Warren G. Harding grave photograph

This image shows the graves at the Warren G. Harding Memorial in Marion, Ohio. Warren G. Harding was the 29th President of the United States. For the most part, Harding proved to be a poor manager of the federal government. He delegated authority to his cabinet officials. These men became known as the "Ohio Gang." Unfortunately for Harding and the country, many of these men proved to be unscrupulous, causing a great deal of distrust among the American people for their government officials. It is unclear, however, how much Harding knew of his subordinates' actions. Perhaps, the worst scandal of Harding's administration was the Teapot Dome Scandal. Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall rented government lands to oil companies in return for personal loans. Fall was found guilty of this illegal action and was sentenced to prison in 1931. Adding to the corruption, Thomas Miller, chairman of the Office of Alien Property, accepted bribes, and Charles Forbes, the head of the Bureau of Veterans' Affairs, embezzled funds. At this same time, it became known that Harding commonly drank alcohol in the White House, although this was a direct violation of Prohibition. The American people also began to hear rumors of extramarital affairs that Harding engaged in, including one with a friend's wife, Carrie Fulton Phillips, and another with neighbor Nan Britton. Britton claimed after Harding's death to have conceived a daughter with Harding while he was a senator.