President of the Week: Warren G. Harding – The 29th U.S. President 🇺🇸

🇺🇸 President of the Week: Warren Harding

Warren G. Harding is the 29th President of the United States. Harding invented the phrase "return to normalcy," a promise that appealed to Americans tired of war and disease. His genial personality earned him the nickname "Good Old Warren," and behind the walls of the White House, he was known for late-night poker games, sometimes wagering Prohibition-era whiskey.

While the Teapot Dome scandal tarnished his administration, Harding himself was not directly implicated. His error was excessive loyalty to friends who betrayed the public trust, such as Interior Secretary Albert Fall. Beyond scandal, Harding surprised many with a progressive streak. In Birmingham, Alabama, he called for racial equality in 1921—an audacious stance in the Jim Crow South. He also pardoned Eugene V. Debs, a socialist imprisoned for anti-war protest, demonstrating his willingness to reconcile.

Harding's close political relationship with his wife, Florence, is also notable during his political career. Rumors of affairs and an unexpected death in 1923 prompted conspiracy theories. His brief reign demonstrated the humanity of leaders: capable of vision but flawed. Harding continues to serve as a sobering reminder that even flawed people may leave a lasting impact.

📻To learn more about President Warren Harding, watch or listen to Veterans on Point on the Flagler Radio YouTube Channel.