REPUBLICANS NOMINATE HARDING ON 10TH BALLOT
Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On June 8, 1920, the Republican National Convention meeting at the Coliseum* here in the Windy City, nominated Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio as their presidential nominee. Governor Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts was selected as his running-mate.
The Republicans turned to Harding as a compromise candidate among "the largest field of presidential hopeful's in the party's history." After 9 ballots without a winner, the GOP looked at Harding as a candidate acceptable to both conservative and progressive wings of the party.
According to the Chicago Tribune, "an Ohio delegate found a sheet of white...board with the words 'Say, boys and girls, let's pick Harding!' He displayed it for all to see and the shtick started a bandwagon."
Another account states that the Harding nomination was "engineered by Harry M. Daugherty**," his political manager...in a "smoke-filled room."
On the 10th ballot, Harding picked up 644.7 votes (471 needed to win) and that figure jumped to 692.2 after votes were "shifted". The delegates must have been relieved as the convention hall was described as "steaming."
The presidential election of 1920, James M. Cox/Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) v Harding/Coolidge (R) was the first in which returns were broadcast on commercial radio. Previously, voters had access only by listening to record albums.
*Chicago Coliseum (1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago) was the site of 5 consecutive GOP conventions from 1904 through 1920. CC was also the site of the Progressive Party conventions of 1912 & 1916.
**Harry Micajah Daugherty (1860-1941) was born at Washington Court House, Ohio & graduated from Michigan Law School in 1881. HMD served as Attorney General under President Harding but his implication in the infamous Teapot Dome Scandal led to his resignation in 1924.
SOURCE
"Presidential Election of 1920: American Leaders Speak," www.loc.gov/
"The GOP convention that took 10 rounds to pick a candidate," by Ron Grossman, April 30, 2016, Chicago Tribune, www.chicagotribune.com
Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On June 8, 1920, the Republican National Convention meeting at the Coliseum* here in the Windy City, nominated Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio as their presidential nominee. Governor Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts was selected as his running-mate.
The Republicans turned to Harding as a compromise candidate among "the largest field of presidential hopeful's in the party's history." After 9 ballots without a winner, the GOP looked at Harding as a candidate acceptable to both conservative and progressive wings of the party.
According to the Chicago Tribune, "an Ohio delegate found a sheet of white...board with the words 'Say, boys and girls, let's pick Harding!' He displayed it for all to see and the shtick started a bandwagon."
Another account states that the Harding nomination was "engineered by Harry M. Daugherty**," his political manager...in a "smoke-filled room."
On the 10th ballot, Harding picked up 644.7 votes (471 needed to win) and that figure jumped to 692.2 after votes were "shifted". The delegates must have been relieved as the convention hall was described as "steaming."
The presidential election of 1920, James M. Cox/Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) v Harding/Coolidge (R) was the first in which returns were broadcast on commercial radio. Previously, voters had access only by listening to record albums.
*Chicago Coliseum (1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago) was the site of 5 consecutive GOP conventions from 1904 through 1920. CC was also the site of the Progressive Party conventions of 1912 & 1916.
**Harry Micajah Daugherty (1860-1941) was born at Washington Court House, Ohio & graduated from Michigan Law School in 1881. HMD served as Attorney General under President Harding but his implication in the infamous Teapot Dome Scandal led to his resignation in 1924.
SOURCE
"Presidential Election of 1920: American Leaders Speak," www.loc.gov/
"The GOP convention that took 10 rounds to pick a candidate," by Ron Grossman, April 30, 2016, Chicago Tribune, www.chicagotribune.com
Republican National Convention
June 8 - June 12, 1920
