The Politics of Normalcy

In his former book, The Harding Era, author Robert K. Murray sought to analyze the administrative policies of Harding, and in this book, he seeks to explain these policies. In doing so, he cites the successes and failures of the administration. Murray illustrates that Harding intended to be a laissez-faire president-which he promised to the American people that he would be-but he grew increasingly assertive to the point that Congress began comparing his leadership with the autocratic style of Woodrow Wilson. The author effectively illustrates that the Congress Harding inherited from Wilson was unruly, cantankerous and divided. Congress expected Harding to deliver on his promise of being "hands off", and Harding, who saw the Presidency as ceremonial, intended to do just that. Surprisingly, Harding became more involved in the process than he intended to be-much to Congress' dismay. Harding was evolving from a man with no vision, to a man who not only had a vision but was willing to battle Congress and impose his will when neccessary; gone were the days of concilliation and compromise. While the author praises Harding for his appointments of Hoover, Mellon, Wallace and Hughes, he is critical of his appointments of the mediocre Denby and Davis. But the author is most critical of the appointments of Daughtery and Fall. On the fateful Alaska trip, Murray briefly recounts the events and gives evidence that Harding was more progressive and forward thinking than he probably intended to be. Murray effectively argues that Harding, if he lived, would probably have been a great president. But in death, he was unable to defend himself against attacks and see that his progressivism was brought to fruition. The scandals that have come to dominate Harding's legacy were discussed briefly and also the motivations behind the Senators, Congressman (Democrats and Republicans) and the journalists and authors of the day who aided in the destruction of Harding's legacy. Coolidge, Murray contends, continued on with Harding's normalcy policies and became the type of president Harding initially wanted to be: ceremonial and laissez-faire.