Warren G. Harding was inaugurated as the 29th president of the United States on March 4, 1921, and served as president until his death on August 2, 1923, 881 days later. During his presidency, he organized international disarmament agreements, addressed major labor disputes, enacted legislation and regulations pertaining to veterans' rights, and traveled west to visit Alaska.
Harding inherited the aftermath of World War I after taking office in 1921, requiring him to formally end American involvement and participate in the polarized discussion of veterans' affairs, including the debate surrounding the Bonus Bill. The massive scale of World War I would prompt him to organize the Washington Naval Conference to promote disarmament. He also inherited labor disputes that would persist throughout his presidency, some of which escalated into riots and armed insurrections. Harding toured the Southern United States in October 1921 to speak in favor of civil rights.
In 1922, Harding worked to support and encourage ratification of the Four-Power Treaty that came of the Washington Naval Conference. His administration was beset by scandal in March 1922 after the president dismissed officials at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the events of the larger Teapot Dome scandal began the following month when the Department of the Interior leased the Teapot Dome oil reserves to Harry Ford Sinclair. Harding was forced to personally broker agreements amidst coal and rail strikes that escalated into violence in the summer of 1922. His activities as president were subdued in the final months of 1922 after his wife fell seriously ill.
In 1923, Harding formally ended the American occupation of Germany and negotiated the payment of World War I reparations. In June 1923, he undertook a months-long Voyage of Understanding to tour the Western United States and the Territory of Alaska, also visiting British Columbia. He fell ill and died during this trip on August 2, 1923.
The timeline below includes notable events that took place during Harding's presidency, including the president's travels, speaking engagements, and notable meetings, as well as major government actions and other historical events that directly affected the presidency.
1921
March 1921
March 4 – The inauguration of Warren G. Harding takes place."Harding Inaugurated, Declares Against Entanglements; Wilson, Weakened by Illness, Unable to Join in Ceremony", The New York Times, March 5, 1921, p1 Harding County, New Mexico, is established and named in his honor. March 5 – Harding takes his first foreign policy action by demanding cessation of hostilities between Costa Rica and Panama. March 9 – Harding requests that the Senate ratify the Thomson–Urrutia Treaty. March 11 – Harding orders the Department of Labor to mediate a labor dispute in meat factories. March 17 – Harding forbids American troops from marching in support of an independent Ireland. March 20 – Harding visits Walter Reed Hospital to inspect the facility and speak to disabled veterans. March 25 – Harding meets former president William Howard Taft at the White House. March 28 – Harding restores the practice of hosting a children's egg rolling event on the White House lawn. March 29 – Harding establishes a committee led by Charles G. Dawes to investigate the needs of veterans. March 30 – Harding meets former French Prime Minister René Viviani at the White House.
April 1921
April 2 – A man falsely claiming to be Harding's cousin and assistant secretary is arrested by the Secret Service on impersonation charges. April 4 – The United States takes the official position that Germany is financially responsible for World War I. April 12 – Harding addresses a joint session of Congress where he supports the Treaty of Versailles and opposes the League of Nations."Harding Rejects League Outright; Wants Altered Versailles Treaty and a Modified Peace Resolution", The New York Times, April 13, 1921, p1 April 15 – Harding meets President of Liberia Charles D. B. King at the White House. April 19 – Harding dedicates the Equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar in New York."Ready to Fight for Monroe Doctrine, Plans to Invite World Disarmament, Says Harding at Bolivar Unveiling", The New York Times, April 20, 1921, p1 April 20 – The Senate ratifies the Thomson–Urrutia Treaty. April 28 – Harding reviews the Naval fleet while aboard the USS Mayflower.
May 1921
May 3 – Harding orders the executive departments to keep balanced budgets. May 6 – Harding announces that the United States will participate with Europe in post-war negotiations. May 11 – Harding loosens a rule from the Wilson administration that enforced civil service regulations in the selection of postmasters. May 14 – Harding signs declarations of martial law to be invoked in response to a laborer insurgency. May 19 – Harding signs the Emergency Quota Act into law. May 20 – Harding meets physicist and chemist Marie Curie at the White House. May 21 – Harding attends the funeral of Chief Justice Edward Douglass White. May 23 – Harding speaks in honor of those killed during World War I. May 23 – Harding promises limited interference in business by his administration and asks agriculture, labor, and business to work together at the 125th anniversary dinner of the New York Commercial. May 25 – Harding meets prominent American bankers at the White House to discuss foreign economic policy. May 27 – Harding signs the Emergency Tariff of 1921 into law. May 29 – Harding speaks at Pohick Church. May 31 – Control of Naval oil reserves is transferred from the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Interior.
June 1921 June 1 – The Tulsa race massacre takes place. June 2 – Harding speaks to the students of the Naval Academy. June 3 – Harding attends a schoolchildren's pageant in his honor. June 4 – Harding travels to Pennsylvania as the guest of Senator Philander C. Knox. June 6 – Harding speaks to the students of Lincoln University about the Tulsa race massacre and racial equality. June 10 – The Budget and Accounting Act is signed into law."An Act To provide a national budget system and an independent audit of Government accounts, and for other purposes", GovTrackUS June 16 – Harding intervenes in a dispute between the railroad and fruit industries. June 18 – Harding hosts several officials on a weekend cruise on the USS Mayflower. June 23 – Harding meets with Representative Joseph W. Fordney at the White House to expedite economic legislation. June 30 – Harding nominates former president William Howard Taft as Chief Justice of the United States, who is confirmed by the Senate on the same day.
July 1921
July 2 – Harding signs the Knox–Porter Resolution, declaring an official end to the state of war during World War I. July 4 – Harding celebrates Independence Day at Senator Theodore Frelinghuysen's home in New Jersey. July 6 – Harding meets with Representative Benjamin K. Focht to discuss the administration of Washington D.C. July 8 – Harding visits the Capitol Building to facilitate discussion of economic policy. July 9 – Harding invites several officials to a weekend excursion on the USS Mayflower down the Potomac River. July 12 – Harding addresses the Senate to discourage the passage of an adjusted compensation bill. July 16 – The League of Nations endorses the Harding disarmament plan. July 16 – Harding invites several officials to his second excursion on the USS Mayflower this month. July 23 – Harding goes camping with businessmen Harvey S. Firestone, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison at Licking Creek. July 25 – Imposter Stanley Clifford Weyman successfully arranges a meeting between Harding and Princess Fatma Gevheri Osmanoglu. July 27 – Harding hosts dinner with Senators at the White House to discuss tax policy. July 28 – Harding hosts dinner with House representatives at the White House to discuss tax policy. July 29 – Harding departs on board the USS Mayflower for a vacation in the Northeast.
August 1921
August 1 – Harding officiates the 300th anniversary celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts."New Pilgrim Spirit to Lead World, Declares Harding", The New York Times, August 2, 1921, p. 1 August 2 – Harding visits Portland, Maine, and Whitefield, New Hampshire, during his travels. August 3 – Harding arrives at Lancaster, New Hampshire, as a guest of Secretary of War John W. Weeks. August 5 – Harding visits an Army hospital in Gorham, New Hampshire. August 6 – Harding departs from New Hampshire to visit an Army hospital in Oxford, Maine, and return to Washington D.C. August 9 – Harding arrives Washington D.C. following his vacation and signs a soldiers' relief bill. August 11 – Harding adjourns a meeting after being informed that his 76-year-old father George Tryon Harding had suddenly married his own 52-year-old aide. August 14 – Harding travels to Baltimore with Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty to visit Daugherty's hospitalized wife. August 15 – Harding signs a proclamation declaring that the United States has been at peace with Germany since July 2. He also signs the Packers and Stockyards Act into law. August 19 – Harding declares his intention to merge the Department of War and the Department of the Navy. August 20 – Officials accompany Harding during an excursion to Chesapeake Bay on the USS Mayflower. August 24 – Harding signs the Future Trading Act into law. August 25 – The Battle of Blair Mountain begins in Logan County, West Virginia. August 30 – Harding gives an ultimatum to declare martial law if rioters do not disperse in West Virginia."Harding Threatens Troops for Mingo Unless Miners Disperse by Tomorrow; Clash on Boone-Logan Line Imminent", The New York Times, August 31, 1921, p. 1
September 1921 September 2 – The U.S. Army arrives in West Virginia and ends the Battle of Blair Mountain, but Harding declines to declare martial law."Washington Delays Martial Law Order— Administration Hopes to Avert Extreme Step, Believing the Troops Are Sufficient", The New York Times, September 3, 1921, p. 1 September 5 – A vacation to Atlantic City, New Jersey, via the USS Mayflower is canceled due to bad weather. September 7 – Harding speaks about his peace initiatives at the Army academy. September 8 – Harding meets former Senator Elihu Root at the White House. September 9 – Colombia declares its support for a United-States-led society of nations instead of the League of Nations. September 10 – Harding names the American delegation to the Washington Naval Conference: Elihu Root, Charles Evans Hughes, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Oscar Underwood. September 10 – Harding takes the USS Mayflower to visit Philadelphia and Atlantic City. September 12 – Harding visits New York City and goes to the theater. September 15 – Harding speaks at West Point and departs from New York. September 17 – Harding visits Norfolk, Virginia, for a day of leisure before returning to Washington D.C. September 21 – Harding is briefed on the increased activity of the Ku Klux Klan. September 26 – Harding opens the 1921 Conference on Unemployment."President Opens Conference to Aid the Unemployed", The New York Times, September 27, 1921, p. 1 September 30 – Harding adds a 128-acre donation of land from former Representative William Kent to the Muir Woods National Monument.
October 1921
October 2 – Harding observes as marines engage in a mock battle in Virginia. October 3 – William Howard Taft is sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States. October 4 – Harding meets with representatives of the United Mine Workers to discuss imprisoned miners. October 12 – Harding hosts a reception for attendants of postmaster conventions in Washington. October 13 – The American delegation to the Washington Naval Conference begins meeting in preparation of the event.