1. Passive Presidents- Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover

2. Warring G. Harding
“Return to Normalcy” (Make America Great Again?)
Appointed by the “smoke filled room” who called him a “good second rater”
“I am a man of limited talents from a small town.” “I don’t seem to grasp that I am president
3 weaknesses- gambling, illegal alcohol, and attractive women

3. Harding and his neigbor’s wife
Warren G. Harding letters to neighbor’s wife recently released-

4. Warren G. Harding’s Presidency
Approved reduction in income tax, and increase in tariff rates
Pardoned Eugene Debs from prison
Appointed Charles Evan Hughes SOS, Herbert Hoover Sec. of Commerce, Taft- chief justice, and Andrew Mellon to be Sec. of Treasury

5. Scandals
The Ohio Gang- Politicians and businessmen associated with Harding (out for their own interests and often shady)
Teapot Dome Scandal- Secretary of Interior Albert Fall took bribes for granting oil leases near Teapot Dome, Wyoming
Attorney General Harry Daugherty took bribes for not prosecuting criminals
Warren G. Harding died in 1923 (2 heart attacks) before he could be implicated

6. Teapot Dome Scandal

7. Calvin Coolidge
Coolidge AKA “Silent Cal”- “If you don’t say anything you won’t be called on to repeat it.”
Big supporter of business- “The business of America is business.”
Less active president than Harding
Cut budget, vetoed bill for veteran’s benefits and aid to farmers

8. Herbert Hoover
Hoover defeats Al Smith (Catholic and opponent to Prohibition)
Hoover vowed to continue “Coolidge Prosperity”
Stock Market crashes in 1929 and Great Depression ensues- Hoover takes hands off approach and country suffers