Presidents of the 1920’s

1. Presidents of the 1920’s HARDING COOLIDGE HOOVER

2. Learning Target: • Explain how the new Republican policies of Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover differed from those of the Progressives (Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson) • Explain the results of the new Republican policies • Explain American foreign policy after WWI

3. President #1: Warren G. Harding • Year Elected: 1921 • In office: 1921-1923 - died in office

4. Warren G. Harding • Background – Born in 1865 – Blooming Grove, OH • Profession – publisher – governor of Ohio – US Senate – President • US Senate from 1915-1921. Horrible attendance record – missed 2/3 of votes – including the 19thAmendment!!

5. Warren G. Harding • Won the Presidential nomination because of political machines • Election key topic = continue progressive work of Wilson, OR back to laissez-faire • In the White House… as a senator, voted against Prohibition, while in office, always had bootleg booze available

6. Warren G. Harding • “Ohio Gang” – nickname given to his “pals” that Harding appointed into government positions – the cabinet • Favored Big Business • Had 2 long lasting affairs – the 2nd, Nan Britton, had a daughter • Died of what was believed to be a heart attack – VP Calvin Coolidge came into office

7. TEAPOT DOME SCANDEL • Teapot Dome – Harding proved to be a poor leader – cabinet essentially ran office – became known as the “Ohio Gang.” • TEApot Dome Oilfield in Wyoming – secretary of interior Albert B. Fall – rented government lands to Oil Companies in return for personal loans and gifts. • US holding lands as oil reserves for the US Navy. Fall leased lands to two oil companies – 1. Mammoth Oil Company 2. Pan American Petroleum Company. • Fall received $404,000 in loans and gifts.

8. President #2 – Calvin Coolidge • Year Inaugurated – 1923 – VP to Harding, took office after death. Ran for president in 1924 • In Office: 1923-1928

9. Calvin Coolidge • Background – from Vermont – became governor of Massachusetts • Wanted to preserve the old moral and economic principles of the US • Policies = 1. Isolation in foreign policy 2. Tax cuts 3. Limited aid to farmers • Known as being the “most negative and remote of presidents, and the most accessible.”

10. Calvin Coolidge • Silent Cal – because he said almost nothing during interviews – “yes,” and “no” • Elected for 1924 term, did not run in 1928

11. Coolidge – Policies towards Business Gave Businesses a BOOST in 3 ways: Appointed business people to commissions to regulate businesses Selected supreme court judges that voted against progressive legislation Named conservatives to powerful cabinet positions

12. Calvin Coolidge • Andrew Mellon – secretary of Treasury under Harding Coolidge, and Hoover – 1921 – 1932 • Favored giving millionaires tax cuts – overturned almost all of the progressive tax policies of Wilson • Coolidge and Mellon both agreed that government should interfere as little as possible with big business

13. President #3 – Herbert Hoover • Year Elected – 1928 • Years in Office – 1929-1933

14. Herbert Hoover • Background – born in Iowa 1874, grew up in Oregon • Stanford – mining engineer • Head of Food Administration during WWI • Secretary of Commerce under Harding and Coolidge – helped organize food to be sent to Europe and Russia • After the crash – cut taxes and expand public works spending • Became a scapegoat for the Great Depression

15. Herbert Hoover – “Wonder Boy” • Secretary of Commerce in the 1920’s • Control and regulate airlines, radio, and other new industries • Minimize price competition • Pushed for the Bureau of Standards (standardization) • Supported 8 hr work days, conservation of natural resources, food for children • Pollution Act of 1924 – control oil pollution on the coastline

16. Herbert Hoover – Attitude towards Business • Volunteer effort • Free enterprise