Warren G. Harding made the mistake of appointing too many of his friends and longtime allies to important government positions. They went on to betray and embarrass him through a number of scandals, especially Teapot Dome. As a result, Harding's brief administration is generally considered as one of the most corrupt in American history. Known as the "Ohio Gang," they included Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty, Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall, Postmaster General Will Hays, Veteran's Bureau Director Charles Forbes, Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby, Thomas W. Miller, and Jess Smith who was an aid to Daugherty. After Harding's death on August 2, 1923, and subsequent investigations, the Ohio Gang unraveled in spectacular fashion.
- Daugherty resigned in March 1924 as a result of a bootleggers kickback scam.
- Fall was jailed for conspiracy and bribery.
- Hays resigned to become president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America.
- Denby resigned following the Teapot Dome Scandal, which linked him with fraudulent oil field leases.
- Miller was jailed for fraud conspiracy.
- Smith committed suicide.
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