Warren G. Harding by John W. Dean

Today the Book Club was scheduled to discuss Warren G. Harding by John W. Dean.

As I previously mentioned, the Dean's book is a part of the American Presidents Series published by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., General Editor, who stated that the American system is "based on the on the tripartite separation of powers has an inherent tendency toward inertia and stalemate. One of the three branches must take the initiative if the system is to move." Over our history the inertia has been overcome by Presidents who took the reins of government and plotted a new direction. Harding was not one of those Presidents. An example would be Theodore Roosevelt about whom we discussed in Unreasonable Men during our March meeting. 

In Warren G. Harding, the author stated that after the Civil War, the Senate thought itself more important than the President. We can see that the Presidents from Andrew Johnson through William McKinley were not in the top tier of U. S. Presidents. Only Grover Cleveland and William McKinley achieved the second tier. The Senate held sway during the last half of the 19th Century.

Warren Harding's campaign for President was modeled after that of William McKinley. Harding spoke from his front porch to visitors from around the country and those speeches and accompanying photographs were used by Albert Lasker who pioneered advertising techniques for candidates.

I was startled by the fact that Harding's cabinet was approved by the Senate in less than ten minutes. 

The highlight, or maybe lowlight, of Harding's administration was the Teapot Dome Scandal, which the Book Club discussed a few years ago, mentioned in Dark Side of Fortune. Even with that, John Dean had a somewhat favorable approach to Harding. We have seen in our lifetimes the reputations of Presidents change as more information becomes available and new scholars probe their lives. 

I hope that the Museum will be open for us to resume our book discussions scheduled as follows:

June 5: Feminism and Suffrage The Emergence of an Independent Women's Movement in America by Ellen Carol DuBois.

July 10: California Women and Politics: From the Gold Rush to the Great Depression Edited by Robert W. Cherny, Mary Ann Irwin, and Ann Marie Wilson

August 7: A Woman's Crusade: Alice Paul and the Battle for the Ballot by Mary Walton