The Smart Set - The Beginning of The End

The Beginning of The End

Mencken and Nathan’s editorship at The Smart Set came to an end after planning to run a satirical piece on President Harding following his death. In August 1923 Harding died and his funeral procession involved transporting the body across the country from San Francisco to Ohio. The mainstream media began to sentimentalize the procession much to the general dismay of American intellectuals who noticed a hypocritical change in the press’s attitude. Among these malcontents were Mencken and Nathan and the two co-editors planned to run a satirical piece on the president’s funeral deciding to treat the president in death as they did in life. However, the magazine’s printers noticed the piece right away and reported the contents to an incensed Warner. Considering the piece to be a form of treason, Warner demanded that they remove it and, in a rage, announced that he was selling the magazine. Warner’s denial of their satirical piece marked the end to the co-editor’s carte blanche over the magazine’s content and they sought the freedom and control over their own publication. Upon leaving, the two men began collaboration with publishing magnate Alfred A. Knopf and started The American Mercury.

Before leaving The Smart Set Mencken and Nathan recommended Morris Gilbert to replace them as editor. Reportedly, Gilbert had no idea that Warner was planning to sell the magazine upon accepting his position as editor. Under the editorship of Gilbert, the magazine’s attitude and content reverted back to the days before Mencken and Nathan’s (or even Wright’s) time as editors. However, Gilbert’s position as editor is short-lived. In 1924, Warner sold the magazine to publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst who straightaway gave editorial command over to George D’Utassey. Unable to cope with the new management, Gilbert stepped down soon after.