Chapter 32 The Politics of Boom and Bust 1920 - 1932 p. 746 - 769 Flashcards
Warren G Harding
Inaugurated in 1921. He looked presidential but was beyond his depth as President.
Historical Significance: He hated to hurt the feelings of others, especially to his friends, by saying no. Political leeches were able to capitalize on this weakness. His administation was aggressive against the progressive movement of the era.
Charles Evans Hughes
Secretary of state under Harding
Historical Significance: He was a masterful, imperious, incisive, and brilliant man who brought dominating and somewhat conservative beliefs to the position.
Andrew Mellon
Secretary of Treasury under Harding
Historical Significance: A multimillionaire collector of paitnings who’s gift to the nation is a collection of paintings. . .
Herbert Hoover
Secretary of Commerce under Harding
Historical Significance: Raised his second-rate cabinet post to first-rate importance, epecially in foreign trade for U.S. manufacturers
Albert H. Fall
Secretary of Interior
Historical Significance: A scheming anticonservationist. Largely offset the “best minds” of the cabinet. Caught up in the teapot scandal when he accepted a bribe from Doheny and Sinclar
Harry M. Daughtery
Attorney General under Harding
Historical Significance: A small town lawyer but a big-time crook who was supposed to prosecute wrongdoers. Ended a railroad strike with one of the most sweeping injunctions in American history on the stikers. Persistant reports of his underhanded doings prompted an investigation that forced him to resign.
Charles R. Forbes
Head of the Veterans Bureau. Residned in early 1923
Historical Significance: He and his accomplices looted the government of about $200 million. Only sencted two years in a federal penitentiary.
Calvin Coolidge
Became President after the death of Harding. Embodied the N.E. virtues of honesty, morality, industry, and frugality. He was painfully shy.
Historical Significance: Continued the Republican policy of letting big business regulate themselves. Known for his frugality with government
John W. Davis
The democratic presidential nomination of the 1924 election. Connected the the Wall Street giant, J.P. Morgan
Historical Significance: Reluctantly selected by the democratic party the was severly divided over the issues of the decade. Easily defeated by Coolidge
Robert La Follette
Ran for president in the 1924 election as a member of the Progressive Party.
Historical Significance: Despite his defeat, he injected a badly needed liberal tonic into the decade blinded by prosperity. However, the times were too good for too many for his message to tak effect.
Alfred E. Smith
Democratic nomination of the 1928 presidential election
Historical Significance: His diversity in a time of prejudice prevented him from winning the election. Divided the South greatly.
“Ohio Gang”
Harding’s associates served in his Cabinet
Historical Significance: Harding hated to hurt people’s feelings, especially his friends, by saying no. The “best minds” of the cabinet were largely offset by Senator Albert B. Fall and Harry M. Daugherty.
Trade associations
Formed under Harding. Manufacturers would agree upon a standardization of a product, publicity campaigns, and a united front in dealing with railroads and labor.
Historical Significance: Ran counter to the spirit of existing anti-trust legislation, but their formation was encouraged by Hoover. Reflected his idea that businesses should regulate themselves.
American Legion
A veteran group formed founded in 1919. Distinguished for its militant patriotism, rock-ribbed conservatism, and zealous anitradicalism.
Historical Significance: Pressured Congress into passing the Adjusted Compensation Act wich gave every former soldier a paid-up insurance policy due in twenty years. Added about $3.5 billion to the total war cost.
