Politics of the 1920s

Warren Harding Cabinet appointments: – Sec. of State = Charles Evans Hughes Future S.C. justice – Sec. of Commerce = Herbert Hoover Future President, had worked on food admin. – Sec. of Treasury = Andrew Mellon Wealthy businessman, cut taxes & reduced nat’l debt – Also appointed the “Ohio gang” – a group of friends Problems with corruption & graft

Teapot Dome Scandal: – Sec. of the Interior secretly sold oil drilling rights on gov’t land to private companies – accepted illegal payments disguised as loans. – He was found out, arrested for bribery, and fired. – 1 st felony conviction in the cabinet!

Fordney-McCumber Tariff: – tariff - tax on imports - was raised to 60%. – Good because it promoted American business & protected them from competition – Bad because it alienated foreign markets and made it impossible for France & Britain to repay their debt to the U.S. Harding died suddenly of a heart attack, although rumors spread about medical malpractice or foul play…

Calvin Coolidge Harding’s VP In comparison to Harding: – more quiet (“Silent Cal”) – not involved in Harding’s scandals – wanted to restore dignity to the presidency – Increased people’s faith in the Rep. party

Business approach = laissez-faire: – Gov’t should stay out of business. This policy helped fuel the economic boom of the 1920s. Coolidge also wanted to decrease the size & spending of the federal gov’t. – He vetoed a bill that would give higher pensions to veterans. – The public reacted with anger & saw his policies as a failure to take action. Tariffs: Continued to place high taxes on imports, which helped American manufacturing – Higher wages & productivity

Kellogg-Briand Pact: – 1928 agreement between 15 nations (later 60) that they would not use the threat of war in their dealings with each other. – It was not very effective and was hard to enforce. – Many of those countries ended up in war within a few years. Coolidge did not run for re-election in 1928 – Had lost his son – Left quietly, no extensive explanation