"HARDINGS TASK WAS RECONSTRUCTION & READJUSTMENT"

HARDING READY TO SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REORGANIZATION OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 12, 1922, the White House announced that President Warren G. Harding "is ready to submit his recommendations for reorganization of the administrative branch of the federal government."

The reorganization program, headed by Walter F. Brown*, will be recommending moving the bureau of the markets from Agriculture to Commerce and the forest service and public roads from Agriculture to Interior.

Other recommendations will include the unification of the War and Navy Departments into a national Department of Defense**.

JFK+50 NOTE

Sherman Blanchard writes eight years after Harding's death...

"The task of his administration was one of reconstruction and readjustment after the World War.  A return to 'normalcy,' he phrased it."

*Walter Folger Brown (1869-1961) graduated from Harvard University 1892 & served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce under President Coolidge & Postmaster General under President Hoover.

**The Department of Defense was not created until 1947 by an act of Congress.  The modern DOD was established by an amendment passed in 1949.

SOURCES

"President Harding:  A Reappraisal," by Sherman Blanchard, Current History, October 1931, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/

"President Is Ready With Administration Reorganization Plan," by Will P. Kennedy, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 12, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Flag of the Executive Office of the POTUS

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"TO ESTABLISH GREATER EFFICIENCY & COORDINATION"

PRESIDENT BACK AT DESK, ATTACKS SUBJECT OF REORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 15, 1922, President Warren G. Harding was at his desk in the Executive Office "for the first time since Mrs. Harding's illness reached serious proportions."

The President, arriving at the office at 10:30 a.m., immediately took up the subject of re-organization of government departments "to establish a greater efficiency by checking overlapping and by coordinating the various activities of the government."

According to the Evening Star, Mr. Harding discussed his plans with Walter F. Brown*, chairman of the joint congressional committee on reorganization.  The Star also reports that previous objections to changes by some Members of Congress were "gradually disappearing."

*Walter Folger Brown (1869-1961) was born in Massillon, Ohio & graduated from Harvard Law School. 

WFB was appointed by President Harding to chair the Joint Committee on the Reorganization of the Administrative Branch of Government.  

WFB was the only non-Member to serve on an official congressional committee & also served as Postmaster General 1929-1933.

SOURCES

"President Takes Up Reorganizing," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 15, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Walter F. Brown (1929-1933)," UVA/Miller Center, www.millercenter.org/

 

 

P.M.G. Walter F. Brown 

July 11 1929

National Photo Company

Library of Congress