9. Warren G. Harding
At the time of his death Warren G. Harding was one of the most beloved Presidents by the American public, but it turns out he was just good at covering up scandal. After he passed on Harding’s many illicit affairs were made public and his reputation will be forever tarnished. Of his most gossiped about scandals was Teapot Dome in which government officials were accepting bribes for competitive oil rates. This was the biggest scandal in America before Watergate with Richard Nixon.
It was at the 50 year celebration of the founding of Alabama that Harding spoke in front of 100,000 white and African American citizens. It was also the first and last time that he would mention civil rights as an issue. Although previously speaking out against public lynching, Harding received absolute silence after referencing that African Americans should be allowed to vote; and dropped the issue until his death.
Discussion about this post