Changes

==Scandals==

==Scandals==

=== Teapot Dome Scandal===

=== Teapot Dome Scandal===

Harding appointed a close friend anddrinking partner Senator Albert B. Fall of New Mexico as his Secretary of the Interior. Fall had charge of valuable oil lands known as "Teapot Dome" that were for the long-term use of the Navy.  Fall secretly leased oil rights to an old friend, who paid bribes to Fall of over $400,000.  The scandal was discovered after Harding's death by Harding's enemies in Congress in late 1923. Fall had entangled other businessmen and politicians into his wrongdoing which lead to other indictments of both Democrats and Republicans and continued into the Coolidge administration.  Harding did not know about these dealings until shortly before his death.  

Harding appointed a close friend and drinking partner Senator Albert B. Fall of New Mexico as his Secretary of the Interior. Fall had charge of valuable oil lands known as "Teapot Dome" and Elk Hills that were for the long-term use of the Navy.  Fall secretly leased oil rights to an old friend, who paid bribes to Fall of over $400,000.  The scandal was discovered after Harding's death by Harding's enemies in Congress in late 1923. Fall had entangled other businessmen and politicians into his wrongdoing which lead to other indictments of both Democrats and Republicans and continued into the Coolidge administration.  Harding did not know about these dealings until shortly before his death.

 

===Interpretation===

===Interpretation===

Fine (1990) explains why Harding's reputation took a nose dive, as the new president Calvin Coolidge blamed the troubles of the day on his dead predecessor.  "Reputational entrepreneurs" attempt to control the memory of historical figures through motivation, narrative facility, and institutional placement, says Fine. Men remembered as great heroes or great vilains or evil are explained by the Durkheimian theory of consensus and cohesion, but this does not explain the memory of the "incompetent" like Harding.  Reputational politics is an arena in which forces compete to control memory. Reputations are grounded in a social construction of character, subsequently generalized to policy and the character of the society. In the case of Harding, the president rated lowest by historians and the public, political opponents set the agenda, while potential supporters did not defend him, given their political interests, structural positions, and a lack of credible narrative.

Fine (1990) explains why Harding's reputation took a nose dive, as the new president Calvin Coolidge blamed the troubles of the day on his dead predecessor.  "Reputational entrepreneurs" attempt to control the memory of historical figures through motivation, narrative facility, and institutional placement, says Fine. Men remembered as great heroes or great vilains or evil are explained by the Durkheimian theory of consensus and cohesion, but this does not explain the memory of the "incompetent" like Harding.  Reputational politics is an arena in which forces compete to control memory. Reputations are grounded in a social construction of character, subsequently generalized to policy and the character of the society. In the case of Harding, the president rated lowest by historians and the public, political opponents set the agenda, while potential supporters did not defend him, given their political interests, structural positions, and a lack of credible narrative.