1. President Warren G. Harding
An Affable Simpleton

2. Harding on being president:
“I am a man of limited talents from a small town. I don’t seem to grasp that I am president. . . I love to meet people. It is the most pleasant thing I do; It really is the only fun I have.”

3. 1920 Election Republic Campaign Planks “Return to Normalcy”
Political Isolation
Pro-business policies

4. Mellon Favors Big Business
Andrew Mellon appointed Secretary of the Treasury
Spending Slashed
Protectionist Tariffs
Tariff War
Herbert Hoover of Sec. of Commerce
Policy of cooperation and voluntary reform

5. A Den of Graft and Corruption
Harding was poor at managing his administration
“Ohio Gang”
Charles Forbes (Head of VB)
Graft, waste
Harry Daugherty (Attorney General)
Accepting bribes
Albert Fall (secretary of Interior)
Teapot Dome Scandal

6. Teapot Dome Scandal
Navy emergency oil reserves transferred to Department of Interior
Land leased to private oilmen
Senate Investigation

7. Harding Dies Heart attack while returning from speaking tour in Alaska
August 2, 1923