Warren G. Harding

Guide Note:

Warren G. Harding was the 29th President of the United States. His administration was riddled with corruption and scandals. His term was highlighted by the end of World War I, but several of his appointees were convicted of bribery and fraud. Harding was also suspected of several extramarital affairs. He died two years into his term, while on a cross country tour. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Harding's death, coupled with a list of motivated suspects that included his own wife, have led historians to believe that foul play was involved.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: November 2, 1865
2. Political Party: Republican
3. Administration: 1921-1923
4. Vice President(s): [[Calvin Coolidge]
5. Succeeded by: Calvin Coolidge
6. Secretary(ies) of State: Andrew Mellon
7. Spouse: Florence Kling Harding
8. Occupation: Newspaper Publisher
9. Died: August 2, 1923

• 1921: End of US involvement in World War I
• 1921: Establishment of Bureau of Veterans Affiars
• 1921: Pardoning of Eugene Debs
• 1922: Teapot Dome Scandal

Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall, a Harding appointee, leased the Teapot Dome oil reserves to Mammoth Oil without conducting a competitive bidding process. In exchange for the no-bid contract Fall received $404,000 in gifts, constituting an illegal bribe. While Harding appeared to have had no direct knowledge of Fall's actions, his administration suffered irreparable damage. The Teapot Dome Scandal adding the the Harding administration's legacy as one of the most corrupt in the history of the Presidency.