THE HARDING PRESIDENCY

Politics of the Roaring Twenties

Objectives Contrast Harding’s policy of “normalcy”

with progressive era reforms.

Identify scandals that plagued the Harding administration.

Do Now How do you feel after getting back from

vacation?

Are you glad to get back to a routine?

Warren G. Harding Assumed the

presidency in 1921

He promised a return to normalcy—the simpler days before the progressive era and the Great War

Harding Struggles for Peace Washington Naval

Conference (1921) President Harding

invites Great Britain, France, Japan and Italy to the conference

Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes urged the naval powers to disarm—no more war ships would be built for 10 years

Harding Struggles for Peace Kellogg Briand Pact

(1928) Rejected war as a

national policy 15 countries signed

the pact President Coolidge for

the US signs the pact; however, the pact provided no means of enforcement

High Tariffs and Reparations Fordney-McCumber

Tariff Raised taxes on U.S.

imports to 60 %

Made it impossible for Britain and France to repay war debts

High Tariffs and Reparations Dawes Plan

American banker, Charles Dawes negotiated a loan to Germany to pay back Britain and France

Britain and France then paid the US money it was owed

This solution caused resentment towards the US

Scandal Hits Harding’s Administration Ohio Gang

The President’s poker playing buddies that were corrupt and caused embarrassment for the president

They were members of his cabinet

Scandal Plagues Harding Charles R. Forbes

Head of the veterans bureau was caught illegally selling hospital supplies to private companies

Legacy of Harding He was a good natured man, but his

friends were the problem.

He died of a heart attack August 2, 1923

Scandal Hit Harding’s Admin Teapot Dome Scandal

Government set aside oil rich public fields for the Navy in Wyoming and Elk Hills, California

Albert B. Fall, secretary of the interior leased the fields to oil companies and receive over 400,000 dollars from an oil company

?Event Effects How would these events

apply today?

1. Washington Naval Conference

No war ships built for 10 years; disarmament

Could we have another conference to discuss disarmament; should we be concerned with who controls nuclear technology?

2. Kellogg-Briand Pact Rejected war as a national policy; 15 countries signed the pact

Could this Pact be applied today? How would Calvin Coolidge respond to terror networks like Al-Queda

3. Fordney-McCumber Tariff Raised taxes on imports to the highest level

How would raised tariffs affect the U.S. economy today? Should President Obama raise tariffs to protect American manufacturers.

4. Dawes Plan Loans to Germany to repay reparations

5. Quota Act Limited the amount of people that could come into the US

Would a quota act today solve our immigration concerns; is there a concern with who is allowed in this country?

6. Teapot Dome Scandal Government corruption; Can you think of other examples of government corruption in our History?

Watergate

2000 Election

Nelson Accused of Selling Vote on Health Bill for Nebraska Pay-Off

Halliburton