A Hundred Years of Harding

There is a curious similarity between Presidents Harding and Eisenhower that I am surprised has not been more noticed. Both, I suspect, had about the same IQ. Both held to the idea—as long as they could—that Congress proposes and the President disposes. Both shared roughly the same cultural values, in life, in books, in music, in art. Harding’s favorite painting was Breaking the Home Ties that he saw at the Chicago World’s Fair, his favorite music the Barcarolle from the Tales of Hoffmann, his favorite book (and one of the few he had read) Saltus’ Imperial Purple. Both got themselves entangled in the syntax jungles of their mother tongue. Harding longed for a return to “normalcy.” Ike felt that the real problem of the world was “malnuition.” One was essentially a lieutenant governor manque, the other essentially a lieutenant colonel. Both played compulsive golf. Both had faith in faith. Neither one made a decision if he could avoid it— and usually he could. I think it is indisputable that this country would have had a better history if General Wood had been elected President in 1920 and General Clay in 1952.

The Available Man, by Andrew Sinclair. The Macmillan Company, $6.95

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Francis Russell

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There is a curious similarity between Presidents Harding and Eisenhower that I am surprised has not been more noticed. Both, I suspect, had about the same IQ. Both held to the idea—as long as they could—that Congress proposes and the President disposes. Both shared roughly the same cultural values, in life, in books, in music, in art. Harding’s favorite painting was Breaking the Home Ties that he saw at the Chicago World’s Fair, his favorite music the Barcarolle from the Tales of Hoffmann, his favorite book (and one of the few he had read) Saltus’ Imperial Purple. Both got themselves entangled in the syntax jungles of their mother tongue. Harding longed for a return to “normalcy.” Ike felt that the real problem of the world was “malnuition.” One was essentially a lieutenant governor manque, the other essentially a lieutenant colonel. Both played compulsive golf. Both had faith in faith. Neither one made a decision if he could avoid it— and usually he could. I think it is indisputable that this country would have had a better history if General Wood had been elected President in 1920 and General Clay in 1952.

The Available Man, by Andrew Sinclair. The Macmillan Company, $6.95