Outcome: Presidential Leadership The 1920’s Outcome: Presidential Leadership

Woodrow Wilson

Presidential Leadership Woodrow Wilson (D) (1913-1921) Sickly during the 20s due to stroke suffered in 1919 while on a speaking tour trying to promote the League of Nations directly to the U.S. people Wilson’s wife Edith unofficially took over the reigns of power Wilson died 3 years after leaving office in 1924

Presidential Leadership 1920 Election (D) James Cox, Wilson’s choice, with V.P. running mate F. Roosevelt (R) Warren Harding and V.P. running mate Calvin Coolidge Harding’s win suggested that: Isolationist desire was strong!! The League of Nations was dead

Warren Harding

Presidential Leadership Warren G. Harding (R) (1921-1923) *1st president to receive votes cast by females Background Small town, rural Ohio; former teacher & newspaper editor Lt. Governor 1902, U.S. Senator ---> average politician Described as trusting (to a fault), honest, and handsome

Presidential Leadership Accomplishments/Strengths Promised a return to “normalcy” = peace + prosperity Signed a separate peace treaty with Germany in July, 1921 1st to limit U.S. arms through treaties (1921 Washington Naval Conf.) Signed strict immigration quota law

Presidential Leadership Controversy/Weaknesses Had a loose leadership-Mgt. style and was a poor public speaker Choose some corrupt cabinet members ---> His “Ohio Gang” His Secretary of the Interior, Albert B. Fall was responsible for the “Teapot Dome Scandal” (illegal sale of gov’t oil) Fall became 1st Cabinet member to go to jail Charles Forbes, head of the Veteran’s Bureau, stole $$ “Its my friends that keep me walking the floors all night!” Supported high tariffs, making it difficult for allies to pay war debts Never controlled Congress like strong presidents do

Teapot Dome Scandal

Teapot Dome Naval Oil Reserve, WY

Presidential Leadership Died in office ---> stroke (1923) He was genuinely mourned; the scandals surfaced later Died popular Remembered now as a failure & disgrace (friends ruined him) V.P Calvin Coolidge took over the office

Calvin Coolidge

Presidential Leadership Calvin Coolidge (R) (1923-1929) Background Poor from Vermont was a self-made man Lawyer ---> politician ---> Governor of Massachusetts; made famous through his actions in the Boston Police Strike (broke the union)

Presidential Leadership Accomplishments/Strengths Industrial prosperity is priority #1 ---> Believed in laissez-faire policy Called the 20’s the “Business Decade” Equated business and religion Believed in “Trickle-Down” Economic Theory (Take care of the “top” and they’ll take care of the “bottom”) Kellogg-Briand Pace ---> outlawed war (eventually signed by 62 nations)

Trickle Down Economics

Presidential Leadership Failures/Weaknesses Ignored farmers & labor (working class) Poor public relation skills; “Silent Cal” Anti-progressive; failed to regulate the stock market and industries Lazy; “Snored as America headed toward the Great Depression” Declined his party’s offer for nomination in 1928 (Did he foresee problems ahead?)

Herbert Hoover

Presidential Leadership Herbert Hoover (R) (1929-1933) Background Iowa farm boy; orphaned at age 8 (poor) Stanford College (engineer); Headed WWI hunger relief in Belgium Self-made millionaire by age 40; nickname “Boy Wonder” Served as Harding’s Secretary of Commerce

Presidential Leadership Won the Election of 1928 (won 42 of 48 states) (R) Hoover = rural, conservative, dry, protestant (D) Alfred Smith = urban, liberal, wet, catholic

Presidential Leadership Accomplishments/Strengths (During the 1920’s) Created Federal Farm Board ---> coordinated crop production Positive thinker; spoke often of prosperity (even after the “crash”)

Presidential Leadership Failures/Weaknesses Timing ---> stock market crashed 8 months into presidency Appeared inactive & insensitive during Depression; Poor P.R. (newsreels) Preached “Rugged Individualism” ---> “No Gov’t Handouts” (relief) Served until 1933 ---> ended “Republican Era” (next elected (R) = Eisenhower in ’52)