Scandals and Successors: Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge in Presidential Politics
The turbulent presidency of Warren G. Harding, marked by the infamous Teapot Dome Scandal and the corruption of the Ohio Gang, led to his untimely demise. Following Harding's death, Calvin Coolidge assumed office, earning popularity for his handling of the Boston Police Strike and his belief in minimal government intervention. Coolidge's presidency contrasted sharply with Harding's, emphasizing stability and economic prosperity in the 1920s.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
By the end of this lesson you will: Know what Warren G. Harding promised America if he were elected President. Know who the Ohio Gang was. Understand how Harding ended his Presidency. Discover the details of the Teapot Dome Scandal. Realize why Attorney General Harry Daugherty resigned. Know what a Calvin Coolidge critic said about him. Quote a quote from Calvin Coolidge. Know the Progressive Party Nominee for President in 1924. Compare the personalities of Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding.
Many middle class Americans bought new convenience products on credit. In the 1920s America was prosperous (except for farmers). The car changed how people lived.
In 1920, Warren G. Harding was a humble presidential candidate who ran on the promise to return America back to normalcy . The Ohio Gang Harding appointed many of his friends from Ohio to his presidential cabinet. These friends drank, smoked, and played poker with the president These friends also sold government jobs, gave pardons to criminals, and also protected other friends from prosecution. They also (Forbes) sold scarce medical supplies from veterans hospitals making about $250 million illegally. Harding died while on vacation visiting Alaska and California
A Presidency that Ends in Scandal The Teapot Dome Scandal Albert B. Fall (Secretary of the Interior) took bribes from private interests totaling over $300,000. In return he leased public land containing US Naval Oil Reserves in Teapot Dome, WY and Elk Hills, CA Albert B. Fall became the first presidential cabinet member to go to jail. The Daugherty Scandal Attorney General Harry Daugherty (Harding s former campaign manager) controlled a bank account funded with money obtained from a German agent who bribed a politician to acquire chemicals and a German owned American company seized during WWI. Daugherty refused to turnover evidence and testify in court. President Coolidge demanded his resignation.
Coolidge became popular across the nation as Governor of Massachusetts over how he handled the Boston Police Strike (1919) He took over for Harding after Harding died in 1923. Silent Cal became his nickname A critic joked that Coolidge could be silent in five languages . Coolidge said, Four-fifths of all our troubles would disappear if we would only sit down and keep still Coolidge believed that government should stay out of the way of business. Coolidge was elected president in 1924. Defeated Robert M. La Follette Progressive Party Presidential candidate
What did Warren G. Harding promise America if he were elected President? Who was the Ohio Gang? How did Harding end his Presidency? What were the details of the Teapot Dome Scandal? Why did Attorney General Harry Daugherty resign? What did a Calvin Coolidge critic say about him? Quote a quote from Calvin Coolidge. Who was the Progressive Party Nominee for President in 1924?
Compare the personalities of Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding.
Compare the personalities of Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding. The contrast between Harding and Coolidge could not have been greater. Harding had enjoyed the easy conversation and company of old friends. He drank, smoked, and played poker in the White House with his friends. Coolidge, joked one critic, could be silent in five languages. Silent Cal had a simple and frugal manner.
