Warren G. Harding: the record and the legends

Winnie. The 29th president, 1921-1923, from Ohio. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President: 29th
In office: 1921-1923
Home state: Ohio
Party: Republican
Height: 6'0"

The record

RecordAt 19, Harding and two partners bought a struggling Ohio newspaper, the Marion Daily Star, for $300. He ran it as editor and publisher, and it launched his whole career.Source: Miller Center, Harding: Life Before the Presidency
RecordHis own father said Harding could never say no to his friends. Those friends, the Ohio Gang, used their jobs to get rich, and Harding complained they kept him walking the floors at night.Source: Miller Center, Harding: Domestic Affairs
RecordHarding let Socialist leader Eugene V. Debs out of prison, where he'd been sent for an antiwar speech, and then invited him to the White House.Source: Miller Center, Harding: Domestic Affairs

The legends

LegendHarding held regular poker nights at the White House with his cabinet and friends, with liquor on the table during Prohibition. You'll also hear he once lost a whole set of White House china in a game. That one has never been proven.Source: Miller Center, Harding: Domestic Affairs
LegendHarding is often ranked the worst president ever. The record is more mixed. His friends ran real scandals under him, but he also passed the first federal budget law and hosted a conference that cut the world's navies.Source: Miller Center, Harding: Impact and Legacy

What he cared about

Less government in business: tax cuts and an end to wartime economic controls.
Cutting the world's navies at the Washington Naval Conference.
Limiting immigration with national quotas.

The full record

He signed the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, which capped immigration and set quotas meant to keep out people from southern and eastern Europe.

How he fights in POTUS KO

Looked like a president, played poker like one

Harding got by on looking the part and keeping everybody happy. In the ring he's a big, easygoing brawler who'd rather wait you out than start anything.

See POTUS KO

Questions about Warren G. Harding

Was Warren Harding the worst president?

Harding is often ranked the worst president ever. The record is more mixed. His friends ran real scandals under him, but he also passed the first federal budget law and hosted a conference that cut the world's navies.

Did Warren Harding lose the White House china playing poker?

Harding held regular poker nights at the White House with his cabinet and friends, with liquor on the table during Prohibition. You'll also hear he once lost a whole set of White House china in a game. That one has never been proven.

What was the Ohio Gang?

His own father said Harding could never say no to his friends. Those friends, the Ohio Gang, used their jobs to get rich, and Harding complained they kept him walking the floors at night.