Warren Gamaliel Harding was a Republican from Ohio. He worked as a newspaper publisher, state senator, and U.S. senator before the presidency. This biography covers his life, career, administration, and reputation.
Who Was Warren G. Harding?
Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 to August 2, 1923) was the 29th president of the United States, serving from 1921 until his death in 1923. He was the first sitting senator in American history to win election to the presidency.
What Was Warren G. Harding’s Early Life?
Warren G. Harding was born on November 2, 1865, in Blooming Grove, Ohio, the first child of George Tyron and Phoebe Elizabeth (Dickerson) Harding. The family moved to Marion in 1882. Harding attended Ohio Central College in Iberia. After college, he taught for one term in a country school. He then tried law, insurance sales, and journalism.
How Did Harding Build His Career Before the Presidency?
Harding built his career in 4 stages: newspaper publisher, Ohio state senator, lieutenant governor, and U.S. senator. The stages are:
- Purchase the Marion Star in 1884 with $300 raised with two friends
- Win the first of two Ohio State Senate terms in 1899
- Serve as lieutenant governor of Ohio from 1903 to 1905
- Serve in the U.S. Senate from 1915 to 1921, after winning the 1914 election
In 1891, he married Florence Kling DeWolfe, a divorcee five years older than him. Florence Harding turned the Marion Star into a profitable business. Harding lost a race for Ohio governor in 1910.
How Did Harding Win the 1920 Presidential Election?
Harding won the 1920 election with more than 60 percent of the popular vote, after the Republican convention deadlocked and nominated him on the 10th ballot. His campaign promised a return to normalcy after World War I. Over 600,000 people traveled to Marion during his front porch campaign. The 1920 election was the first in which women could vote nationwide.
Harding resigned from the Senate in December 1920 and was inaugurated on March 4, 1921. Calvin Coolidge served as his vice president.
What Did Harding Accomplish as President?
Harding’s administration produced 4 main policy results between 1921 and 1923. The results are:
- Signed the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, which created the General Accounting Office to audit federal spending
- Hosted the Washington Naval Conference of 1921 to 1922, which produced a naval limitations program that lasted a decade
- Signed the Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act on November 21, 1921, which funded health programs
- Supported the 1921 Emergency Quota Act, which began a period of restrictive immigration policy
What Scandals Affected Harding’s Administration?
The Teapot Dome scandal was the best-known scandal of the Harding administration, in which Interior Secretary Albert Fall leased public oil lands in exchange for gifts and personal loans. Several major scandals emerged shortly after Harding’s death. Harding’s corrupt associates were nicknamed the Ohio Gang.
Harding also had extramarital affairs. His affair with Carrie Fulton Phillips lasted 10 years and ended before he entered the White House. In August 2015, genetic testing confirmed that Elizabeth Ann Blaesing, the daughter of Nan Britton, was Harding’s biological child.
How and When Did Warren G. Harding Die?
Warren G. Harding died on August 2, 1923, at age 57, in a San Francisco hotel, most likely of a heart attack. He was traveling on a cross-country tour. No autopsy was conducted. Vice President Calvin Coolidge succeeded him. Florence Harding died of kidney disease 15 months later.
What Are the Key Dates in Warren G. Harding’s Life?
Table 1 lists 8 dates from Harding’s birth in 1865 to his death in 1923.
Table 1: Key dates in Warren G. Harding’s life, 1865 to 1923
| Year | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1865 | Birth | Born November 2 in Blooming Grove, Ohio |
| 1884 | Newspaper purchase | Buys the Marion Star with two friends |
| 1891 | Marriage | Marries Florence Kling DeWolfe |
| 1899 | State politics | Wins first Ohio State Senate term |
| 1903 | Lieutenant governor | Serves until 1905 |
| 1915 | U.S. Senate | Begins term that ends in 1921 |
| 1921 | Presidency | Inaugurated March 4 |
| 1923 | Death | Dies August 2 in San Francisco |
What Is Warren G. Harding’s Historical Legacy?
Harding died as one of the most popular presidents in history, but the later exposure of scandals eroded his reputation. Most historians rank him among the lowest-rated presidents. In recent decades, many historians have begun to reassess his record in office.
People Also Ask About Warren G. Harding
Who Succeeded Warren G. Harding?
Vice President Calvin Coolidge succeeded Harding after his death in 1923.
Who Was Warren G. Harding’s Wife?
Harding’s wife was Florence Kling DeWolfe, whom he married in 1891.
What Did Harding Mean by “Return to Normalcy”?
Return to normalcy was Harding’s 1920 campaign promise to restore stability after World War I.
How Old Was Harding When He Died?
Harding was 57 years old when he died on August 2, 1923.
What Is the Summary of Warren G. Harding’s Biography?
Warren G. Harding was born in 1865 and became a newspaper publisher in Marion, Ohio. He served in the Ohio State Senate, as lieutenant governor, and in the U.S. Senate. He won the 1920 election, signed the Budget and Accounting Act, and hosted the Washington Naval Conference. He died in office on August 2, 1923, and scandals later damaged his reputation.