The Harding Presidency Chapter 12, Section 2

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

Daily Question How do you feel after getting back from a vacation? Are you glad to get back to your normal routines?

Main Idea Harding appealed to America’s desire for calm and peace after the war, but resulted in scandal

Why It Matters Today? Government must guard against scandal and corruption to merit public trust.

Warren G. Harding 1921 “return to normalcy” Appeared presidential Poor judgment

Harding Struggles for Peace Post WWI problems: Arms control War debts Reconstruction of war-torn Europe

Washington Naval Conference Sec. of State Charles Evans Hughes 5 major naval powers: U.S., Great Britain, Japan, France, Italy No new warships for 10 years 1st time in history that countries agreed to disarm

Kellogg-Briand Pact 15 nations sign Renounces war as a national policy Futile treaty with no means of enforcement

War reparations Time for Allies to pay back $10 billion in loans 2 ways: Selling goods to the U.S. Collect reparations from Germany

Fordney-McCumber Tariff 60% tax increase on imports Protects U.S. business from foreign competition Makes it impossible for Britain and France to sell goods and make good on loan payments

Suffering from terrible inflation Germany Suffering from terrible inflation Defaults on payments and French march in

The Dawes Plan War is imminent Banker Charles Dawes negotiates a solution U.S. investors loan Germany $2.5 billion Germany pays G.B. and France G.B. and France pay the U.S. The U.S. repays itself

Resentment between Allies G.B. and France accuse the U.S. of not paying its fair share of the war costs Huge profits to U.S. business Europe loses millions of lives U.S. sees G.B. and France as financially irresponsible

Scandal Hits Harding’s Administration Favors limiting government in business affairs and social reform Ohio gang are poker-playing cronies who take advantage of their public offices to increase their personal wealth Graft - Unscrupulous use of one's position to derive profit or advantages; extortion

Harding’s Personal Conduct A gambler… A hypocrite... “I cannot hope to be one of the great presidents, but perhaps I may be remembered as one of the best loved” … WGH

Harding’s Personal Conduct Visited burlesque houses in Washington D.C. 1905-20: An affair with Carrie Phillips… 1919: An affair with Nan Britton…

Nan Britton Affair 1917-23…30 yrs younger 1919 daughter of WGH born Child support delivered by Secret Service Sued the Harding estate Book: The President’s Daughter (1927)

Nan & Elizabeth Ann Britton

Carrie Philips Affair 1905-20…10 yrs younger 1917 blackmail on WWI vote 1920 RNC bribes Philips with $20K & a slow trip to Japan CP lives until the 1960s

Scandals “I have no trouble with my enemies… But… my Gdmn friends…, they’re the ones that keep me walking the floor nights” …WGH 1923

“The Ohio Gang”… The Harding scandals… -The Veterans Bureau… -Alien Property Custodian… -The Justice Dept... -Teapot Dome...

Veterans' Bureau Scandal Charles Forbes - Head of Veterans’ Bureau Stole $200M. Fled to Europe… 1925- Returned, indicted & convicted Charles Cramer –VB Attorney, commits suicide

Alien Property Custodian Scandal Thomas Miller - Alien Property Custodian Managed property in the U.S. belonging to enemy citizens

Justice Department Scandal Attorney General Daugherty WGH’s worst appointment Friend & advisor of WGH Profited from “selling influence”

The Teapot Dome Scandal Oil-rich public lands reserved for the U.S. Navy Teapot Dome Wyoming Elk Hills, California Sec of the Interior, Albert B. Fall Transfers reserves from navy to his department

The Teapot Dome Scandal Fall leases land to two private oil companies Receives $400,000 1st cabinet member convicted of a felony while holding office

A QUICK QUIZ… A. Justice Dept. B. Teapot Dome C. Alien Property. D A QUICK QUIZ… A. Justice Dept. B. Teapot Dome C. Alien Property D. Veterans Bureau 1. Thomas Miller 3 H. Daugerty 2. Albert Fall 4. Charles Forbes I. Stealing from veterans hospitals II. Selling influence in the Justice Dept. III. Selling oil leases IV. Selling seized government property.

Harding’s Death Died of a heart attack in San Francisco, CA in 1923 Mrs. Harding refused an autopsy... Rumors circulate...