The phrase "Founding Fathers" was popularized by Warren G. Harding.
During his keynote address to the 1916 Republican National Convention, Warren G. Harding helped "The Founding Father" gain popularity in the 20th century. Harding reportedly served as the conference's president and was an Ohio senator at the time. In an address to the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution in 1918, Harding used the phrase, saying that it was wonderful to meet and drink the source. wisdom bequeathed from the founders of the Republic. During his 1920 presidential campaign, he regularly repeated the phrase, he said: "Let's embrace what has given to us from the founders, from the alliance, from the individuals who woke us up to a bit better conscience, then detoured again to get on the correct track and carry on". And Harding took a position as he said. He referred to the presidency as the highest office in the land in his inaugural speech on March 4, 1921.
In each of Harding's examples, the word "father" connotes morals, accountability, and commitment. The "Founding Fathers" act as a fulfillment of Harding's forensic interest, according to William Safire, who also noted that Harding enjoys references. Harding cited both George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant in his 1916 RNC speech, but he never specified which particular men were meant by this word.
