Tuesday, November 2, 1920 (ELECTION DAY)

Today is Senator Harding's 55th birthday. It's also Election Day!

The Hardings travel three blocks by car to the Huber garage on Greenwood Street to cast their votes. A cheer erupts from the crowd that is gathered here, and the occasion is recorded by photographers and for the newsreels. Special lights have been installed for the movie cameras.

Black and white photographs do little to match the report in the Marion Star that "Mrs. Harding wore a black satin hat, black shoes, white kid gloves, a blue morning dress with white polka-dots, over which was an accordion pleated black cape, gathered around the throat with a black ribbon. Senator Harding wore a blue suite, black shoes, dark brown soft hate, lay down collar with a blue tie and cameo pin, and a dark overcoat."

The Hardings are twelfth and thirteenth in line.

Here's the larger picture, which shows George Christian, Harding's secretary, in line to vote too. Christian is in many campaign photographs.

Harding hands his ballot to an election judge:

This photograph is then published on the front page of the Marion Star:

After voting, Harding heads to Columbus to play another round of golf at the Scioto Country Club. Upon his return to the house on Mt. Vernon Avenue, it is "apparent that he had been elected by something approximating a landslide and several hundred telegrams from all part of the country were waiting for him. These messages, however, were largely from people who, being morally certain of his election, had taken occasion to send congratulations on his birthday...and incidental to express their confidence that he had been elected."

For dinner, the Hardings entertain a number of people who had helped on the campaign, including Harry M. Daugherty and Jess Smith. [See Sunday, October 25, 2020 entry.]

At 9:45, he provides this statement:

Assuming that the early returns are wholly dependable, I do not hesitate to say that I am pleased, of course. I am happy to utter my gratitude. But I am not exultant. It is not a personal victory. It is a renewed expression of confident Americanism and a rational call to the Republican party. It is all so serious, the obligations are so solemn, that instead of exulting I am more given to prayer to God to make me capable of playing my part and that all those called to responsibility may meet the aspirations and expectations of America and the world. I am sure the people who have voted the Republican ticket will understand my feeling that I should make no unstudied statement of policies at this time beyond the expressions made throughout the campaign.

Around midnight, he speaks to the crowd gathered outside his house:

I have no intention of making a speech. I have, as you know, been making a good many speeches and evidently they have borne some fruit, I am happy to say. While any man may be well pleased with the great honor bestowed upon me, nothing has pleased me more than the loyalty and support of my friends in Marion county. 

Sources:

• "Hardings Are Deeply Moved." Marion Star. 3 November 1920.
• "Harding Spends Day in Columbus on Golf Links." Columbus Dispatch. 2 November 1920.
• "Many Cameras Click When Harding Votes." Marion Star. 2 November 1920.