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.

8/05/2020

Friday, August 6, 1920

Another low-key day while the Republicans wait to hear what Governor Cox will say at his nomination ceremonies tomorrow. Harding spends part of his morning recording speeches to be released as phonographs. As reported in the Marion Star, "Senator Harding spent several hours at his home speaking into a specially constructed apparatus on important issues 'An Association of Nations,' 'High Cost of Living,' 'Taxation,' 'Liberty Under the Law,' 'Excerpts from Speech of Acceptance' and other paramount campaign issues. Popular campaign songs are to be combined with the speeches on records."

Here's a photograph of a recording device that Harding used before returning to Marion from Washington:


The Hardings then drive to Columbus in the afternoon for a round of golf at the Scioto Country Club. They attend a dinner party that night at the Hendersons (whose first names are cut off on the microfilm).

The campaign staff announces new speaking events for the candidate:
  • Monday, August 9: The Society of American Indians - from Ohio State University
  • Friday, August 13: The Ohio Republican Editorial Association
  • Wednesday, August 18: Lumbermen's Association of the Marion district (picnic)
  • Thursday, August 19: Former and present members of the Ohio state assembly
  • Saturday, August 21: Lake County, Indiana Republicans
  • Monday, August 30: Republican governors of western states
  • Friday, September 3: "Business men of foreign birth, now naturalized, from all parts of the country."
  • Saturday, September 30: American Defense Association
And here's the best slogan in the bunch that the Evening World printed today:
  • Harding With Teddy's Big Stick Will Give Us the Spirit of '76.
Sources:
  • "For Quick Delivery." Marion Star. 7 August 1920.
  • "Harding a Visitor." Columbus Dispatch. 8 August 1920.
  • "Harding Charge Stirs Up Marion." New York Times. 7 August 1920.
  • "Many Delegations to Hear Harding Speak from Porch." Columbus Dispatch. 6 August 1920.
  • "Slogan Enthusiasts Scent Sure Victory for Their Favorites." New York Evening World. 6 August 1920.

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