Here are some quick facts, opinions, quotes and other information on President Warren G. Harding:
Personal Information on Warren G. Harding:
- Twenty-ninth (1921-1923)
- Birthday: November 2, 1865 (Thursday)
- Birthplace: Blooming Grove, Ohio
- Birthplace Website: President Warren G. Harding’s Birthplace
- Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
- Date of Death: August 2, 1923 (Thursday)
- Place of Death: San Francisco, California
- Place of Burial: Marion, Ohio
- Cause of Death: Congestive Heart Failure
- Age: 57 years old
- Length of Retirement: Died in office
- Burial Website: Harding Tomb (also known as Harding Memorial), Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio
Interesting Warren G. Harding facts:
- Warren G. Harding was the first, and one of only three, Presidents to go directly from being a US Senator to the President of the United States. The other two Presidents to move their Senate belongings straight into the White House were: John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama. Thirteen other Presidents were also Senators, but they were not Senators at the time them were elected President. The other Senator-Presidents are: James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Benjamin Harrison, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon.
- Everyone claims that Barack Obama was our first African-American President. Rumors circulating about Harding mention the possibility that he might have actually been the first President with African roots. It was told that his Great-Grandmother was an African-American. Harding’s Great-Grandfather, Amos Harding, strongly denied that the rumor was true. Amos claimed that a thief, who was caught in the act, was attempting to exhort the family or was seeking revenge for his capture. In 2015, genetic testing was done on Harding’s descendants and it was determined that it was highly unlikely that Harding had African roots. It was ruled that there was less than a 5% chance that he had sub-Saharan African relatives in his family tree.
- Excluding Donald Trump, Warren G. Harding has served the fourth shortest time in office. He died 881 days into his Presidential term. The other top five short serving term Presidents, excluding Donald Trump, are: William Henry Harrison (31 days), James Garfield (199 days), Zachary Taylor (492 days), and Gerald Ford (895 days).
My favorite Warren G. Harding Quotes:
Our most dangerous tendency is to expect too much of government, and at the same time do for it too little.
America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration.
It is my conviction that the fundamental trouble with the people of the United States is that they have gotten too far away from Almighty God.
I am not fit for this office and should never have been here.
Warren G. Harding blogs (click the title to go to that page):
Warren G. Harding page on Presidential Crossroads (click “Warren G. Harding” below):
Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding Blogs:
His Death and Coolidge’s Swearing In
Prohibition and the Good Times in the White House
What similar traits do I have with Presidents Harding through LBJ
Personal thoughts on Warren G. Harding:
Strengths:
Likeable, Strong willed wife, Felt the pulse of the nation
Weaknesses:
No backbone, Surrounded himself with friends and those who took advantage of him, Delegated too much
Presidential Greatness Scale (1-poor to 5-great): 1.2
Comments:
Warren G. Harding is usually ranked near the bottom of most Presidential ranking polls. The nation was deeply divided and worn-out by World War I and President Wilson’s League of Nations. Much like our times today, most citizens were tired of war, the bickering, and our endless involvement in foreign affairs. We just wanted some calm and some time we could focus on ourselves. Harding’s laid back style and his calls to “just let things get back to normal,” were just what America wanted to hear. “Forget about foreign matters, let’s just think about America for once,” seemed to be his banner. America got what they asked for. They received a Commander and Chief who pretty much delegated everything to his cabinet members. With broad authority, and very little supervision, many of these cabinet members would look out for themselves more than they would look out for the nation. After Harding’s death, the covers came off the cabinet member’s activity, and one after another scandal began to surface. His ultra-pro business, anti-organized labor, stances also set the tone for bosses taking advantage of their employees. Even though Harding served one of the shortest terms of any President, there isn’t much good to find in the time that he did serve. He was extremely popular. He had one of the highest popular vote percentages of any President. The nation felt devastated about his death, as many believed, at the time, that he was perhaps one of the greatest Presidents ever. When all the scandals started breaking, shortly after his death, that popularity quickly eroded. His Presidency, today, seems to have very few, if any, fans.
Favorite Warren G. Harding’s book:
Warren G. Harding by John Dean
Favorite Warren G. Harding story:
How a man, who practically delegated all his Presidential duties was one of the most popular Presidents of his day. Until all the scandals of his administration, and his affair, came out after he died, he was one of the most popular Presidents we have every had.
Most memorable Warren G. Harding memory:
I haven’t really done any Warren G. Harding things yet.
Favorite Warren G. Harding possession (see picture at the top):
A 2002 Topps American Treasure card of a photo of Warren Harding.
