The Teapot Dome Scandal
The Teapot-dome Scandal was a bribery incident that took place in the United States from 1920–1923, which involved the President at the time Warren G. Harding. This was the secret leasing of Navy oil fields to private oil companies at low rates. Throughout 1922-23, an investigation took place and making the second biggest scandal in U.S. history behind the watergate scandal. In the early 20th century, the U.S. Navy largely converted from coal to oil fuel. To ensure the Navy would always have enough fuel available, several oil-producing areas were designated as Naval Oil Reserves by President Taft. In 1921, President Harding issued an order which transferred control of Teapot Dome Oil Field in Natrona County, Wyoming, and the Elk Hills and Buena Vista Oil Fields in Kern County, California from the Navy Department to the Department of the Interior. This was not implemented until 1922, when Interior Secretary Albert Fall persuaded Navy Secretary Edwin C. Denby to transfer control. Albert Fall then leased the private oil reserves without permission.
Albert Fall
Albert Fall was secratary of the interior under Warren G. Harding. Soon after his appointment, Harding convinced Edwin Denby, the Secratary of the Navy, that Fall's department should take over responsibility for the Naval Reserves at Elk Hills, California, Buena Vista, California, and Teapot Dome. When the Wall Street Journal published the details about the bribery, the scandal erupted and an investigation followed. The investigation found Fall guilty of conspiracy and bribery, $385,000 having been paid to him by Edward L. Doheny,the president of Pan-American Petroleum. He served nine months of a one-year prison sentence. Fall was the first American to be convicted of a felony committed while holding a Cabinet post.