Presidents of the 1920s: Three conservative republican presidents: Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover.

Presidents of the Presidents of the 1920s:1920s:

Three conservative Three conservative republican presidents:republican presidents:

Harding, Coolidge, and HooverHarding, Coolidge, and Hoover

President President Warren G. HardingWarren G. Harding

(1920-1923)(1920-1923) won the election of 1920 by a landslide on won the election of 1920 by a landslide on

the promise of a “return to normalcy”—the promise of a “return to normalcy”—which, for Republicans in the 1920s, which, for Republicans in the 1920s, meant a return to big business. meant a return to big business.

His administration is known for its His administration is known for its corruption. Many officials were forced from corruption. Many officials were forced from office, and some narrowly escaped prison office, and some narrowly escaped prison time. The most prominent scandal was the time. The most prominent scandal was the Teapot Dome scandalTeapot Dome scandal..

The Teapot Dome The Teapot Dome ScandalScandal

Named after naval oil reserves at Teapot Named after naval oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, and at Elk Hills, Dome, Wyoming, and at Elk Hills, California California

Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall was Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall was jailed for a year for accepting bribes to jailed for a year for accepting bribes to provide oil leases in Wyoming and provide oil leases in Wyoming and California to wealthy businessmen.California to wealthy businessmen.

Delegated much Delegated much of his of his responsibility to responsibility to subordinates subordinates and friendsand friends

Harding was Harding was largely unaware largely unaware of the of the corruption in his corruption in his administration.administration.

Harding died Harding died while in office in while in office in 1923.1923.

President Calvin CoolidgePresident Calvin Coolidge(1923-1929)(1923-1929)

Became President when Harding died in Became President when Harding died in office, then re-elected in 1924office, then re-elected in 1924

Man of few words. Nicknamed “Silent Cal”Man of few words. Nicknamed “Silent Cal”

Said “The business of America is business”Said “The business of America is business”

Least active president in history, taking Least active president in history, taking daily naps and proposing no new daily naps and proposing no new legislation.legislation.

““Keep it up everybody!!”Keep it up everybody!!”

The country’s The country’s economy was economy was doing very well, doing very well, and Coolidge and Coolidge stayed “hands stayed “hands off” so that off” so that things would things would continue the continue the way that they way that they were going.were going.

President Herbert Hoover President Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)(1929-1933)

The third conservative republican president The third conservative republican president in a row.in a row.

Much more active in the economy than his Much more active in the economy than his predecessorspredecessors

The United States economy was higher than The United States economy was higher than ever, and it seemed as though poverty in ever, and it seemed as though poverty in America was a thing of the past.America was a thing of the past.

His election seemed to ensure prosperity. His election seemed to ensure prosperity. Yet within months the stock market crashed, Yet within months the stock market crashed, and the Nation spiraled downward into and the Nation spiraled downward into depression. depression.

The major goal of government The major goal of government in the 1920s was to help in the 1920s was to help business and industry to business and industry to operate with maximum operate with maximum

efficiency and productivity.efficiency and productivity.