Return to Normalcy
"Return to Normalcy" refers to the political philosophy championed by Warren G. Harding during his successful presidential campaign in 1920. This concept emerged as a response to the turbulence and discontent that characterized post-World War I America, including economic upheaval, high inflation, labor strikes, and political strife such as the Red Scare. Harding's promise of a "return to normalcy" signified a shift away from the progressive reforms of the pre-war era and a return to traditional governance and values, appealing to voters who yearned for stability and familiarity.
Harding's campaign emphasized reduced government spending, tax cuts, and protective tariffs for farmers, while he notably avoided taking a strong stance on international issues like the League of Nations. His approach resonated with the electorate, leading to a landslide victory that also bolstered Republican control in Congress. Once in office, Harding implemented many of his proposed policies, which contributed to a period of economic recovery and growth, reinforcing the appeal of his "normalcy" agenda throughout the decade. The legacy of Harding's presidency continued to influence Republican politics even after his death, as the nation navigated the challenges of the 1920s.
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Return to Normalcy
The election of Warren G. Harding to the U.S. presidency in 1920 signified Americans’ rejection of the dynamic idealism and political reforms of the Progressive Era. During his electoral campaign, Harding promised a “return to normalcy,” by which he meant the more traditional approach to politics and governance practiced prior to World War I. He won in a landslide victory, and his Return to Normalcy philosophy would set the American political agenda for the decade.
American voters in 1920 rejected what they saw as the Woodrow Wilson administration’s legacy of failure. Dissatisfaction with Wilson’s wartime policies was aggravated by the difficult transition to peace, as rapid demobilization and the cancellation of war contracts contributed to a period of economic turmoil. During 1919, some four million workers went on strike, while inflation caused the cost of living to increase to 82 percent more than in 1914. Then, in 1920, the United States was struck by a severe recession. The most extreme deflation on record gutted commodity prices, hitting farmers especially hard, and unemployment surged to around 10 percent. Other sources of national stress were the politically acrimonious Red Scare of 1919–1920 and the debate over U.S. participation in the League of Nations, an international peacekeeping organization.
Warren G. Harding, the Republican presidential nominee for the 1920 election, responded by championing a comfortably old-fashioned style of politics. This came naturally to Harding, a longtime supporter of Ohio politicians William McKinley and William Howard Taft; like McKinley, he conducted his presidential campaign from his front porch, appearing affable, calm, and competent as he greeted visitors in his hometown of Marion, Ohio. Harding articulated an attractive political platform rooted in time-honored Republican values, including cuts to government spending, reduced taxes, and better management of the federal budget. He also called for increased tariffs and new economic protections for farmers, while remaining studiously vague on the League of Nations issue.
Harding’s “return to normalcy” rhetoric proved irresistible to voters of the postwar era. He won a stunning political victory, receiving 60.2 percent of the popular vote, while the Republicans increased their majorities in Congress by sixty-three seats in the House of Representatives and ten seats in the Senate.
Impact
Once in office, Harding carried through on his promises. He reduced federal spending, created the Bureau of the Budget (later the Office of Management and Budget), cut tax rates, and signed legislation that reformed agricultural policy and increased tariffs. With regard to foreign policy, Harding kept his distance from the League of Nations but played a leading role in world affairs through such initiatives as the Washington Naval Conference. The nation’s rapid return to booming prosperity seemed to validate Harding’s policies, so that even after his death, his ideal of normalcy continued to define the policies of the presidency, which remained in Republican hands throughout the decade.
Bibliography
Dean, John W. Warren G. Harding. New York: Times Books, 2004.
Murray, Robert K. The Harding Era: Warren G. Harding and His Administration. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1969.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. The Politics of Normalcy: Governmental Theory and Practice in the Harding-Coolidge Era. New York: W. W. Norton, 1973.