TLS as president-elect, one page, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, February 20, 1921. Letter to publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst at The New York Journal, in full: “I have just this moment concluded a telephone conversation with Mr. Hays who reported on the execution of a request which I had made of him. I was very much gratified to have him report that you would accept a certain Cabinet appointment as my best judgment in meeting a situation and at least give it tolerant consideration rather than make what might be a rather natural opposition thereto. You can be sure that I would make no appointment if I did not believe it wise from the viewpoint of service and have in mind the added good result of harmonizing the American spirit and committing us unitedly to a forward movement. It has pleased me immensely to be assured of your readiness to accept my view of the situation.
I have not had opportunity at any time to personally express to you the gratitude I felt for the part you and your influential publications played in the late campaign. I have taken none of it to myself and know very well the spirit of devotion to America which inspired you. Nevertheless, it elicited my most grateful appreciation and I want you to know of it. I hope you will feel free to let me have your suggestions and advice, because the incoming administration belongs to all of America and I am sure you can be very helpful. I presume Mr. Brisbane told you of my desire for an interview. I shall look forward to having it at Washington since I assume you found it inconvenient to permit me to see you here.” In fine condition.
A fascinating letter from Harding, two weeks out from his inauguration, beseeching William Randolph Hearst to join his still-under-construction cabinet in some sort of advisory role, serving “as my best judgment in meeting a situation.” Perhaps due to his then-Democratic allegiance, Hearst never officially accepted the cabinet position. Although Hearst’s newspapers abstained from endorsing any candidate in 1920, Harding’s proposal seemed very much like a reciprocal commission for the manner in which the former’s newspapers took down the Democratic ticket and its support of Wilsonianism. Hearst opposed American involvement in the First World War and he used his vast network of multimedia outlets to attack the formation of the League of Nations and to criticize the internationalism espoused by Wilson and his Fourteen Points plan. As America healed from WWI, Hearst’s isolationist push aligned with Harding’s ‘Return to normalcy’ campaign, a power pact that resulted in a landslide victory for Harding and the Republican party in the 1920 United States presidential election.
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