carrie, Beloved and Adored. . . . I do love you so. . . . I wonder if you realize how much — how faithfully, how gladly . . . how passionately. Yes you do know the last, you must have felt the proof.”
According to the New York Times, Harding used code words to keep the letters' contents a secret, even referring to his penis as "Jerry." For instance, on March 12, 1915 he wrote to Phillips:
"Jerry ... came in while I was pondering your notes in glad reflection, and we talked about it ... He told me to say that you are the best and darlingest in the world, and if he could have but one wish, it would be to be held in your darling embrace and be thrilled by your pink lips that convey the surpassing rapture of human touch and the unspeakable joy of love’s surpassing embrace."
On August 20, 1918 he referred to "Jerry" again, writing:
"Wish I could take you to Mount Jerry. Wonderful spot. Not in the geographies but a heavenly place, and I have seen some passing views there and reveled in them. Gee!"
However, their relationship meant more to Harding than just sex. In November 1913, he described Phillips' love as, "the surpassing influence of my life. It is big, and glorious, and hallowed. It is full of blessings and radiant with dreams. It could be as ardent and wild and impassioned as you have ever known it."
Harding and Phillips were neighbors in Marion, Ohio when they struck up their affair, and their families knew each other well. Both were believed to be in lackluster marriages at the time.
The affair continued while Harding served as lieutenant Governor of Ohio and then as a U.S. Senator, but it ended before he took the Oval Office in 1921. Prior to calling it off, Harding had asked Phillips to burn the letters.
“I think you [should] have a fire, chuck ’em! Do. You must. If there is one impassioned one that appeals to you, keep it . . . [but] please, chuck the extra pictures, letters and verses. They are too inflammable to keep,” he wrote on January 2, 1913.
Despite it's inevitable doom, Robenalt believes Harding's love for Phillips was the real deal, fueled by an intense sexual desire. He told The Washington Post that "this woman was clearly the love of his life."
“A lot of his letters are sexual-fantasy letters. Clearly, this is his sexual outlet, in part, writing to her," he added.
It must have meant something to Phillips as well, as she never did burn the letters. Instead, she kept them in a box in a locked closet, and they were discovered by her lawyer after her death in 1960.
As for Harding, he died of a heart attack in 1923 before finishing his term. Remembered by many historians as a mediocre President, Harding is often forgotten and overlooked -- that is, until now.
Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Divorce on Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.