​On November 2, 1920, Election Day, the U.S. consisted of 48 states, with a population of 106 million. Only 49% of the eligible voters went to the polls. America had shifted to an urban nation with the help of automobiles, manufacturing, chain stores and access to easy credit. The illiteracy rate dropped to six percent and average life expectancy was 54 years. The United States was producing two–thirds of the world’s oil supply to support the 15 million registered automobiles in the nation. In 2019, we were still the top oil producer at fifteen percent.

Entry into the League of Nations was the main issue in the election addressing the question of internationalism versus nationalistic policy. The Sedition Act of 1918 brought freedom of speech into the spotlight.

It was the FIRST time

• Women in all states could vote 
• Election results were broadcast in real time over the radio
• One could not legally celebrate with an adult beverage  
• A campaign paid for airtime and advertisements 
• Three candidates were from Ohio, two owned newspaper and used "America First" slogan 
• A candidate campaigned from a federal penitentiary
• We were experiencing a “Red Scare”

​The Campaign

The Republicans opted for a front porch campaign, probably to contain their candidate, combined with paying for radio time and advertising. They had good cash flow and out spent the Democrats 4 to 1. The Democrats choose a meet and greet approach traveling the country. The most press coverage Cox received was when his train derailed and when he got a speeding ticket driving to an event. The socialist hands were tied since their candidate was serving time in Federal prison for speaking out against the war. The other parties were a combination of both strategies or no campaigning at all.

"America First" and "Return to Normalcy".

​“America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjustment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; not experiment, but equipoise; not submergence in internationality, but sustainment in triumphant nationality."

The Election Results

Odds were any Republican candidate would have won in the 1920 election since they were really running against Wilson, entry into the League of Nations, a failing economy and the emotional aftermath of war. Warren G. Harding, friendly to a fault and without “intellectual ambitions,” won in a landslide. No surprise, wouldn’t you vote for a guy who said the greatest thing in life is happiness? 

 It was one of the most lopsided elections in history. Harding, who turned 55 on Election Day, received 61% of the popular vote and 404 of the 531 Electoral votes.  Cox could not have said it better – “the worst drubbing” – of any candidate for president.

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For all the first - 1920 was the last "election campaign by phonograph".

Personalities | Atmosphere and Issues