Warren G. Harding’s Presidency: Warren G. Harding’s Presidency: How is the Harding Administration

rocked by scandal?

Harding Deals with Post War IssuesHarding Deals with Post War Issues

• US raises tariffs on foreign goods

1) Washington Naval Conference, 1921

•Secy of State Charles Hughes wants to cut back on warship building

• US saves big money, first time countries agree to cut military

2) Fordney-McCumber Tariff, 1922

• Britain & France owe $ to US from WW I

•1920: Republican Gov Warren G. Harding easily wins election “return to normalcy”

3) Dawes Plan, 1924

•US will loan Germany money , Germany will pay reparations to France & Britain - France & Britain will pay back US

•France wants immediate payment of German reparations

Scandal During Harding’s PresidencyScandal During Harding’s Presidency• Harding appoints his friends to cabinet (“Ohio Gang”), many

are known for taking bribes or graft

1. Charles Forbes Sec’y of Veteran’s affairs caught illegally selling Veteran hospital’s supplies to private hospitals

2. Thomas Miller, head of Alien Property bureau caught taking a bribe

Teapot Dome Scandal

• Oil-rich Teapot Dome land in Wyoming is reserved for US Navy

• Sec. of the Interior, Albert B. Fall, secretly “loaned” Tea Pot Dome land to oil companies (gets $400,000 bribe)

• Fall is found guilty of bribery & becomes first Harding cabinet member to be convicted of a crime

Administration in TurmoilAdministration in Turmoil• Other scandals becoming public – what does Harding know?• Harding acknowledges his “friends” are causing problems• A few days later Harding dies of a heart attack• Calvin Coolidge, Harding’s VP becomes President