WI: Harding Lived

Warren G. Harding died in 1923 of what the doctors initially said was a stroke. Well, all possible conspiracy theories aside, what if that stroke had been avoided. He had been feeling ill earlier that day but was supposedly feeling better by the time the stroke happened. So let's just butterfly away the stroke, and he lives to see the end of his term. What might the 1924 election look like with Harding still alive? Would all the scandals within his administration harm his re-election chances so much that he would lose?
 

Stolengood

Banned
Scandals probably would harm his chances... but the OTL alternative in '24 was not a very good one, to be frank.
 
Well Progressivism possibly survives the Roaring Twenties and instead of the OTL New Deal coalition we have a Progressive Coalition during the Thirties.
 
I'm not sure that Harding would run for a second term ITTL actually, it's well documented he didn't like being president and as well as the scandles, he had obvious health problems that wouldn't have gone away. Can't imagine Coolidge wanting to run either without being the encumbent. Instead, I could see Hoover getting the nod 4 years early and trounsing Davis (though that's by no means certain, just the most likely outcome imho).

If Harding does run again, then I think he'd win, but it'd be a lot closer and his victory would be attributed to the Dems being so divided.
 
If Harding lived, I could see him as the first president to resign, thus:
• He fires Denby, Daugherty, et. al. for betraying him and the trust he gave (indeed, IOTL, he came very close to physical violence with Daugherty). Reason: they cannot function until their names are cleared, and should thus devote their energies solely to clearing the matter
• Harding calls a press conference, saying:
+ he is aware of the rumors of scandals in his administration;
+ he does not know the degree to which the rumors are true;
+ in any event, as chief executive, he has the ultimate responsibility and is therefore stepping down because he cannot govern effectively until such time as the matter is settled

Coolidge succeeds Harding and runs for a term in his own right in 1924. Meanwhile, Harding returns to Ohio and is ultimately exonerated of any involvement, while the aforementioned are tried, found guilty, and serve time in a federal penitentiary. Florence Harding, disgusted that her husband resigned rather than fight it out, files for divorce. An uncontested divorce is granted in 1925. Harding himself enters a new career as a baseball executive with the Cincinnati Reds and is considered as a future league president until his death from coronary artery disease in 1929.
 
Hmmm I suppose it's possible he resigns, though I think their's a chance Florence could actually talk him out of that.

If that scenario does happen though, I wonder what Harding's reputation would be like, both post-resignation and in the history books?
 
If Harding did live and run for another term the Democrats could nominate Senater Walsh of Montana who led the Senate investigation. Granted Montana is a small state, in electoral terms, but this sure would keep the scandals front and center during the campaign.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
I think he'd probably lose in 1924 to William Gibbs McAdoo. The Democrats stay in until 1932, when the Great Humanitarian, Herbert Hoover, rides to America's rescue from the Depression.
 
I'm not sure that Harding would run for a second term ITTL actually, it's well documented he didn't like being president and as well as the scandles, he had obvious health problems that wouldn't have gone away. Can't imagine Coolidge wanting to run either without being the encumbent. Instead, I could see Hoover getting the nod 4 years early and trounsing Davis (though that's by no means certain, just the most likely outcome imho).

If Harding does run again, then I think he'd win, but it'd be a lot closer and his victory would be attributed to the Dems being so divided.


Istr reading a biography of Harding, which mentioned him telling Senator Charles Curtis that he didn't want Coolidge as his running-mate in 1924. Curtis beamed, expecting to be offered the position himself, but was instantly deflated when Harding went on to say that "Charlie Dawes is the man".

If he runs, given the state of the opposition he probably wins, as Grant did in 1872. Whether he finishes his second term is another matter.
 
I can't imagine Harding running for a second term. He felt overwhelmed by The Presidency and knew his administration was scandle ridden. I read the following quite by Harding.

"I listen to one advisor and he sounds right. I listen to another advisor who says just the opposite and by god he sounds just as right. I know somewhere there's a book that can give me the answers, but I wouldn't even able to read the d--ned thing."

I understand during President Harding's trip on which he died, while they were in waters off Alaska a ship's steward told ThePresident they had struck a small iceberg butdamage was slight and repairs could me made easily. President Harding, who was laying face down on the bed, said "I hope the ship sinks."

Doesn't sound like someone who would have run for a second term. If he had run and won my guess is his second term would have been as bad if not worse than his first.
 
I too doubt Harding would run again. hHoover defeats the divided Democrats starts his two terms. h He is still blamed for the depression. I assume that FDR still wins in 1932 and everything proceeds as it did OTL.
 
If Harding doesn't run I think the fight for the Republican nomination might be between Hoover and Lowden. I am doubtful of Coolidge's prospects. Vice Presidents typically were not nominated for the Presidency at the time. There are probably going yo be other names on the ballot, but I think the nominee is either Hoover or Lowden. Either candidate wins due to the divisions in the Democratic Party.
 
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