Harding's Return to Normalcy - and Isolationism - after World War I

WARREN G. HARDING

Published by Washington, D. C., 1921

About this Item

Typed Letter Signed as President, to Senator Joseph Medill McCormick, Washington, D. C., August 29, 1921. With autograph emendations in two different secretarial hands. 8 pp. Key political circular from the first-year Republican President written to influence off-year elections in New Mexico and other places. Harding justifies, and praises, the rapid postwar dismantling of America's military by Congress, while backhandedly criticizing the inattention of his predecessor - Woodrow Wilson - to the peacetime transition. "Vast expenditure without proper consideration for results, is the inevitable fruit of war." Partial Transcript "Thank you for your letter of congratulation on the accomplishment of the administration down to date. You have been good enough to speak kindly of the work which the Executive Departments have accomplished, as well as of that which has been done by the Congress. For myself, I feel disposed to emphasize what seem to me the remarkable achievements of the extraordinary session of the Congress. In view of the fact that during the war practically no consideration was given to preparation for the new conditions which would come with the return of peace, and that in the two years after the Armistice there was hardly any more administrative attention to these problems, I cannot but account it a monumental accomplishment which has marked the work of the extraordinary session down to the time of its recess . I am happy to assure you that the administrative departments are now in full sympathy with the program of rigorous and unremitting economy through which, I believe, we will be able during the next year to cover back into the Treasury so large a sum that the aggregate of taxation may be reduced to $3,500,000,000 a year . a well-nigh universal protest against a possible repetition of gigantic conflict gives rise to the common hope that the conference in November may lighten the burdens of both armament and taxation, not only for this but for other lands . The habit of vast expenditure without proper consideration for results, is the inevitable fruit of war . Surveying the national situation as a whole, it is plain that we are working our way out of a welter of waste and prodigal spending at a most impressive rate. We have made much progress toward retrenchment and greatly increased efficiency ."Historical BackgroundHarding defeated Democrat Jacob Cox for the presidency in a surprising landslide in 1920. He promised a "return to normalcy" and argued against the U.S. joining the League of Nations (Democratic predecessor Woodrow Wilson's vision). Here, Harding criticizes the wasteful spending that occurred during the nation's massive military mobilization for World War I. Billions had been spent for planes, ships and shells that were never put into action, partly because of America's late entry into the conflict. Harding, committed to a renewed isolationism, and bolstered by the actions of a Republican Congress, proclaims this "extravagance" over.Harding also boasts that this "program of rigorous and unremitting economy" will allow taxes to be cut by $3.5 billion, and contrasts this healthy frugality with the disorder and economic chaos of postwar Europe.The President also mentions "the conference in November," a reference to the Washington Naval Conference. At this conference, U.S. Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes, working with diplomats from Britain, France, Italy, and Japan, agreed to halt further naval development. Harding reiterates his hope that the proceedings "may lighten the burdens of both armament and taxation; not only for this but for other lands."On September 7, 1921, The New York Times published this letter, with an analysis of its role in several off-year election campaigns. "The President, as titular and actual leader of his party, sounds the keynote on which he hopes Republicans will go before their constituents in support of the record of the. (See website for full description).

Seller Inventory # 21124

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Harding's Return to Normalcy - and Isolationism - after World War I
• Publisher: Washington, D. C.
• Publication Date: 1921
• Binding: No binding
• Condition: Fine
• Book Type: Typed Letter Signed