NY TIMES EDITORIAL CRITICAL OF GOP'S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE
New York City (JFK+50) On June 13, 1920, the New York Times published a rare front-page editorial criticizing the Republican party's nomination of Ohio senator Warren G. Harding for President of the United States.
The editorial described Mr. Harding as a "fine and perfect flower of the cowardice and imbecility of the senatorial cabal that charged itself with the management of the Republican convention."
David Dunlap, discussing the editorial with author Alex S. Jones, argues that Charles Ransom Miller*, Times editor-in-chief, "typically wrote the lead editorials," and most likely was the author of this one. Miller had already denounced Harding's opposition to U.S. membership in the League of Nations.
Ironically, Senator Harding seemed to be on good terms with New York Times publisher Adolph S. Ochs**. After his inauguration, President Harding entertained Mr. Ochs at a White House party and reminded the publisher that he had once consulted him about starting a newspaper in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Mr. Ochs advised against the idea saying "that there were not enough Republicans in town to sustain it." Ochs' nephew, Julius Ochs Adler, believed that had it not been for his uncle's advice, Mr. Harding might have settled in Tennessee instead of Ohio.
*Charles Ransom Miller (1849-1922) was born in Hanover, N.H. & graduated from Dartmouth College in 1872. CRM served as editor-in-chief of the New York Times for 40 years.
**Adolph Simon Ochs (1858-1935) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio & moved to Knoxville, Tennessee after the Civil War where he attended public school & worked at the Knoxville Chronicle. ASO became publisher of the Chattanooga Times & eventually purchased the New York Times.
SOURCE
"1920/Why So Hard on Harding?," by David W. Dunlap, December 17, 2015, The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/
New York City (JFK+50) On June 13, 1920, the New York Times published a rare front-page editorial criticizing the Republican party's nomination of Ohio senator Warren G. Harding for President of the United States.
The editorial described Mr. Harding as a "fine and perfect flower of the cowardice and imbecility of the senatorial cabal that charged itself with the management of the Republican convention."
David Dunlap, discussing the editorial with author Alex S. Jones, argues that Charles Ransom Miller*, Times editor-in-chief, "typically wrote the lead editorials," and most likely was the author of this one. Miller had already denounced Harding's opposition to U.S. membership in the League of Nations.
Ironically, Senator Harding seemed to be on good terms with New York Times publisher Adolph S. Ochs**. After his inauguration, President Harding entertained Mr. Ochs at a White House party and reminded the publisher that he had once consulted him about starting a newspaper in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Mr. Ochs advised against the idea saying "that there were not enough Republicans in town to sustain it." Ochs' nephew, Julius Ochs Adler, believed that had it not been for his uncle's advice, Mr. Harding might have settled in Tennessee instead of Ohio.
*Charles Ransom Miller (1849-1922) was born in Hanover, N.H. & graduated from Dartmouth College in 1872. CRM served as editor-in-chief of the New York Times for 40 years.
**Adolph Simon Ochs (1858-1935) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio & moved to Knoxville, Tennessee after the Civil War where he attended public school & worked at the Knoxville Chronicle. ASO became publisher of the Chattanooga Times & eventually purchased the New York Times.
SOURCE
"1920/Why So Hard on Harding?," by David W. Dunlap, December 17, 2015, The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/
Adolph S. Ochs
Time Magazine Cover
September 1, 1924
