Warren G. Harding Essay Essays - Warren G. Harding, Ohio

Warren G. Harding Essay Warren Gamaliel Harding, twenty-ninth President of the United States, was born on November 2, 1865, on the family farm at Blooming Grove, Morrow County, Ohio. His parents were Dr. George Tryon Harding and Phoebe Dickerson Harding, descendants of pioneer Ohio families of English and Dutch ancestry. Warren was the first of their eight children-two boys and six girls. The Hardings were followers of the Baptist faith. By this time, the Harding family had moved to Marion, and it was there that Harding returned after his graduation, armed with a degree, a printer's rule, and determination to make his own living. He briefly tried teaching school, studying law, and selling insurance; all with limited success and gratification. As a student at Ohio Central College in the nearby town of Ibernia , Harding served as editor of the college paper and showed rich promise as a public speaker. In 1882, at the age of 16, he received the degree of Bachelor of Science and was "orator," political and literary representative of his class at the graduation ceremony. In 1891, Harding married Florence Kling DeWolfe , the daughter of one of Marion's leading citizens. That year they had planned and built the house that is now known as the Harding Home and Museum, at 380 Mt. Vernon Avenue. Harding began his political career with his election to the Ohio Senate, where he served two terms, from 1900-1904. In 1903, he was elected lieutenant governor, and his political skills matured as presiding officer of the upper house of the state legislature and brought even national recognition. A split in the Republican Party led to his defeat in his campaign for governor in 1910. He remained active in Republican politics and was selected to give the nominating speech for President William Howard Taft at the party's convention in 1912. He won the 1914 Republican primary election as a candidate for the United States Senate, and he was elected by a majority of 100,000 for the term 1915-1921. He had an honorable record in the Senate, broadening his knowledge of foreign affairs while serving as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. In 1916 he presided as chairman of the Republican national convention in Chicago, and was selected to give the keynote address. Harding resigned from the United States Senate in December 1920, and was inaugurated twenty-ninth President of the United States on March 4, 1921. He was the seventh President born in Ohio. During the campaign he had promised to work for peace and prosperity, and he followed through on that promise. He believed in the ability of all Americans-regardless of race, color or creed-to take care of themselves if given the opportunity to do so. On August 2, 1923, Harding suffered a massive heart attack and died immediately. In some circles, rumors spread that his wife had poisoned him to prevent him from facing charges of corruption. Her refusal to allow an autopsy only fed the rumors. After a state funeral, Harding's body was entombed at the Marion Cemetery in Marion, Ohio.