[245] Although part of the public believed her, a jury found against her when she alleged she was libeled by a rebuttal of her book.[246] According to Harding family lore, the late president was infertile and could not have fathered a child, having suffered from mumps in childhood;[7] Britton maintained that Harding had provided child support of $500 per month for the daughter he never met,[247] but she had destroyed romantic correspondence from him at his request.[7][247]
Harding's biographers, writing while Britton's allegations remained uncertain, differed on their truth; Russell believed them unquestioningly[243] while Dean, having reviewed Britton's papers at UCLA, regarded them as unproven.[248] In 2015, DNA tests performed by Ancestry.com were used by members of the Harding and Blaesing families, which confirmed that Harding was Elizabeth's father.[7] Sinclair suggested that a harsher standard was applied to Harding compared with Grover Cleveland, who was elected president in 1884, although it was known he had a mistress and may have fathered a son out of wedlock.[246]

Historical view
Harding memorial issue, issued September 1, 1923
Upon his death, Harding was deeply mourned—not only in the United States, but around the world. 