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.

7/07/2020

Wednesday, July 7, 1920

According to the Washington Star, "Senator Harding's life after two days at home has developed a routine streak. In the morning he walks across the lawn to the 'executive offices,' located in the home of George Christian, his secretary, and goes to work on his speech of acceptance…and upon the mail that the clerks have ready for him…"

Harding holds a conference with journalists at 11 a.m. He explains that he writes his speeches by hand and uses a pencil. He shares information about Marion and vicinity and suggests some local destinations for the journalists to take when they have time. Conferences are planned to be held daily at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Plans are announced to hold the nomination ceremonies at Garfield Park, a city-owned park on the outskirts of the city, which has a pavilion that can accommodate a large crowd.


Harry Daugherty issues a statement about the Cox nomination: "Both nominees being Ohio men, we can settle all our troubles at home. This is a good thing to do. I have said many times in the last six months that as Ohio goes, so goes the election. We are ready. Harding will be elected."

That night in Dayton, Governor Cox is the featured speaker at the annual dinner of the Ohio Golf association, and he closes his speech by telling the group, "Regardless of the consequences next November, Warren Harding and I will be the same splendid friends we have always been."

Links:

Here are some interesting links about Harding that I've enjoyed:
Sources:
  • "Daugherty on Cox's Nomination." Marion Star. 7 July 1920.
  • "Governor Asserts Golf Not Game for Rich; Pleads Homes." Dayton News. 8 July 1920.
  • "Harding Begins Actual Work of Writing Acceptance Speech to be Delivered in Marion." Cincinnati Enquirer. 8 July 1920.
  • The photo of Governor Cox is from OhioPix.
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