Warren G. Harding – Flashcards

Warren G. Harding was the 29th president of the United States. Harding was a determined president who did many important things in his two years serving owning a newspaper company called the Marion Star. He represented Ohio in the senate. He died on his way to San Francisco at the age of 58.

Warren Gamaliel Harding was born on a farm in Blooming Groove, Ohio. Farther was in Union army Harding was oldest child in his family Learned and played on family farm Harding went to Ohio central college

• After graduating from college, Warren G. Harding found a job as a schoolmaster at White Schoolhouse in Marion, Ohio in 1882. Harding hated every minute of it so, he quit before the end of the school year. On the advice of his father, Harding tried to learn law from a Marion attorney. He found that terribly boring and quit. He then tried selling insurance, but made a terrible mistake and had to pay the difference. He quit.

• In May 1884, Harding's father bought a newspaper, the Marion Star, and made his son the editor. Harding was very good at this business, and covered Republican politics. When his father was forced to sell the Marion Star in order to pay a debt, Harding and two friends, Jack Warwick and Johnnie Sickle, used their money and bought the business. Sickle soon lost interest and sold his share to Harding. Warwick lost his share to Harding in a poker game, but stayed on as a reporter. At the age of 19, Warren Harding was not only the editor of the Marion Star, but now its only owner, a position that would help him in his later political runs.

• In 1891, Warren G. Harding married Florence Kling De Wolfe a Marion native. In 1898, Harding was elected to the Ohio senate, where he served until 1903. He was Ohio's lieutenant governor from 1904 to 1906. Decided to run for governorship, unfortunately he lost. He was very pleased with his success. His wife managed the Marion Star while Harding was in Washington which meant that they didn't get to see each other that much. Harding was a determined and smart man. Many in the Senate liked him even Democrats. In the 1920s, Harding, with advice from friends, decided to run for President. He won the Republican nomination and selected Calvin Coolidge, a former running-mate, to help him and to be his vice-president. After he was nominated by the Republican Party, the Democratic Party nominated another candidate from Ohio. Though it was a tough battle for the presidency, Harding was able to win and became the 29th president of the United States.

• When Harding became president of the United States, there were many things to be corrected. At the time, World War I was not yet over for the Americans so the President had to make peace treaties with Austria, Germany, and Hungary. There was the need to pay the wounded soldiers who fought and wounded in battle. Not only that but, he had to pay the families who lost fathers and sons in battle. Other challenges were the miner's strikes and the railroad workers strikes. Both groups refused to work until they were payed more. The heads of the mining industry and railroad industry refused to pay them more. Harding was able to solve the problems by paying the workers more money. The President was able to encourage many nations cut down on their spending on military, navy, and air to prevent another world war. This was one of Mr. Harding's greatest accomplishment in office. Harding then went to Alaska and became the first president to visit. He arrived in Fairbanks to celebrate the Alaska railroad completion. At the time both Hardin's were very sick. United States officials did not think that Mrs. Harding was going to make it. Therefore, on the train, they brought with them a coffin. As it turns out the real person in danger, however, it was President Harding and the President died of a heart attack on his trip to San Francisco. Before he died, President Harding gave one final speech to the American public telling them that he was feeling better though that same day he died when his wife was reading to him. The day was August 2, 1923. Harding only served two years in office.

• His death sent the nation into shock and sorrow. Many citizens went to see the president's train carrying his dead body. The very sad United States wanted to say one last good-bye and thank him for his service. Calvin Coolidge was the vice president at the time so, he had to finish what President Harding started and help the nation mend their broken hearts from the president's passing. Many people thought of him as the best president that the United States had ever seen. The new president moved many people with his speech: "No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." Wikipedia, Biography Book, and Whitehouse.gov