A Brief History
On November 23, 1921, Warren Harding signed a law to prohibit doctors from prescribing alcoholic beverages to patients, closing a loophole in the 18th Amendment, which since 1920 had outlawed alcoholic beverages in the US. Not only did Harding disappoint thousands of doctors and millions of patients, but he was also a blatant hypocrite, keeping a full bar at the White House and serving spirits during his frequent poker games.
Digging Deeper
Harding also had the nerve to die while in office, leaving the country to Calvin Coolidge. Harding had won the 1920 presidential election over Ohio Governor James Cox although Cox had Franklin Roosevelt as a running mate and had done a credible job as governor.
Harding is infamous for his many scandals, including nepotism, Teapot Dome, a corrupt Justice Department, Veterans Bureau corruption, and sordid extra-marital affairs. Worse, he was unfriendly to labor and unions!
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Dean, John W. Warren G. Harding: The American Presidents Series: The 29th President, 1921-1923. Times Books, 2004.
Walters, Ryan. The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren G. Harding. Regnery History, 2022.
The featured image in this article, Miss Margaret Lindsay Williams, artist from Cardiff Wales, painting Pres. Harding portrait, is from the Harris & Ewing collection at the Library of Congress. According to the library, there are no known copyright restrictions on the use of this work.
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