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The Teapot Dome Scandal: How Big Oil Bought the Harding White House and Tried to Steal the Country | 
 enlarge | Author: Laton Mccartney
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $16.00
Buy New: $10.88
You Save: $5.12 (32%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 1067301
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
ISBN: 0812973372
Dewey Decimal Number: 973
EAN: 9780812973372
ASIN: 0812973372
Publication Date: January 13, 2009 (In 145 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Not yet published
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Product Description
Mix hundreds of millions of dollars in petroleum reserves; rapacious oil barons and crooked politicians; under-the-table payoffs; murder, suicide, and blackmail; White House cronyism; and the excesses of the Jazz Age. The result: the granddaddy of all American political scandals, Teapot Dome.
In The Teapot Dome Scandal, acclaimed author Laton McCartney tells the amazing, complex, and at times ribald story of how Big Oil handpicked Warren G. Harding, an obscure Ohio senator, to serve as our twenty-third president. Harding and his so-called “oil cabinet” made it possible for the oilmen to secure vast oil reserves that had been set aside for use by the U.S. Navy. In exchange, the oilmen paid off senior government officials, bribed newspaper publishers, and covered the GOP campaign debt.
When news of the scandal finally emerged, the consequences were disastrous for the nation and for the principles in the plot to bilk the taxpayers: Harding’s administration was hamstrung; Americans’ confidence in their government plummeted; Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall was indicted, convicted, and incarcerated; and others implicated in the affair suffered similarly dire fates. Stonewalling by members of Harding’s circle kept a lid on the story–witnesses developed “faulty” memories or fled the country, and important documents went missing–but contemporary records newly made available to McCartney reveal a shocking, revelatory picture of just how far-reaching the affair was, how high the stakes, and how powerful the conspirators.
In giving us a gimlet-eyed but endlessly entertaining portrait of the men and women who made a tempest of Teapot Dome, Laton McCartney again displays his gift for faithfully rendering history with the narrative touch of an accomplished novelist.
From the Hardcover edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 The Last Of The American Robber Barons August 16, 2008
This reads like a fast paced mystery novel, which in many ways is what it is. One of the US' most massive thefts in the early 20th century is matched by the most corrupt national government we've had thus far. The actions of president Harding and his close associates bring to mind Pope Leo X's remark about taking full advantage of the opportunity. Unlike Leo, the people behind the Teapot Dome scandal were from very humble backgrounds, with failure dogging them into their middle years. The corruption, greed and avarice of the Ohio Gang are in sharp contrast to the best in public service exhibited by the US Senate, when politicians were often noted for their honesty and probity. The scandal added new phrases and words to the American vocabulary that became widespread, which don't seem connected today as they were in their time. A tale where the bad guys were really bad, the good guys few and often starving, and where justice ultimately prevails in large part due to the long tireless efforts of an individual. Highly recommended.
 Not bad, but not enough... June 13, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Like many new books I've read lately, I found many of the "connections" established here to be tenuous at best. National political conventions were what they were, I'm not 100% that 1920 was significantly more corrupt than any previous undertaking, with the possible exception of the visible money flow. I'm also a bit perplexed about how Albert Fall shot into his position as best available replacement nominee as Secretary of the Interior, as his personal connection to the oil guys wasn't demonstrated to my satisfaction.
There's no doubt the money flowed, there's no doubt that this was a case of monumental corruption... but I was hoping to read something new, and all I found was a good re-telling of a story I already knew.
 Some Things Never Change April 11, 2008
McCartney writes with considerable skill and quite comprehensively of the domination of the oil industry of the American economy in the first third of the 20th century. Crimes were committed that went virtually unpunished, while oil executives thumbed their noses at feeble efforts of Congress to address the problem. It makes you wonder what else is new.
What we need now in this nation is a clone of Senator Thomas James Walsh (D-Mont) who might be willing to take on the military-industrial, oil dominated oligarchy that now controls our economy and our lives. Perhaps another Walsh could get the current Congress off its dying rear end and on its dying feet, but it would probably be met with the same indifference and/or impotence that was demonstrated in the 1920's.
I would be delighted to see Laton McCartney, with his research and analytical skills undertake such a project, in the hope that he might produce yet another articulate and fascinating analysis of the forces that continue to control our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
Time Loop of Greed March 27, 2008
This excellent work shows how the names change, but the greed and corruption never do. A very entertaining account of an episode not well enough remembered, with many contemporary parallels.
THE TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL March 27, 2008
I was interested in this book because it begins in my hometown, Ardmore, Oklahoma. Some things came out in the book that were unknown until its publication, even though it has been almost 90 years since the incidents in the book took place.
It tells an interesting story about the largest scandal in government to that time. It also shows how people have used the media and government to distort the truth for a long time in this country.
It is a facinating read.
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