A few inches lower and you could see the bribe in action
Some presidents were just never meant to last. Millard Filmore, I think he might have had something to do with reconstruction, John Tyler, who maybe discovered the cure for smallpox, James Buchanan, who the public didn't even know was president. Another member of this club, one of the only from the 20th century is Warren G.Harding, who I only know because I was going to use his surname for a fake ID in high school. Despite the short term street cred, Harding was actually pretty popular when he died in office in 1923 (not a year too soon considering the depression was on its way). That was, however, the Teapot Dome Scandal was exposed, proving a shocking and embarrassing moment for an American public that still believed that their ideals were held sacred by their elected leaders.
The scandal began when Harding seized some land in Wyoming and California by eminent domain, ceding control to the navy. The land was rich with oil. I'm sure you can guess where this is going if it involves oil.
Years later, the land in Wyoming was leased to Sinclair Oil while the land in Cali was leased to Edward Doheny, both without competitive bidding. After Harding was dead and gone, the Senate undertook an investigation into the transactions and found that the Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall, took bribes from both Doheny and Sinclair Oil. The Fall guy was responsible for the leasing of the public land. He sold out land to (not even) the highest bidder.
Fall became the first US cabinet member to serve prison time and the public land again became 'public' in 1927. Harding's public reputation was ruined as he rolled in his grave. And of course, no one ever received a kickback in the US government again. And George Washington was an 8-foot, black woman.
Final thought: The next time anyone makes the claim that George W. Bush, Bill Clinton or Obama are the worst presidents in history, keep in mind that all three will probably, in the long run, be as unregarded as Warren G. Harding.
The scandal began when Harding seized some land in Wyoming and California by eminent domain, ceding control to the navy. The land was rich with oil. I'm sure you can guess where this is going if it involves oil.
Years later, the land in Wyoming was leased to Sinclair Oil while the land in Cali was leased to Edward Doheny, both without competitive bidding. After Harding was dead and gone, the Senate undertook an investigation into the transactions and found that the Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall, took bribes from both Doheny and Sinclair Oil. The Fall guy was responsible for the leasing of the public land. He sold out land to (not even) the highest bidder.
Fall became the first US cabinet member to serve prison time and the public land again became 'public' in 1927. Harding's public reputation was ruined as he rolled in his grave. And of course, no one ever received a kickback in the US government again. And George Washington was an 8-foot, black woman.
Final thought: The next time anyone makes the claim that George W. Bush, Bill Clinton or Obama are the worst presidents in history, keep in mind that all three will probably, in the long run, be as unregarded as Warren G. Harding.
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