There was a movement to draft Pershing as a candidate for president in 1920 ; he refused to campaign , but indicated that he " would n't decline to serve " if the people wanted him . Though Pershing was a Republican , many of his party 's leaders considered him too closely tied to the policies of the Democratic Party 's President Wilson . Another general , Leonard Wood , was the early Republican front runner , but the nomination went to Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio , who went on to win the general election
Republican front runner
1920 Republican National Convention
John J. Pershing