An Annotated Bibliography
Berman, Russell. “Warren G. Harding's Terrible Tenure.” The Atlantic. (2015): 1. Web. <
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/warren-g-harding-nan-britton-affair/401288/>.
Harding’s presidency has been recalled by many scholars and historians as a complete and total failure. However, recent letters have been released that shares that while the man’s political success may have been poor; he had a very active love-life. At least that is what is construed in Berman’s article detailing some “steamy live letters” between Harding and one of his mistresses. Granted this article does not speak to his presidency and the policies he did or did not pass. However, it does present a different picture of a man whose unpopular and brief presidency is regarded as one of the worst in American history. That being said this source will be highly beneficial in getting a better picture of the man and not just the president.
Glaeser, Edward L., and Claudia Goldin. “Corruption and Reform: Introduction.” Harvard
There is a tendency in American culture to see the American government as above reproach and that there is never any genuine corruption in the American system. Unfortunately that is simply not true. According to Glaeser and Goldin corruption is not something that only happens in third world governments. They argue that the presidencies of Warren Harding and many others were incredibly corrupt. Many politicians took bribes, received kickbacks and had personal and financial stakes imbedded in their political parties. This article offers a modern perspective on the activities of politicians in the early 1900s. It will be beneficial in understanding the era that Harding served as President of the United States.
Liotta, Paul. “8 Facts About Warren G. Harding.” The Daily News. (2015):1. Web.
<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/8-facts-warren-g-harding-article-1.2420808>.
Paul Liotta gives a brief and succinct general overview of Warren Harding’s life, presidency and death. It discusses several relevant aspects of Harding’s life, including his history in newspapers, his love life, family members and the rumors and scandals that plagued in life and well after his death. Some of these issues include his affairs and having a possible child with one of his mistresses, as well as, a scandal that led some to believe that Warren Harding has African American ancestry, which at the time would have been problematic for the 29th President. This article will be useful to the research into Warren Harding because it gives clear and concise facts that will act as a practical and unbiased source of information.
Moore, John A. “The Original Supply Siders Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge.” The
Independent Review. 18.4 (2014): 597–618.
Not all modern scholars see the presidency of Warren Harding as a complete and total failure. Despite the negative commentaries, many people fail to acknowledge that the years of Harding’s presidency, as well as Calvin Coolidge who followed, served during some the United States most successful years prior to the Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression that followed. It is also acknowledges that Harding was highly popular when he was elected and defeated the democratic candidate by four times the number of votes. He had a fantastic campaign line that resonated with the people, “return to normalcy,” which was very desirable to Americans after the first World War. This article will be beneficial because it offers a more positive perspective on the 29th president, which is uncommon.
Payne, Phillip G., “Dead Last: The Public Memory of Warren G. Harding's Scandalous Legacy.”
The American Historical Review. 115.2 (2010): 556-557.
Warren Harding’s tarnished reputation continues to make him popular among historians and scholars. In this work Phillip G. Payne discusses that if Presidents like Washington and Lincoln are recalled as Saints, then Harding would be one of the sinners. Until Richard Nixon and his scandals in the mid-20th century, Harding’s scandals were some of the most prominent. He alludes to a few questions which seem very relevant to how Harding is remembered. Was Harding’s scandals and failures due to a corrupt politician or was he, simply, so inept and “in over his head” that the failures were incidental not intentional. This source will be beneficial because it provides a different perspective, which can only help to round-out and balance the research.
The History Channel. “Warren G. Harding.” The History Channel. (2016): 1. Web.
<http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/warren-g-harding>.
Warren G Harding had a life of success prior to his brief term as President of the United States. It discusses his early years, education, familial ties, business and his time in politics. It details his life and his sweeping success when elected through to his political demise and subsequent death; there are some that believe his wife was responsible for Harding’s death, but that remains a rumor. This source is a fantastic research tool. It offers detailed and viable information. This unbiased information will benefit making certain that the research into Harding is honest and fair to the true history, not just theory, rumor and scandal.
