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Worst President of the United Staes

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Worst President of the United Staes
The Worst President of the United States:
Pre-AP Civics Paper #SP1

Sierra Visger

Pre-AP Civics
Dr. J. Blackard
25 January, 2013 Warren Gamaliel Harding (1865-1923), was the worst president of the United States of America. He was president from March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923.
He was married to Florence Kling De Wolfe. Although he had no children with Wolfe, he did have an illegitimate daughter with Nan Britton, a beautiful young woman which he had an affair with
The former newspaperman and publisher won the election as a Republican in 1920 by promising a return to normalcy after World War I. However, Warren G. Harding 's spectacular lack of ability is captured in his own words: "I am not fit for this office and should never have been here."
Not only did his lack of confidence get in the way of being president, but his irresponsibility was inexcusable. Harding played poker at least twice a week. He once gambled away an entire set of White House china, dating back to Benjamin Harrison 's time. His advisors were given the nickname of the "Poker Cabinet" because they all played poker together. He also let his friends into his cabinet, which ended up being extremely corrupt.
He was not emotionally prepared to come into office. He suffered nervous breakdowns at the age of 24 and had to spend some time in a sanitarium. Since the number one cause of nervous breakdowns is stress, he should not have run for president, as it is a stressful job.
Warren G. Harding 's presidency was struck by many scandals. The Teapot Dome scandal was the most significant. In this, Albert Fall, Harding 's Secretary of the Interior, sold the right to the oil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming and other locations in exchange for personal profit and cattle. He was eventually caught, convicted and sentenced to jail. Harding knew about the scandal the entire time Fall was planning this. Warren Harding should have taken a stand and stopped it immediately.
Generous and humane



Cited: * Dean, John W. Warren G. Harding New York: Henry Holt, 2004 * Payne, Phillip G. Dead Last: The Public Memory of Warren G. Harding’s Scandalous Legacy Ohio: Ohio University Press, 2009 * http://www.usnews.com/news/history/articles/2007/02/16/worst-presidents-warren-harding * http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/symptoms-of-a-nervous-breakdown-info.html * http://millercenter.org/president/harding/essays/biography/4

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