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The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL

The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and

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Page 1: The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and

The Harding PresidencyTEAPOT DOME SCANDAL

Page 2: The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and

Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and more business in government” Lowered taxes on wealthy

◦ Why?

Page 3: The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and

Harding’s Presidency Some say Harding lacked governing skills Surrounded himself with extremely talented cabinet Treasury of Secretary: Andrew Mellon (multimillionaire businessman) Secretary of State: Charles Evans Hughes (1916 presidential candidate, lost to Wilson) Commerce Secretary: Herbert Hoover (future president)

Page 4: The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and

Successes in Office Kellog-Briand Pact: Renounced war as a means of national policy◦Signed by 15 nations, but very difficult to enforce

Dawes Plan and Young Plan◦Helped solve post-war debt problem by aiding Germany

Page 5: The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and
Page 6: The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and

Scandal Hits the White House Although he had a very skilled cabinet, Harding used the spoils system to appoint old friends from Ohio to lower-level government posts Members of this “Ohio Gang” were convicted of taking bribes Worst scandal was involved Secretary of Interior Albert Fall

Page 7: The Harding Presidency TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. Warren G. Harding Elected in 1920 Answer to post-war economic problems – “Less government in business and

Teapot Dome Scandal: 1921 - 1924

Government set aside oil-rich public land in Teapot, Wyoming

Albert Fall secretly leased the land to two oil companies

Fall received $400,000 from the oil companies and a felony conviction from the courts◦First Cabinet member to go to prison