Another year has come and gone, but there is something back from 2020 that might be worth taking a look at. In case you missed it (and since I, the Harding guy, missed it you probably did as well), The Ohio State University's branch in Marion, OH, held their annual Harding Symposium in an online format to accommodate safety during the ongoing pandemic. Click here to access the full recording. It is about 2 hours long, but some of that time is taken up by breaks which can now be skipped as it is no longer live.
This year's theme was "America in 1920, the Year of Warren G. Harding," and featured presentations by three speakers: Dr. Nicole Hemmer, Sheryl Smart Hall, and Michael D. Barone. Dr. Hemmer, a political historian who has contributed/worked with Vox, the Washington Post, and other outlets, spoke on the tumultuous history leading up to the election of Warren G. Harding which has been covered on this blog here and here. Sheryl Smart Hall, the author of a great book on Harding - Warren G. Harding & The Marion Daily Star: How Newspapering Shaped a President - discussed the special effect the Front Porch campaign of 1920 had on the city of Marion and the strategy behind Harding's choice to campaign as such. Both Dr. Hemmer and Sheryl Smart Hall presented a wonderful variety of rare photos of the time period and of Harding's life. Michael Barone, a political analyst, historian and conservative pundit gave his view on what makes Harding an underappreciated president, noting the accomplishments behind the scandals which populate most of today's literature on the man. His commentary shed light on the differences between the modern two-party system and the values held by the parties in Harding's time.
I was impressed by how fun and varied the subjects and speakers were at the Symposium, and I hope they continue their tradition of holding Harding events annually so that perhaps yours truly can be in attendance once in person gatherings return. One final note: the Harding Symposium also inaugurated a $1000 scholarship award this year for a talented young person, and the winning piece can be read here.