Harding and Coolidge (1920-29) Flashcards
1
Q
3
List the Presidents from 1920-32
A
- Harding: 1921-1923
- Coolidge: 1923-1929
- Hoover: 1929-1933
2
Q
2
Describe the image of Warren Harding in 1920
A
- Skilled and seen as political fixer
- Popular among female voters
3
Q
3
Describe the policies of Harding in 1920
A
- Promised ‘return to normalcy’ (19th C isolationism and less intervention)
- Promised return to close relationship between Republican party and big business
- Declared ‘we want less govt in business and more business in govt’
4
Q
4
Describe the 1920 election
A
- ‘Return to normalcy’ campaign
- Harding ran more against Wilson than Cox
- Harding campaign outspent Cox 4:1
- Won 60% of popular vote (to 34%) - 2nd highest vote ever after James Monroe’s unopposed victory in 1820
5
Q
7
Describe the achievements of Harding
A
- Number of able political appointments
- Sheppard-Towner Maternity Aid Act 1921
- Made successful cuts to government spending
- Reduced size of presidential office and government
- Commuted Debs sentence
- Pro anti-lynching legislation, unlike Wilson
- FP success at Washington Naval Conference
6
Q
3
Describe the political appointments made by Harding
A
- free-marketeer Mellon - Sec of Treasury
- Herbert Hoover - Sec of Commerce
- Charles Hughes - Sec of State
7
Q
1
Describe the Sheppard-Towner Maternity Aid Act 1921
A
provided federal aid to states to encourage them to build infant and maternity health centres
8
Q
3
Describe Harding’s cuts to government spending
A
- Budget and Accounting Act 1921 - required departments present budgets for presidential approval
- Government spending down from $5bn to $3.333bn (1920-22)
- Made government more efficient
9
Q
4
Describe domestic return to normalcy under Harding
A
- Left much of domestic agenda to Republican Congress
- 6 vetoes compared to Wilson’s 44
- Limited intervention reflected popular mood of time
- Pro-business policies enabled by rising prosperity following short depression of 1920-21
10
Q
5
Describe the limitation of Harding’s Presidency
A
- Personal reputation tainted by at least 2 extramarital affairs
- Ohio Gang - drinking
- In 1923, emerged there had been extensive corruption in his administration
- Belief in limited intervention led to inconsequential presidency
- Fordney-McCumber Act 1922
11
Q
3
Describe the Ohio Gang
A
- Harding’s inner circle from Ohio
- Included Harry Daugherty (Republican campaign manager in 1920), Albert Fall
- Notorious for poker parties in WH and boozy meetings at private house on K Street
12
Q
3
Describe the Teapot Dome Scandal 1922
A
- An oil reserve, originally reserved for the Navy, was put under the control of the Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall
- Fall was later accused of leasing oil drilling rights at cut-price rates in return for bribes to boost Harding’s electoral warchest
- Fall received $100k no-interest loan from oil-tycoon Edward Doheny and $404k in other gifts
13
Q
4
Describe the aftermath of the Teapot Dome Scandal 1922
A
- Brought to light by sensationalist newspaper reports
- Congress appointed special prosecutors to investigate Fall
- Jess Smith (Assistant Attorney General) committed suicide in 1923 during investigations
- Harding died in 1923, possibly due to stress derived from scandal
14
Q
2
Describe the RLF’s activities in the 1924 election
A
- Started new progressive party uniting farmers and trade unions
- Attracted many liberal Dems who were disillusioned by Davis’ conservatism
15
Q
4
Describe the 1924 election results
A
- Cooldige easily won with 382 elec votes
- Davis falled to 29%, the lowest Democrat pop vote since inception
- Some commentators suggested end of Democrat party altogether
- RLF only carried 1 state, signalling end of progressive movement
