Enchantress or Smarter Than You? Meiling Soong Seduces the Western World

Shelby Mickler

Apr 18, 20203 min read

As the First Lady of the Republic of China from 1928-1975, Meiling played a more important part in Chinese politics than history gives her credit for.

All eyes were on her as she took the stage, bright lights creating a single point where she stood.

"We in China, like you, want a better world," Meiling Soong declared in a rousing speech to the US Congress, in an attempt to convince them to join China in warring with Japan. "Not for ourselves alone, but for all mankind, and we must have it. It is not enough, however, to proclaim our idea[l]s or even to be convinced that we have them. In order to preserve, uphold, and maintain them, there are times when we should throw all we cherish into our effort to fulfill these ideals even at the risk of failure."

This speech took place one year before Meiling seduced presidential nominee Wendell Lewis Willkie and claimed to have a plot to take over the world by allying with him.

Meiling was a woman who did not take no for an answer, as evidenced by the extreme lengths she took to get what she wanted. Her vital role in Chinese politics during the 20th century was spearheaded by her fluency in both Chinese and English. She acted as a translator for her husband, the leader of the Republic of China, and founded many political movements and organizations while working alongside him.

However, Meiling never seemed satisfied with taking second seat to her husband's leadership. She hungered for a more involved hand in China's politics, which led her to becoming a sort of ambassador for her country. She dealt especially with the US, and toured America multiple times in an attempt to build good relations.

Of course, the American media completely sexualized her. America was obsessed with Meiling and her beauty, saying she oozed "pure sex appeal" and embodied the image of the mysterious, beautiful Asian woman that so many men lust after. One journalist noted a point in which Meiling wore a dress slit to the hip and jeweled shoes, and when she crossed her legs a "suppressed neigh, like a horse" was heard from the young men around her.

This kind of race-fueled sexualization was surely abhorrent, but Meiling used it to her advantage: The Guardian's Jonathan Fenby uncovered an account in US archives, which recorded the event of Meiling seducing president-hopeful Willkie in an attempt to gain power over America.

The story goes like this: Willkie was sent on a goodwill trip to China, during which he met Meiling. She immediately began dripping with compliments for him, calling his influence on her "disturbing." That night after dinner, Meiling and Willkie disappeared from the reception.

Later, Willkie returned to his rooms "very buoyant... cocky as a young college student after a successful night with a girl," according to his companion Gardner Cowles' memoir. Willkie began recounting in detail his night of passion with Meiling. He was described to be utterly enchanted by her.

Meiling later met with Cowles at dinner in the US, knowing he was aware of her and Willkie's encounter. She told him of her plans to join with Willkie if he won the presidency. "If Wendell could be elected, then he and I would rule the world," she told him. "I would rule the Orient and Wendell would rule the western world." Cowles called himself "so mesmerised by clearly one of the most formidable women of the time that this evening I would not have dismissed anything she said."

Of course, Meiling's plans fell apart when Willkie did not win the presidency and died of a heart attack soon after his defeat. As Roosevelt took office, Meiling's marriage fell apart, and her plans to gain power fell with her. She died in seclusion at age 106 in a large apartment in New York in 2003.

Though her life ended in misery and heartbreak, at one point Meiling was the most powerful woman in the world—an empress who dared to dream of ruling the universe with a male American consort beneath her heel.