Harding 's opponent in the 1920 election was Ohio governor and newspaperman James M. Cox , who had won the Democratic nomination in a 44-ballot convention battle . Harding rejected the Progressive ideology of the Wilson administration in favor of the laissez-faire approach of the McKinley administration . He ran on the promise of a " return to normalcy , " calling for the end to an era which he saw as tainted by war , internationalism , and government activism . He stated : The 1920 election was the first in which women could vote nationwide , as well as the first to be covered on the radio . Led by Albert Lasker , the Harding campaign executed a broad-based advertising campaign that used modern advertising techniques for the first time in a presidential campaign . Using newsreels , motion pictures , sound recordings , billboard posters , newspapers , magazines , and other media , Lasker emphasized and enhanced Harding 's patriotism and affability . Five thousand speakers were trained by advertiser Harry New and sent across the country to speak for Harding . Telemarketers were used to make phone conferences with perfected dialogues to promote Harding , and Lasker had 8,000 photos of Harding and his wife distributed around the nation every two weeks . Farmers were sent brochures decrying the alleged abuses of Democratic agriculture policies , while African Americans and women were given literature in an attempt to take away votes from the Democrats . Additionally , celebrities like Al Jolson and Lillian Russell toured the nation on Harding 's behalf
convention
1920 Democratic National Convention
Presidency of Warren G. Harding