SENATOR BORAH SAYS IT WILL BE A MILLION DOLLAR INAUGURAL
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 4, 1921, there was "strenuous opposition" to "elaborate and expensive" plans for the upcoming inaugural of Warren G. Harding on the floor of the United States Senate.
When Senator Philander Knox*, chairman of the joint committee on the inaugural, offered a resolution to authorize $50,000 for expenses, Senator William Borah** "stirred up" a general debate. The Senator stated his belief that the inaugural would cost $1,000,000.
The debate ended with no action taken.
*Philander Chase Knox (1853-1921) was born in Brownsville, PA & served as Attorney General, Secretary of State & as a United States Senator (1904-1909, 1917-1921).
**William Edgar Borah (1865-1940) was born in Fairfield, IL & attended the University of Kansas. WEB served as U.S. Senator (R-Idaho) 1907-1940. He was a progressive who opposed the Treaty of Versailles. They called him "The Lion of Idaho."
SOURCE
"Borah Declares Inaugural Will Cost a Million," New York Tribune, January 5, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
