In concrete accomplishments, his administration was superior to a sizable portion of those in the nation's history."[263] Coffey believes "the academic lack of interest in Harding has cost him his reputation, as scholars still rank Harding as nearly dead last among presidents."[257]
Trani faults Harding's own lack of depth and decisiveness as bringing about his tarnished legacy.[264] Still, some authors and historians continue to call for a reevaluation of the Harding presidency.[244][265] In The Spoils of War (2016), Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith place Harding first in a combined ranking of fewest wartime deaths and highest annual per capita income growth during each president's time in office.[266] Murray argued that Harding sowed the seeds for his administration's poor standing:

In the American system, there is no such thing as an innocent bystander in the White House. If Harding can rightly claim the achievements of a Hughes in State or a Hoover in Commerce, he must also shoulder responsibility for a Daugherty in Justice and a Fall in Interior. Especially must he bear the onus of his lack of punitive action against such men as Forbes and Smith. 