Ralph Harding graduated from Brigham Young University in 1956 and served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1951 to 1953, reaching the rank of lieutenant. He began his political career in the Idaho state legislature from 1955 to 1956 and later won a congressional election in Idaho's 2nd district in 1960. Harding transitioned to the public sector, serving as Secretary of Agriculture during the Eisenhower administration, and later as a special assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. He also pursued business ventures, representing the Philippine sugar industry and attempting to launch an Asian version of the NBA.

Ralph Harding's political career reveals a penchant for ideological agility, evident in his unexpected criticism of LDS Apostle Ezra Taft Benson while serving in Congress. His tenure as Secretary of Agriculture under Benson, despite their ideological differences, showcases a calculated approach to balancing regional interests. Harding's business ventures in Asia, including representing the Philippine sugar industry and attempting to launch an NBA version there, hint at a global perspective that transcends typical domestic policy confines.