1920. It was a more genteel time. Respectable folks had better manners. But presidential candidates did sometimes cross the line.
Democratic Governor James M. Cox of Ohio squared off against Republican Senator Warren G. Harding of the same state. Ohio has always been the ultimate swing state. By far the most contentious issue was whether or not the United States should join the League of Nations.
Cox wanted in, and his rhetoric was firm and unambiguous so there should have been no doubt where he stood. But there was. Republican newspapers deliberately neglected to clarify that there was a significant difference between the Cox and Wilson positions. On August 28th, Harding further muddied the waters when he stated he favored an “association of nations” but not necessarily the League of Nations. Many wondered what the difference was between “a” league and “the” League. Cox used what was considered strong language back then and assailed Harding for “wiggling and wobbling”.
Finally under pressure from Cox to both clarify himself and get off his front porch, on October 7th Harding traveled to Des Moines and flatly stated that he rejected American participation in the League of Nations. This lifted Democratic spirits because finally they had a firm position they could aim at. In the final few weeks of the campaign, Cox wielded a sledge hammer and pounded almost exclusively on the League issue. Time and time again he reminded audiences that he favored going in and he would not be inflexible in the Senate negotiations like President Woodrow Wilson. Crowds cheered and, sadly, in the heat of the moment, Cox used intemperate language he could never take back. He called league opponents “stupid” and implied they were unpatriotic and unchristian. As he closed his campaign, he railed that “Every traitor in America will vote tomorrow for Warren G. Harding.”
Cox – blown out on Election Day 60% to 34% – was not particularly gracious in conceding. He did not make a public appearance after the result became clear (not unusual for a presidential loser in those days) and his concessionary telegram was terse: “In the spirit of America, I accept the decision of the majority, tender as the defeated candidate my congratulations, and pledge as a citizen my support to the executive authority in whatever emergency might arise.” Harding replied even more tersely: “As the successful candidate, I thank you for your message of congratulation and support.”
Compared to what is going on today, this all seems mild and trivial. It wasn’t at the time. The old adage that “History Repeats Itself” applies here. American politics has always had lines and they have been crossed in the past. But from an historical perspective, Donald Trump is crossing them to an exponentially greater degree than anyone ever has before. Not even close.