Harding was born on November 2, 1865, in Corsica (now Bloomington
Grove), Ohio. He was eldest of eight children. His father, George
Tryon Harding, was a farmer and a doctor. His mother, Phoebe
Dickerson Harding, was a "gentle, pious" woman who devoted herself to
her children.
As a boy Warren helped his fater on the farm. In the summer he worked
in a sawmill that made brooms, and he drove a team of horses for the
Toledo and Ohio Central Railroaad. His father was later quoted as
saying , "Warren was always willing to work hard if there was any
money in it." Later Warren would become a printers apprentance, and
office boy on the Caledonia Argus, a local newspaper. There he
learned how to set type and gained his first newspaper
experience.
In 1879, at the age of 14, Harding entered Ohio Central College in
Iberia. After graduating in 1882 he took a job as a schoolteacher.
But he gave it up after one term, calling it the hardest job he ever
had. The following year the Hardings moved to Marion, Ohio. Harding
studied law for a few months, but soon discovered he did not like it.
He also tried unsuccessfully to sell insurance.
Finally, in 1884, Harding borrowed some money from his father and
with two young friends he bought the Marion Star. His partners
soon dropped out, leaving him in control of the Star. The
Star wasn't popular so the young owner/editor talked the local
industries into advertising their goods in it. Around this time
Harding started courting Mrs. Floronce King De Wolfe, a widow,
against her fathers wishes. They later married in 1891.
As the Star became more successful, Harding became more
popular. He was a director of the county bank, a trustie of the local
Baptist church, and an active member in many social orginazations. In
1898, Harding won an election as a Republican to the Ohio State
Senate. In 1902 he was elected lieutenant governor of Ohio and served
for two years. Harding left politics temporarily, to concentrate on
the Star. In 1910 he returned to polotics to run for governor
of Ohio and lost. In 1914 he was elected into Senate.
"He looks like a president!" stated Harry Daugherty, an Ohio admirer,
a few months before the 1920 Republican convention in Chicago. He
made this remark while nominating Harding For the Republican
presidental candidate. Not many took Harding seriously due to his
modest back ground. But because he couldn't be controlled Harding
became the choice for presidential nomination.
In a land slide the American people voted for Warren G. Harding, who
had promised to take the nation "Back to normalcy," after World War
I. Harding saw his victory as a call to follow a conservative policy
both both home and abroad.
During Harding's presidency several events happend. A few examples
are, the Washington Conference on disarments was held in Washington,
D.C.(1920-21), in effort to reduce international naval armaments. The
tomb of the unknown Soldier was dedicated (1921) at Arlington
National Cemetery, Virgina. The Immigration Quta Act (1921)
drastically limited immigration to the U.S. The U.S. Bureau of the
Budget was created by Congress (1921). The Lincolin Memorial was
dedicated (1922) in Washington, D.C. The first transcontinental
nonstop airplane flight was made(1923) from Roosevelt Field, New
York, to Coronado Beach, California; the distance of 2,700 miles
(4,345 kilometers) was flown in 26 hours and 50 minutes. The first
neontube electric advertising sign was installed in New York City
(1923).
Friendly and handsome as a movie actor, Harding looked like the image
of a president. But less than three years after winning the election,
Warren Gamaliel Harding was dead in office, his name tarnished by
political scandals.