The Harding Presidency

Objectives Contrast Harding’s policy of “normalcy” with progressive era reforms Identify scandals that plagues the Harding administration

Harding Struggles for Peace Washington Naval Conference Charles Evans Hughes Kellogg-Briand Pact Secretary of State 15 county pact that renounced war as a national policy Urged no more warships be built for 10 years Wanted the naval powers to scrap their largest ships Set no means of enforcement The delegates were largely behind the idea and agreed to disarm

Harding Struggles for Peace High Tariffs and Reparations Britain & France has barrowed $10 million to fight the war Fordney-McCumber Tariff Raised taxes on some imports as much at 60% Made it impossible for Britain & France to sell enough goods in the U.S. to repay debts They could pay it back in two ways Selling goods to the United States Collecting reparations from Germany

Harding Struggles for Peace High Tariffs and Reparations (cont.) Experiencing terrible inflation Was forced to default Fail to make payment French troops march American banker, Charles G. Dawes, sent in to negotiate loans U.S. would give Germany a $2.5 billon load to pay back Britain & France Thus, the U.S. was paying themselves Germany Dawes Plan

Scandal Hits Harding’s Administration Harding’s Cabinet Scandal Plagues Harding Charles Evans Hughes Secretary of State Herbert Hoover Secretary of Commerce Andrew Mellon Secretary of the Treasury Ohio gang Cronies a close friend or companion Poker buddies Charles R. Forbes Veterans Bureau Caught selling government and hospital supplies to individuals Sentenced to 2 years, $10,000 fine($134,480 – 2014) Thomas W. Miller Office of Alien Property Caught taking a bribe Sentenced to 18 months Paroled and later pardoned by Hoover

Scandal Hits Harding’s Administration The Teapot Dome Scandal Teapot Dome Scandal Oil rich public lands set aside in Teapot Dome, Wyoming & Elk Hills, California Originally under control of the Navy Albert B. Fall Secretary of the Interior Transfers control of the reserves Leases the land to two private oil companies Receives $400,000 Convicted of bribery

Scandal Hits Harding’s Administration “I have no trouble with my enemies … But my … friends, they’re the ones that keep me walking the floor nights!” The Teapot Dome Scandal (cont.) Harding dies of a heart attack or stroke Calvin Coolidge come to office and tried to restore the respect and integrity of the government and the Republican party

1. Why was the Kellogg-Briand Pact Ineffective. 2 1. Why was the Kellogg-Briand Pact Ineffective? 2. How did Harding’s tax policy on imports affect Britain and France and the war debt issue? 3. How did Harding’s friends damage his administration?