REPUBLICAN RESURGENCE AND DECLINE CHAPTER 27 PART I

DISSOLUTION OF COALITION EFFECTS OF WAR ATTITUDES TOWARD LABOR WILSON UNSYMPATHIC TO STRIKERS AGRICULTURAL PRICES FARMERS’ WARTIME PRICE CONTROLS INTELLECTUALS’ DISILLUSIONMENT BUSINESS CIVILIZATION “WELFARE CAPITALISM” BUSINESS VALUES

SURVIVALS OF PROGRESSIVISM CONTROL OF CONGRESS LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT MORAL RIGHTEOUSNESS “IT IS ONLY ONCE IN A GENERATION THAT A PEOPLE CAN BE LIFTED ABOVE MATERIAL THINGS. THAT IS WHY CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT IS IN THE SADDLE TWO-THIRDS OF THE TIME” --WOODROW WILSON

progressivism

ELECTION OF 1920 JAMES COX V. WARREN G. HARDING HARDING AND NORMALCY BREAKUP OF WILSON COALITION ELECTION OF WILLIAM G. HARDING HARDING PROMISED TO “SAFEGUARD AMERICAN FIRST…TO EXALT AMERICA FIRST, TO LIVE FOR AND REVERE AMERICAN FIRST” (Tindall and Shi, 992)

"America's present need is not heroics but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution but restoration." -Warren G. Harding WARREN AND FLORENCE HARDING

HARDING ADMINISTRATION HARDING APPOINTMENTS “OHIO GANG” Some notable and some shady fellows EFFORTS FOR ECONOMY Andrew Mellon, Treasury Department Increase tariffs, reduce govt. spending, lower taxes Decreased taxes for wealthy, increased speculation on Wall Street WWI – U.S. became creditor nation (not debtor) Led to increased economic expansion Higher tariffs on European powers made it harder for them to sell products in U.S. and pay back debt For nearly 10 years, American loans/investments sent more $ abroad

HARDING (CONT.) DEREGULATION OF AGENCIES OPPOSITION TO RACISM LESS CONTROL OVER CORPORATIONS OPPOSITION TO RACISM BLACKS ALLOWED TO HOLD FEDERAL POSITIONS ATTACKED KU KLUX KLAN CORRUPTION & SCANDAL In Veteran’s Bureau, Justice Department

Teapot Dome Scandal “My God, this is a hell of a job! I have no trouble with my enemies, I can take care of my enemies all right. But my damn friends, my God-damn friends…They’re the ones that keep me walking the floor night!” -William G. Harding (1923)

TEAPOT TROUBLE WY/CA OIL RESERVE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT ALBERT B. FALL SIGNED CONTRACTS WITH COMPANIES AND POCKETED THE $ (ABOUT ½ MILLION) FOUND GUILTY 1929, FORCED TO PAY BACK $100,000 TEAPOT TROUBLE

HARDING’S DEATH FOOD POISONING IN SEATTLE; HEART ATTACK (BELIEVED) IN SAN FRANCISCO NATION MOURNED HIS DEATH, UNTIL DETAILS OF HIS PERSONAL LIFE BEGAN TO EMERGE SCANDALS HIT COURT SYSTEMS, SENSATIONAL BOOKS/LETTERS DETAILING HIS AFFAIRS

LEGACY -CONTROVERSIAL, EVEN TODAY -”PROBABLY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT”

COOL CAL CALVIN WAS SWORN IN BY HIS FATHER, JOHN, IN PLYMOUTH, VERMONT, HIS BIRTHPLACE, BY LIGHT OF A KEROSENE LAMP

SILENT SLEEPER 12 HRS/DAY; DAILY AFTERNOON NAP SIMPLE, DIRECT FEW WORDS CONSERVATIVE PRO- BIG BUSINESS DECREASED GOVT. REGULATION REDUCE TAXES

PURE COOLIDGE “FOUR-FIFTHS OF OUR TROUBLES WOULD DISAPPEAR IF WE WOULD SIT DOWN AND KEEP STILL” (C. C.) “…SLEPT MORE THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT…” (H.L. MENCKEN) SHORTEST INAUGURAL SPEECH EVER…4 SENTENCES!!! “THE CHIEF BUSINESS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS BUSINESS”

“KEEP COOL WITH COOLIDGE” 3 CANDIDATES: 1924 CAMPAIGN “KEEP COOL WITH COOLIDGE” 3 CANDIDATES: JOHN W. DAVIS (D) CALVIN COOLIDGE (R) ROBERT LA FOLLETTE (PROGRESSIVE) COOLIDGE WON, BUT LARGEST POPULAR VOTE EVER FOR 3RD PARTY CANDIDATE