Time for Another Harding? How a much-derided Republican
president actually succeeded in cutting the budget and fixing
the economy. Harding was inaugurated on March 4, 1921, and he
immediately tackled the crisis. He called for a special joint
session of Congress, to take place before the legislators were
officially scheduled to convene. At the session, Harding laid
out his agenda and priorities. His ambitious program included:
tax reform, continued tariff protection, legislation to help
farmers, creation of a national budget system to help get
government spending under control, construction of a great
merchant marine, a system of national highways for interstate
commerce and the “motor car” (financed with local and state bond
issues), encouragement of aviation technology for civilian and
military purposes, increased federal participation in
international cable and radio transmissions, a Veterans’ Bureau,
and a Department of Public Welfare to help women and children.
Harding also called for a federal antilynchi