104 years ago today, on April 12, 1921 (March 5, 1921 in the lunar calendar), US President Harding refused to join the League of Nations. April 12, 1921. President Harding told a joint session of Congress today that the United States "will not participate" in the League of Nations. The new president's rejection of the international coalition drew warm applause mainly from his Republican partners. This international organization was promoted by former President Wilson, a Democrat. While rejecting the League of Nations, the president pledged that his administration would work with foreign governments that wanted to form what he called a non-political consortium of nations and to revitalize war-torn European countries.