A Note on My Harding Research

The information I posted during 2020 mostly covered Warren Harding's front-porch campaign from his home on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Marion, Ohio. The campaign officially started on July 31, 1920, and ended on September 25. The plan was to post daily on events that occurred exactly 100 years ago that day, but I shared other information as well. You'll have to read bottom-to-top if you want to follow the campaign from Day 1.

I used the open web for some of my research but also information accessible by using my library card or my subscription to www.newspapers.com. The most useful resource was the Marion Star, which was owned by the Hardings at the time of the campaign. I also browsed online copies of other newspapers like the New York Times, the Washington Star, and the Dayton Daily News, which, in 1920, was owned by Harding's Democratic opponent, Governor James M. Cox. I also posted information from other newspapers that covered Harding's trips away from Marion during the campaign.

Another great resource I used was Dale E. Cottrill's The Conciliator, a 1969 biography of the president that expanded an earlier bibliography of Harding's speeches. An online version is available at the Internet Archive, but I used a hard copy borrowed from the State Library of Ohio.

Readers should not construe anything posted here as a political statement on my part. I just like Harding as a historical topic.

7/17/2020

Saturday, July 17, 1920

Harding finally finishes his acceptance speech: 
During today the senator worked again as in the years gone by in close co-operation with the composing room of his newspaper, the Marion "Star," where the speech was put into type by installments for printing the advance copies that will be distributed to the press. A relay of messengers carried copy and proofs between the newspaper office and the senator's residence, and once he went down town and paid a visit of inspection to his compositors.
Harding uses the linotype machine and corrects three galley of type.
Advance copies are mailed to newspapers throughout the country for release on Thursday. Two copies will be delivered in person to offices of press associations in Chicago and New York.

Sources:
  • "Harding Ends Speech." Pittsburgh Post. 18 July 1920.
  • "Harding Finishes Acceptance Speech." New York Times.18 July 1920.
  • "Warren G. Harding setting type at the Marion Star photograph." Ohio History Connection.




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