May 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, May 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2024
Warren G. Harding signed and handwritten speech spanning an incredible 33 pages, a very rare Presidential manuscript of such length and importance. Speech is signed at top by Harding via the header, ''Speech W.G. Harding, Republican State Meeting, Columbus, February 25 [1920]''. At this time, Harding served as U.S. Senator from Ohio and was preparing to run for the Republican nomination for President. He drafts a fiery speech critical of Woodrow Wilson and advocating for a government built upon law and order, ironic given the Teapot Dome Scandal of his Presidency, although Harding himself would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Written in clear bold pencil on 33 separate sheets, Harding writes about the emergence of the Republican Party as the ''Party of the Nation'', and of the importance of change in a democracy. He attacks Wilson's conduct of the war and Wilson's refusal to sign the Knox Resolution allowing for a separate peace with Germany. He goes on to advocate rearmament, an increase in voluntary enlistment and the pursuit of an isolationist foreign policy, and the lowering of taxes for the common man.
Turning to his candidacy, Harding concludes: ''A word more personal than political. I am soon to qualify for the April primaries. Ohio is to choose her delegates to the Republican National Convention. It may be called upon at the same time to display a preference as to Presidential Candidates whose names have been suggested. It is possible I may not speak again in Ohio before you register your preference. So I want to say now that the wish of Ohio Republicans will be my wish, and my rule of conduct. I am vastly less concerned about who is to be nominated than I am about the party victory so essential to the country. I have a confidence in the representative judgement of the national convention, and shall accept its utterances and support its choice. Meanwhile I want my friends in Ohio to treat those who come among us from other states as fellow Americans, and let our expressions be in good spirit; and reserve our strength to make sure of Republican triumph when we appeal to the judgement of the nation.''
Each page measures approximately 8'' x 9.375''. Toning and light chipping to edges, overall in very good condition. Seldom do Presidential manuscripts of this length and importance become available.
All pages can be seen here.
Warren G. Harding Signed & Handwritten 33pp. Speech -- ''We ought to declare an end to bureaucracy, crowned with autocracy…to a government by law and the free activities of a law-abiding people''
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