[1] He chose to embark on a tour to improve public relations in anticipation of his reelection campaign in 1924.

[1] On July 5, Harding and his companions arrived in Tacoma, Washington, and boarded the USS Henderson on a voyage to Alaska.

He also attended the completion of the Alaska Railroad in Nenana, where he drove in the final spike.

[2] As he concluded the Alaska portion of his tour in late July, Harding began to complain of cramps, indigestion, fever and shortness of breath.

The original cause of death was stated to be a stroke, but it is now believed that he died of a heart attack.