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.

7/20/2020

Tuesday, July 20, 1920

Harding meets with a number of dignitaries, including Frank B. Willis, former Ohio governor and candidate for the Republican nomination for his senate seat, to be decided in August. Willis placed Harding's in nomination at Chicago.

Workers lay crushed limestone on the Harding lawn to prevent the yard from turning muddy with the expected onslaught of visitors. Harding's father, Dr. George T. Harding, lends a hand.


In the afternoon, an unannounced delegation of Elks from Findlay, who travel to Marion in 30 automobiles, march to the Hardings' home to invite the candidate to their homecoming. "The senator asked that this be not taken as a definite promise, but that if he finds it impossible to attend he will 'be with you in spirit.'"

Harding shows the "unaffected, easy cordiality that has made him popular with what he terms 'the folks.' He managed to vary his greeting and handshake, occasionally putting his other hand on the man's shoulder, in such a manner that the line passed quickly but without signs of haste."

Harding then holds a meeting in the new press headquarters for the first time.



Harding is asked about "normalcy," a word he used in his homecoming speech (and elsewhere):
I have noticed that word caused considerable newspaper editors to change it to "normality." I have looked for "normality" in my dictionary, and I do not find it there. "Normalcy," however, I did find, and it is a good word.

By "normalcy" I do not mean the old order, but a regular, steady order of things. I mean normal procedure, the national way, without excess. I don't believe the old order can or should come back, but we must have normal order, or, as I have said, "normalcy."
Here's how the press headquarters looks as of Saturday, August 22, 2020:


Additional Reading:
  • Merriam Webster: Did Warren Harding Coin 'Normalcy'? [No.]
  • Zimmer, Ben. "How Normalcy Went From Misnomer to Safe Ward. The Atlantic. 10 April 2020.
Sources:
  • "Delegation of Findlay Elks." Marion Star. 21 July 1920.
  • "Elks Make Harding a 'Surprise' Visit." New York Times. 21 July 1920.
  • "Local Mention." Marion Star. 20 July 1920.
  • "Nominee Sees Willis Today." Marion Star. 20 July 1920.
  • "Warren G. Harding and members of the press photograph." Ohio History Connection.
  • "Warren G. Harding home photograph." Ohio History Connection.
  • "Warren G. Harding's press house photographs." Ohio History Connection.
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