Teapot Dome Archives - Compliance Podcast Network

Presidential Leadership Lessons – Reassessing the Legacy of Warren G. Harding

Who are our greatest Presidents? What lessons can the modern-day business leader learn from our 46 Chiefs of State? Welcome to a new season of this award-winning podcast series with Tom Fox and Richard Lummis to delve into the great and not-so-great Presidents to mine their successes and failures for today’s business executives.

In this episode, Tom Fox and Richard Lummis delve into the presidency and life of Warren G. Harding, often labeled as one of the worst U.S. presidents. They investigate his pre-political career as a newspaper editor and discuss his rise in politics and the personal and public crises he faced. Despite his seemingly ineffective presidency, Harding saw the introduction of new technologies, progressive tax policies, and increased tariffs, which helped fuel the Roaring Twenties. However, significant scandals, including Teapot Dome, overshadowed his tenure. The episode closes by questioning whether Harding’s administration was a lost opportunity for greater achievements and more substantial reforms.

Key highlights:

Early Life and Career of Warren G. Harding
Political Rise: From Ohio to the Senate
The 1920 Presidential Campaign
Domestic Policies and Achievements
Foreign Affairs and International Relations
Scandals and Controversies
Legacy and Reassessment of Warren G. Harding

Resources:

UVA Miller Center

1. General Overview

2. Life Before Presidency

Politico-Nomination of Harding

Presidency of Harding-Warren Harding Presidential Site

Scandals-History America

Death-American Journal of Medical Science

The Corruption Files: Exploring The Teapot Dome Scandal: Lessons from a Century – Old Corruption Case

What is stranger than fiction? The stories of worldwide corruption. In this podcast series, co-hosts Tom Fox, the Voice of Compliance and Mike DeBernardis, partner at Hughes Hubbard discuss some of the most audacious corruption cases in anti-corruption enforcement. More importantly, they will discuss the lessons learned on what your organization can do to prevent running afoul of international anti-bribery laws.

In this episode of Season 2, Tom and Mike take a deep dive into one of the seminal scandals of the 20^thcentury, the Teapot Dome scandal.

The infamous Teapot Dome scandal occurred during Warren Harding administration. Tom and Mike take a deep dive into a historical overview of the event, detailing steps taken by key figures like Albert Fall, who leased federal oil reserves to his associates without competitive bidding, resulting in massive corruption and eventual convictions. The discussion highlights the scandal’s significant impact on U.S. governance, including the first conviction of a former cabinet member, and underscores enduring compliance lessons relevant to modern-day corruption cases.