WARREN G. HARDING—FACT SHEET
29TH PRESIDENT
1921-1923
Early Life: Born near Marion, Ohio in 1865
Religion: Baptist
Occupation: editor and publisher of Marion Star Newspaper
Wife: married a divorcee named Florence Kling de Wolfe
Children: Elizabeth Ann Christian (illegitimate child by Nan Britton)
Political Party: Republican
Political experience: Ohio State Senator 1900-04
Lt. Gov. of Ohio 1904-06
U.S. Senator 1915-21
Presidential Election: Ran against James Cox in the election of 1920.
Campaign Slogan: “Return to Normalcy”
Cabinet Members: Some very strong, qualified men such as Sect. of State—Charles
Evans Hughes, Sect. of Treasury—Andrew Mellon, Sect. of Commerce—
Herbert Hoover. Some were old cronies and former business associates that
were very corrupt such as Harry Daugherty—Attorney General and Charles
Forbes—Head of the Veteran’s Bureau. Corrupt Cabinet members obtained
the nickname “The Ohio Gang”.
Presidential Highlights:
1. The Emergency Quota Act—limited the number of European immigrants
coming to America. Established low quotas for immigrants coming from
southern and eastern Europe and banned Asian immigration altogether.
2. The Washington Conference—called for disarmament, a program that
encouraged nations to voluntarily give up their weapons.
3. The Fordney-McCumber Tariff—raised rates on manufactured goods to
their highest level to that date.
4. Isolationism—Harding’s foreign policy demonstrated a strong desire to
avoid political or economic alliances with foreign countries.
Scandals:
1. Attorney General—Harry Daugherty used his position to violate the 18th
Amendment.
2. Charles Forbes—Head of Veteran’s Bureau. Could not account for $200
million.
3. Teapot Dome Scandal—The government leased naval oil reserves
(Elk Hills, California and Teapot Dome, Wyoming) to private oil
companies. Sect. of Interior, Albert Fall, received more than $300,000
in illegal payments and gifts . Convicted and fined, sentenced to prison.
4. Two close advisors committed suicide under the weight of a variety of
corruption charges.
Harding’s Death: Died in office on August 2, 1923. Cause of death was heart attack
but his wife refused to permit an autopsy. Some suspected foul play.