Member-only story

The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren Harding

Tom Hayes

·8.4k Followers· Follow

Published in The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren G Harding

5 min read

370 View Claps

72 Respond

Save

Listen

Warren Harding was the 29th president of the United States, serving from 1921 to 1923. He is best known for his association with the Jazz Age, a period of economic prosperity and social change in the United States. Harding's presidency was also marked by a number of scandals, including the Teapot Dome scandal. Despite these controversies, Harding remains a popular figure in American history, and his legacy is still debated today.

The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren G. Harding

by Ryan S. Walters

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1719 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	255 pages

The Early Life of Warren Harding

Warren Gamaliel Harding was born on November 2, 1865, in Corsica, Ohio. He was the eldest of eight children born to George Tryon Harding, a physician, and Phoebe Elizabeth Dixon Harding. Harding's father died when he was ten years old, and his mother was forced to work as a seamstress to support the family.

Harding attended Ohio Central College and graduated in 1882. He then studied law at the University of Michigan, but did not graduate. In 1884, Harding moved to Marion, Ohio, and purchased the Marion Star newspaper. He quickly became involved in politics, and was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1899.

Harding's Political Career

Harding served in the Ohio State Senate from 1899 to 1903. He was a member of the Republican Party, and was a strong supporter of President William McKinley. In 1903, Harding was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served in the House for eight years, and was a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

In 1912, Harding was elected to the United States Senate. He served in the Senate for eight years, and was a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. Harding was a strong supporter of President Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy, and helped to pass the League of Nations Treaty.

The 1920 Presidential Election

In 1920, Harding was nominated for president by the Republican Party. He ran on a platform of "return to normalcy," promising to end the economic and social upheaval caused by World War I. Harding's opponent was Democratic candidate James M. Cox.

Harding won the election in a landslide, receiving 60% of the popular vote. He was inaugurated as president on March 4, 1921.

The Harding Presidency

Harding's presidency was marked by a number of accomplishments, including:

* The passage of the Revenue Act of 1921, which lowered taxes and stimulated the economy. * The creation of the Bureau of the Budget, which helped to reduce government spending. * The signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited the size of the world's navies.

Harding's presidency was also marked by a number of scandals, including:

* The Teapot Dome scandal, in which Harding's Secretary of the Interior, Albert B. Fall, was accused of taking bribes in exchange for oil leases. * The Ohio Gang scandal, in which Harding's friends and associates were accused of corruption.

Harding died in office on August 2, 1923, from a heart attack. He was 57 years old.

Harding's Legacy

Harding's legacy is still debated today. Some historians view him as a corrupt and ineffective president, while others believe that he was a successful leader who helped to restore normalcy to the United States after World War I.

Despite the controversies that surrounded his presidency, Harding remains a popular figure in American history. He is remembered as a genial and likeable man who loved golf and poker. Harding was also a devoted husband and father.

Warren Harding was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a successful politician who achieved a number of important goals, but he was also involved in a number of scandals. Harding's legacy is still debated today, but there is no doubt that he was a significant figure in American history.

The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren G. Harding

by Ryan S. Walters

4.3 out of 5