Harding
I.
II.
Coolidge
Hoover
Progressivism in the 1920s
1. Progressivism does not die during the 1920s but it certainly goes into a period of
decline.
Harding administration (Return to Republican rule).
A. Election of 1920
1. Harding and normalcy – Harding comes into office proclaiming that there was a need
to “Return to Normalcy”.
a. This position reflected a certain mood of the times, moving away from
governmental activism.
b. Harding was much like U.S. Grant in that he put together some great minds but
also some of the worst cronies into his Administration.
c. During his administration Harding and his admin. Sought to dismantle and
weaken as many of the social and economic components of Progressivism.
d. Harding was pro-business reminiscent of the pre-Progressive William
McKinley.
e. The Republicans in congress raised tariffs to stave off foreign competition.
f. The Higher tariffs had ramifications: During the war the US shifted from a
Debtor to a Creditor nation.
g.
2.
3.
4.
During the 20s the US continued to loan and invest abroad (as encouraged
by the high tariffs).
Corruption– OHIO GANG - Many in positions of power in the Harding Admin used
their positions to line their own pockets.
a. Teapot Dome: Became the catch phrase of the epoch of corruption (Much like
Watergate 50 years later under Nixon).
i. An oil deposit under the sandstone Teapot Rock in Wyoming. The area
was set aside for the Navy, but a man named Albert Fall (head of interior
dept) allowed private companies exploit the reserves.
ii. He received bribes of up to 400,000
Harding’s death and public reaction
i. Harding went on a trip in 1923 to speak across the west. In Seattle he
came down with Food Poisoning. Recovering briefly he soon died in San
Francisco hospital.
ii. The nation has an outpouring of grief soon followed by scorn/contempt
as revelations of all the corruption and personal failures (such as a long
term affair and illegitimate child) were exposed.
Evaluations of Harding
i. As much as the scandals harmed the presidency it must be said that
Harding led the nation out of war successfully.
ii. That being said the man displayed an incredible lack of personal and
political judgment.
III.
IV.
The Coolidge years –Coolidge inherits the presidency from Harding
1. Character of the man – “Silent Cal” – He was in many ways a typical Vermonter…calm
and reserved, yet with a clear vision.
2. Election of 1924
a. Democrats fell into internal disputes unable to choose a direction for the party,
finally deciding on John W. Davis a conservative Wall Street lawyer.
b. Emergence of the Progressive party – The Progressives reformed and
nominated Robert LaFollette – a firebrand from Wisconsin who got much of
the support of Midwestern Farmers and laborers.
c. Results of the election – Coolidge won handily.
d. 1924-1928 – Coolidge oversaw the great prosperity of the era. He had the
typical smaller gov’t philosophy of a conservative Republican.
B. Hoover and the economy – Secretary of Commerce – Hoover gained greater power.
1. Hoover revolutionized the relations between business and government. Rejecting the
adversarial stance of Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, he sought to make the Commerce
Department a powerful service organization.
2. Associationalism :: cooperative voluntary partnerships between government and
business.
3. Focused on the elimination of waste and the increase of efficiency in business and
industry.
4. He energetically promoted international trade by opening offices overseas that gave
advice and practical help to businessmen.
The Hoover presidency
A. Election of 1928
1. When President Coolidge declined to run for a second full term of office in 1927,
Herbert Hoover became the leading Republican candidate for the 1928 election.
2. He campaigned on the basis of efficiency and prosperity against Democratic candidate
Alfred E. Smith. Smith was the target of anti-Catholicism from some Protestant
communities, much to Hoover's advantage.
3. Hoover's national reputation and the booming economy, combined with the deep splits
in the Democratic party over religion and prohibition, guaranteed his landslide victory
of 58% of the vote.