Anna LehmanMrs.
CopenhaverAmerican History 21 February 2018 Republican Presidents in the Jazz AgeDuring the roaring twenties, or Jazz Age, three republican presidents were consecutively elected to serve. Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover were a great part of the Jazz Age and made many decisions on how to handle the events at the time. Warren G. Harding, America’s 29th President, only served in office for two years, due to the inevitable Curse of Tippecanoe. He was nominated for the republican candidate seat because it was stated that nobody else was better for it, and their was a shortage of better suitors. He surprisingly won against James Cox, Democratic candidate, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt with the help of his campaign manager and later to be Attorney General, Harry Daughtery. He told the public he would bring a “ return to normalcy” after the Great War. He wanted to end foreign involvement and keep the peace in the country.
He also believed in limiting immigration, enlarging the tariffs, and supporting business and the rich by lowering the income taxes. Harding’s term was mostly defined by his “ Ohio Gang” of cabinet members. He appointed very smart leaders, but most of them were close personal friends. Three scandals erupted for his half-term. The first, and probably most well know idea of corruption, was the Teapot Dome Scandal. In this scandal, Albert Fall, Secretary of the Interior, illegally leased government lands to oil companies to gain a profit of $400, 000.
Secondly, Charles Forbes, Secretary of Veterans Bureau, was accused of stealing money from the veteran’s funds. Lastly, Harry Daughtery was accused of accepting bribes and giving away government secrets. Surprisingly, Harding wasn’t involved or associated with any of these crimes. His two year term ended because of a sudden heart attack.
Harding’s Vice President, Calvin Coolidge, immediately swore into office as soon as Harding died. Coolidge was known to be silent and pensive, and was not nearly as social as Warren G. Harding. He was known for wanting less government interference with people’s lives, therefore, he supported the idea of limited government.