3min chapter

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Roaring Twenties | Rise of the Radicals | 1

American History Tellers

CHAPTER

The Recession and Harding's Resurrection of America's Past and Present

Sen. Warren Harding won the presidency in 19 20 with more than 60 % of the popular vote. The election signalled a rejection of progressive, reform minded politics. It was also the final nail in the coffin for america's participation in the league of nations - which harding wholeheartedly opposed.

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And with a presidential election approaching, they were looking to change things at the ballot box. For eight years, president woodrow wilson had governed the nation with high minded ideals and intellect. Wilson had entered office championing progressive crusades at home and abroad, ushering in economic reforms and grandiose plans for global peace. But as voters prepared for the election of 19 20, they were ready to cast aside wilson's internationalism above all else, they yearned for stability. They would find their answer in republican senator warren g. Harding. Harding was the son of a poor ohio farmer, a former small town newspaper editor who had become one of the most well liked politicians on capital hill during his time in the senate. He was tall and imposing, with handsome features and a head of smooth silver hair. To many americans, he looked presidential. Harding's warm and genial nature won him many friends and allies, but he was ultimately lacking in political experience and intellect. He was well aware of his mediocrity, admitting, i am a man of limited talents from a small town. In a campaign speech in may, harding summarized his campaign declaring, america's present need is not heroics, but healing. Not nostrums, but normalcy. Not revolution, but
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restoration. Not
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agitation, but adjustment. Not surgery, but serenity. A prominent democrat criticized his speeches as an army of pompous phrases moving across the landscape in search of an idea. But americans took comfort in harding's promise of a return to normalcy. Republican party leaders put forward massachusetts governor calvin coolidge as harding's running mate. Coolidge was a man who became synonymous with law and order during the boston police strike the previous year. The pair ran on the republican party's most conservative platform in two decades, hoping to run against them attorney general a mitchell palmer the democratic nomination, thinking his leadership during the red scare had earned him enough political capital to capture the white house. But he never recovered from his hysterical warnings about mass violence. On may day at the democratic party convention, his critics twisted his fighting quaker nickname, calling him the quaking fighter. The convention rejected his bid in favor of ohio governor james cox and the little known secretary of the navy, franklin delano roosevelt. When americans went to the poles in november of 19 20, harding easily won the presidency, capturing more than 60 % of the popular vote. The 19 20 election signalled a rejection of progressive, reform minded politics. It was also the final nail in the coffin for america's participation in the league of nations, which harding wholeheartedly opposed. In march 19 21, harding took the oath of office, and america turned inward.

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