Presidential Biographies | Harding Administration - Harding Becomes President

The Warren G. Harding Administration

Warren G. Harding's good looks, resonant voice, and success as a small-town businessman in Ohio made him an attractive presidential candidate for the Republicans. Beyond his background and appearance, however, Harding had few other qualifications for the presidency. Personally affable and honest, Harding foolishly appointed to his administration a number of people who were corrupt and used their offices to enrich themselves financially. Unfortunately the distinguishing characteristic of the Harding presidency proved to be political corruption on a scale that this nation had almost never before—or since—witnessed.

Harding Becomes President

The Republicans grew increasingly confident of victory as the 1920 presidential election drew closer. They were convinced that the nation would turn away from the Democrats...