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Most of all, Harding laid the basis for a tremendous economic boom in America which lasted the entire decade of the 1920s.

Most of all, Harding laid the basis for a tremendous economic boom in America which lasted the entire decade of the 1920s.

But the Harding Administration was accused of scandals and corruption, such as the Teapot Dome Scandal.  It was observed that George Washington could never tell a lie, but Warren Harding could never tell (recognize) a liar!  On April 14, 1922, the Wall Street Journal reported an unprecedented secret arrangement in which the secretary of the Interior, without competitive bidding, had leased the U.S. naval petroleum reserve at Wyoming's Teapot Dome to a private oil company.  Wisconsin Republican Senator Robert La Follette (remember this founder of the progressive movement!) arranged for the Senate Committee on Public Lands to investigate the matter. After his announcement, his quarters were mysteriously ransacked in the Senate Office Building!

The Harding Administration was accused of scandals and corruption, such as the Teapot Dome Scandal.  It was observed that George Washington could never tell a lie, but Warren Harding could never tell (recognize) a liar!  On April 14, 1922, the Wall Street Journal reported an unprecedented secret arrangement in which the Secretary of the Interior, without competitive bidding, had leased the U.S. Naval Petroleum Reserve, located at Wyoming's Teapot Dome, to a private oil company.  Wisconsin Republican Senator Robert La Follette (remember this founder of the progressive movement) arranged for the Senate Committee on Public Lands to investigate the matter. After his announcement, his quarters were mysteriously ransacked in the Senate Office Building!

The focus of the inquiry was this: "How did Interior Secretary Albert Fall get so rich so quickly?"  The result was that Fall became the first former cabinet officer to go to prison. The investigation resulted in the landmark 1927 Supreme Court decision of ''McGrain v. Daugherty'' which held, for the first time, that Congress had the right to compel witnesses to testify before its committees.

The focus of the inquiry was this: "How did Interior Secretary Albert Fall get so rich so quickly?"  The result was that Fall became the first former cabinet officer to go to prison. The investigation resulted in the Supreme Court decision of ''McGrain v. Daugherty'' (1927) which held, for the first time, that Congress had the right to compel witnesses to testify before its committees.

But the scandal did not detract from the continuing prosperity.  Just as the nation became very prosperous under the conservative president James Monroe, the 1920s (the "Roaring 20s") became a very prosperous time under Harding's initial leadership.  But unlike James Monroe, Harding did not live to enjoy it.  He died from a health problem while in office, leaving his Vice President (and former Massachusetts Governor) Calvin Coolidge to take over.  Coolidge was famous for breaking a strike in Massachusetts by public workers, declaring that "there is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime."  Coolidge received the news that he was suddenly president at 2:30 am on Aug. 3, 1923. By the light of a kerosene lamp, his father (a notary public) administered the oath of office while Coolidge placed his hand on the family Bible.

But this scandal did not detract from the continuing prosperity.  Just as the nation became very prosperous under the conservative president James Monroe, the 1920s (the "Roaring 20s") became a very prosperous time under Harding's initial leadership.  But unlike James Monroe, Harding did not live to enjoy it.  He died from a health problem while in office, leaving his Vice President (and former Massachusetts Governor) Calvin Coolidge to take over.  Coolidge was famous for breaking a strike in Massachusetts by public workers, declaring that "there is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime."  Coolidge received the news that he was suddenly president at 2:30 am on Aug. 3, 1923. By the light of a kerosene lamp, his father (a notary public) administered the oath of office while Coolidge placed his hand on the family Bible.

Coolidge was a character who became famous for saying and doing nothing.  He was neither approve of regulations to control the economic boom, nor agree to funding for farmers to help their depressed conditions.  His first message to Congress in late 1923 was to limit aid to farmers, isolate the nation in foreign policy, and cut taxes.  His popularity increased and he won reelection with 54% of the vote, taking credit for "Coolidge prosperity."

Coolidge was a character who became famous for saying and doing nothing.  He rejected regulations to control the economic boom, and denied funding for farmers to help their depressed conditions.  His first message to Congress in late 1923 was to limit aid to farmers, isolate the nation in foreign policy, and cut taxes.  His popularity increased and he won reelection with 54% of the vote, taking credit for "Coolidge prosperity."

He became so famous for is laconic style of few words, and a young woman a social event whispered to Coolidge's wife that the woman could cause Coolidge to say at least three words.  Coolidge must have overheard the whisper, because he then said, "You lose."  In 1928, Coolidge lived up to his reputation by giving the following statement to an anxious public, "I do not choose to run for President in 1928."  That was it.  In the 1980s conservative President Ronald Reagan infuriated liberals by finding a portrait of Coolidge in the White House attic and prominently displaying it along with Washington and famous presidents.

He became famous for his laconic style of few words.  A young woman at a social event whispered to Coolidge's wife that the woman could cause Coolidge to say at least three words.  Coolidge must have overheard the whisper, because he then said, "You lose."  In 1928, Coolidge lived up to his reputation by giving the following statement to an anxious public, "I do not choose to run for President in 1928."  That was it.  In the 1980s conservative President Ronald Reagan infuriated liberals by finding a portrait of Coolidge in the White House attic and prominently displaying it along with George Washington and other famous presidents.

But during the Harding and Coolidge Administrations, the rest of the nation was saying and doing a great deal.  Great American authors developed who wrote tragedies about wealth (by F. Scott Fitzgerald), business and religion (by Sinclair Lewis, and war (by Ernest Hemingway).  William Faulkner became one of America's most acclaimed novelists by writing (1929-1932) the books "Sound & Fury," "As I Lay Dying," "Sanctuary," and "Light in August."  Liberals praised Faulkner because he described the Christian South as poor and racist.  Eugene O'Neill was a playwright who became the Second American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature for in 1936; he was praised for bringing psychological realism to his plays.

Notwithstanding Coolidge's lack of words, the rest of the nation was saying and doing a great deal.  American authors wrote tragedies about wealth (by F. Scott Fitzgerald), business and religion (by Sinclair Lewis, and war (by Ernest Hemingway).  William Faulkner became one of America's most acclaimed novelists by writing during 1929-1932 the books "Sound & Fury," "As I Lay Dying," "Sanctuary," and "Light in August."  Liberals particularly liked Faulkner because he described the Christian South as poor and racist.  Eugene O'Neill was a playwright who became the second American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature for in 1936; he was praised for bringing psychological realism to his plays.

Americans invented the music of jazz, and "Tin Pan Alley" was a portion of New York City known for its music culture.  There was a Harlem Renaissance that became the center of black culture, and a New Negro Movement emphasized learning and pride for African Americans.

Americans invented the music of jazz, and "Tin Pan Alley" was a portion of New York City known for its music culture.  There was a Harlem Renaissance that became the center of black culture, and a New Negro Movement emphasized learning and pride for African Americans.