1921- 1932

“Ohio Gang” & “Poker Cabinet”

Won landslide victory in 1920

Return to normalcy

One Example:

Some friends in cabinet were corrupt & took advantage of

their jobs

Who? Albert Fall: Sec. of the Interior

Where? Teapot Dome, Wyoming

What? Leased gov’t oil fields to wealthy friends in exchange

for bribes

Implies Republicans are to blame for the scandal

Senate investigation

Harding became ill Dies of

heart attack on

8/2/23

VP Calvin Coolidge succeeds Harding

Dry personality but honest

(dinner party?)

Nickname: “Silent

Cal”

The chief business

of the American people is business.

In favor of big business!!!

Yes Sir, he’s my baby!

The Cash Register Chorus

Kept tariffs high & lowered taxes

Keep gov’t out of

business Provide ways for business

to expand

Refused to allow gov’t programs to help the public

(MS flood)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/1927_Mississippi_Flood_Arkansas_City.jpg

Harding & Coolidge helped business in 3 ways

1. Business people in positions to regulate

business

Often overlooked violations

5 conservative SC justices who ruled

against prog. legislation (child labor law)

2.

Conservative cabinet

membersHarding’s Sec. of Treasury Andrew Mellon helped cut spending & reduce taxes

on corporations & rich

3.

Sec. of Commerce under Harding

Blamed for GOP crash in popularity