HARDING AND THE “RETURN TO NORMALCY” The Roaring Twenties

“NORMALCY” Warren Harding was elected President in 1920. For the American people he was a good choice. Americans had survived WWI and great sorrow. Now they wanted an ordinary man who could return the country to normalcy

A VOICE FROM THE PAST “Our supreme task is the resumption of our onward, normal way. Reconstruction, readjustment, restoration all these must follow. I would like to hasten them” - Warren Harding, Inaugural Address, March 4, 1921

LAISSEZ FAIRE ECONOMICS Harding strongly believed in the economic policy of Laissez Faire. This is a “Hands Off” approach to economics and business. Laissez Faire- The theory that government should not interfere in business

THE CABINET Once President was elected, he had to choose his cabinet. He decided to pick a pro-business cabinet. Some of the men Harding chose were very honest and capable men.

For example, he chose Andrew Mellon, one of the wealthiest men in the US, to be secretary of the treasury. He persuaded Congress to lower taxes and balance the budget.

However, President Harding also chose men because they were his friends. Men of them were unqualified and even corrupt. These men had been Harding’s friends back in Ohio and were known as the “Ohio Gang.” They used their government positions to make money illegally.

Their actions helped to wreck Harding’s presidency. The worst scandal involved Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall It was called the Teapot Dome Scandal

Teapot Dome Scandal Fall took bribes and made illegal deals with oil executives to drill on oil-rich government land in Teapot, Wyoming. When scandals like this went public it shocked Americans. Soon after, Harding died suddenly in 1923

Why did Americans elect Harding in 1920?

2) How did Harding attempt to revive the economy as president?

3) What was the “Ohio Gang” and what part did it play in Harding’s presidency?