Preparations

After the election, the Hardings went to Florida for a vacation (where Harding wrote his inaugural address). They spent five weeks at St. Augustine, leaving on 2/27 for a brief stop at their house in Marion, Ohio. [NYT 2/28/1921]. Arriving in Marion on 3/1, Harding stopped in the Marion Star office to check on the health of his newspaper and took his leave of his neighbors [NYT 3/2/1921]. On 3/2, over 10,000 people came to Harding's residence, where he delivered a farewell address. [NYT 3/3/1921].

President Wilson's health complicated the preparations for Harding's inaugural. The Congressional Committee on Arrangements, chaired by Sen. Knox, met with Wilson's personal secretary Joseph P. Tumulty, on 2/28/1921. Tumulty reported that Wilson wanted to participate as much as possible but might not have the strength to walk to the Capitol or participate in the outdoor activities. Wilson's doctor stayed with him most of the inaugural day and kept urging him to keep his activities to a minimum [NYT 3/1,5/1921].

The Hardings arrived in Washington DC on 3/3/1921. They took a special train from Marion that made several stops until it reached Harrisburg. After that time, the Pennsylvania Railroad gave the train the authority to be the first train in history to travel without stops from Harrisburg to Baltimore. The train pulled into DC's Union Station at 1 p.m., 90 minutes ahead of schedule. The Coolidge family and the DC Commissioners met the Hardings at the station, and then Harding and Coolidge met with the Committee on Arrangements to go over the inaugural plans. At 3 p.m., the Hardings paid a call upon the widow of Champ Clark, who had just died. Harding held a meeting with the press corps and visited Pres. Wilson [NYT 3/4/1921].

Coolidge's VP Inauguration

Harding met with Pres. Wilson in the Blue Room in the White House at 10:30 a.m., and at 11:00 they walked to a car and joined the official procession to the Capitol. During the short trip, Harding told Wilson a story about a relative who had a pet elephant in Siam. When they arrived at the Capitol, Harding and Coolidge left for the Senate chamber, while Wilson headed with Sen. Knox for the President's Room to sign bills. Having trouble with the long walk, Wilson was able to use a wheelchair that had been waiting for Sen. Penrose (who had entered through another entrance). Just prior to Coolidge's inauguration, Wilson, fatigued, decided to forego the later inaugural activities. Harding and Coolidge visited with him in the President's Room. Sen. Knox helped Wilson to make his way to a waiting automobile that took him to his new house at 2340 South Street NW, Washington DC.

In the Senate chamber, Wilson's entire cabinet was present for the proceedings in his absence. Florence Harding and George Harding (the incoming President's father) sat in the gallery. Visitors in the gallery were unusually talkative. Sen. Cummins, who presided until VP Marshall arrived at 11:25, and then VP Marshall banged the gavel several times, asking for quiet in the gallery. The Senate had not finished its business, and at 11:50 the hands of the official Senate clock were moved backwards ten minutes. Once the business was finished, the members of the U.S. House came in, including Alice Robertson (R-OK), the only woman in the House. Members of the Supreme Court entered when the clock read 11:55, though in reality it was 12:15. Next, Gov. Coolidge and Sen. Knox entered; those gathered were interested to discover that Coolidge had red hair. Harding took his seat, with Sen. Knox seated in the chair that had been reserved for Pres. Wilson.

VP Marshall administered the oath to Coolidge at 12:21. Marshall handed the gavel to Coolidge and declared the Senate of the 66th Congress to have adjourned sine die. The Senate chaplain offered a brief prayer, and then Coolidge gave a short inaugural address in which he described the Senate as the "citadel of liberty." After Coolidge administered the oath to new members, everyone left for Harding's inauguration.

Harding's Inauguration

Inauguration Day of 1921 was sunny but cool; the high temperature was estimated at 38 degrees. A special amplifier unit had been installed to help project Harding's voice to the large crowd.

The dignitaries began taking their seats as soon as possible after the Senate adjourned. The New York Times reporter wrote the following about Harding's arrival to take the oath: "Whatever opinion history may eventually record of ... Harding's abilities and accomplishments, there is no doubt that as he came down the steps amid a burst of hearty cheering by the crowd, he looked every inch a President."

Chief Justice Edward D. White administered the oath to Harding at 1:18 p.m. Harding used the Bible that George Washington had used in 1789; it was open to Micah 6:8. At the end of the oath, Harding offered the optional "so help me God" and kissed the Bible.

Harding had chosen not to wear the traditional silk hat, and after the oath he gave his inaugural bareheaded though the throng of politicians behind him wore their hats on this cold day. In the inaugural, Harding called for a return to normalcy, isolationism and a worldwide reduction of military forces, a new world court, and "cultivation of the home market."

Afternoon Events

At the end of the inauguration, the Hardings ate lunch at the White House, though the Wilsons were not present.

Harding's first executive order was issued at 4:53. He directed that the White House gates be opened to allow people to walk on the White House grounds. Wilson had closed the grounds on 4/6/1917 after the US entered World War I. Harding also decided to open a portion of the interior for public visitation, though the spaces were not open on inaugural day [NYT 3/5/1921].

When the Senate met to consider the proposed cabinet, it was surprised when Pres. Harding came to read the list. No president had done so since Jefferson. After reading the list, Harding went into the Senate Democratic caucus room and met briefly with Sen. Underwood, a close friend of Harding. The Senate moved quickly to confirm Harding's entire Cabinet [NYT 3/5/1921].

Historic Trivia

• 1921 was the first inauguration in which the President and Vice President were transported by car to and from the inauguration.
• For the first time, an amplification system was used for the inaugural addres.
• Harding held no inaugural ball.

Popular Vote of 1920

Electoral Vote of 1920

38th Presidential Inaugural (1917)

40th Presidential Inaugural (1923)