An Appraisal of Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge’s Policies Toward Lenin

Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge walked a fine line in their approach to Vladimir Lenin. They refused to recognize Lenin’s government, asserting that by preaching worldwide revolution the Bolsheviks did not follow the rules of civilized countries. On the other hand, the Harding and Coolidge administrations differentiated between the Russian people and Lenin’s government. This was apparent in 1921 when Warren G. Harding authorized aid to Russia in response to a famine. Both Harding and Coolidge (after Harding’s death in 1923) made clear that their disagreements with the Russian government would not stop the United States from helping save the Russian people from starvation and death. However, the famine relief came with strings attached. The Harding administration demanded that Lenin release any Americans held in custody in Russia and required that relief administrators be allowed to travel anywhere in Russia free of interference from the Russian government. While Harding officially supported non-recognition of Russia, there is evidence that he was personally open to recognizing Russia. Harding as a U.S. Senator expressed a willingness to consider recognition. Some Harding scholars, most notably Robert K. Murray, argued that in the final months of his life Harding privately expressed an interest in reconsidering his non-recognition policy. An examination of the Harding and Coolidge presidencies demonstrates the complexities of U.S. policy toward Russia in the 1920s.