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1920: The Year of the Six Presidents

Ernesto Sabato

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In the annals of American history, 1920 stands as a year of unprecedented political turmoil and social transformation. It was the year that saw six different men hold the presidency of the United States, a tumultuous period marked by assassinations, scandals, and the birth of a new era.

1920: The Year of the Six Presidents

by David Pietrusza

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The year began with Woodrow Wilson still in the White House, but his presidency was already in its twilight. Plagued by ill health and the failure of his ambitious League of Nations, Wilson's authority was waning. Yet, even as his presidency drew to a close, he would inadvertently set the stage for the extraordinary events that were to follow.

The Election of 1920

As the election of 1920 approached, the nation was deeply divided. The country was still reeling from the aftermath of World War I, and there was a widespread desire for a return to normalcy. This sentiment found expression in the candidacy of Warren G. Harding, a Republican senator from Ohio.

Harding's campaign promised a return to pre-war prosperity and a reduction in government intervention in the economy. He tapped into the public's weariness with the progressive reforms of the Wilson era and promised a more conservative approach to governance.

Harding's opponent was James M. Cox, the Democratic governor of Ohio. Cox campaigned on a platform of continued progressivism, promising to expand social welfare programs and to maintain the nation's commitment to internationalism.

The election was fiercely contested, but in the end, Harding emerged victorious. He won by a landslide, carrying every state except for Tennessee and Oklahoma. Harding's victory was a repudiation of Wilson's policies and a mandate for a return to normalcy.

Harding's Presidency

Harding's presidency began with great promise. He appointed a cabinet of distinguished men, including Charles Evans Hughes as Secretary of State and Andrew Mellon as Secretary of the Treasury. Harding also worked to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, repealing wartime taxes and returning control of railroads and other industries to private hands.

However, Harding's presidency was soon marred by scandal. In 1923, it was revealed that Harding's Attorney General, Harry Daugherty, had been involved in a bribery scheme. Harding himself was implicated in the scandal, although he died before he could be charged.

Coolidge's Presidency

Upon Harding's death, Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president. Coolidge was a quiet and unassuming man, but he proved to be a skilled and effective leader. He restored public confidence in the government and presided over a period of economic prosperity.

Coolidge's presidency was also marked by the passage of several important pieces of legislation, including the Revenue Act of 1924, which lowered taxes, and the Immigration Act of 1924, which restricted immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

The End of the Decade

The year 1929 marked the end of the decade and the beginning of a new era. The stock market crash of 1929 plunged the nation into the Great Depression, the worst economic crisis in American history.

The Great Depression had a profound impact on the United States. It led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and social unrest. It also marked the end of the Roaring Twenties, a period of economic prosperity and cultural change.

1920 was a year of extraordinary events. It was a year that saw six different men hold the presidency of the United States, a year that was marked by assassinations, scandals, and the birth of a new era.

The events of 1920 shaped the course of American history. They led to the election of Warren G. Harding and the return to normalcy, the presidency of Calvin Coolidge and the era of prosperity, and the Great Depression, the worst economic crisis in American history.

1920 was a year of turmoil and change, a year that left an indelible mark on the United States.

1920: The Year of the Six Presidents

by David Pietrusza

4.4 out of 5