Procedures

• WARM-UP:

  Before beginning class, have the students research and define the following vocabulary terms in their own words using the vocabulary preview chart. These vocabulary terms and concepts will be used and referenced throughout the lesson.

• HANDOUT: Vocabulary Preview (Google Doc)

  • Bribe
  • Cabinet
  • Checks and Balances
  • Competitive Bidding
  • Congressional Oversight
  • Executive Branch
  • Lease
  • Legislative Purpose
  • Oil Field
  • Petroleum
  • Subpoena
  • Tax Returns
  • Testify

• INTRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION:

  Review the students' definitions and address any misconceptions. Have the students view the video clips below to explore the events and significance of the Teapot Dome scandal and investigation. Students can either use the note-taking chart or the guiding questions listed on the Teapot Dome Handout.

• HANDOUT: Teapot Dome Chart and Video Questions (Google Doc)

  • VIDEO CLIP 1: Historical Context of the Teapot Dome Scandal (4:06)

  • VIDEO CLIP 2: Teapot Dome and Albert Fall (4:24)

  • VIDEO CLIP 3: Senate Investigations: Teapot Dome (3:48)

  • VIDEO CLIP 4: Congressional Oversight and McGrain v. Daugherty (2:06)

• APPLICATION AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:

  Review the information from the video clips. Discuss any questions that students might have regarding the scandal or its significance. To apply this information to current issues, have the students provide a written response to the following task. This can also be adapted to be a class discussion or debate.

  • View the following video about using Congress's oversight powers to subpoena President Trump's tax returns. Based on what you know about the Teapot Dome scandal and the oversight powers granted in the McGrain v. Daugherty ruling, does Rep. Pascrell's request serve a "legislative purpose" or is it a "fishing expedition?" Support your arguments with examples from the videos.

• VIDEO CLIP 5: Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) on Presidential Tax Returns and Congressional Oversight (1:38)

• EXTENSION/ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY:

  President Harding's Presidential Ranking- President Harding is ranked as the 4th worst president on C-SPAN's 2017 Presidential Historian's Survey. Research President Harding's ranking. Based on this research, in your opinion, what impact did the Teapot Dome scandal have on President Harding's legacy?

• EXTENSION/ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY:

  Comparing Presidential Scandals- Using C-SPAN resources and other outside research, compare and contrast the Teapot Dome to another presidential scandal (e.g. Watergate, Iran-Contra, Clinton Impeachment, etc.). Discuss the similarities and differences relating to the following:

  • Actions and events leading to the scandal
  • People involved in the scandal
  • Results and consequences of the investigations

• ADDITIONAL WRITING PROMPTS:

  • What impact do you think the Teapot Dome scandal had on the public's trust of the government?
  • Does Congress have the appropriate amount of power to perform their oversight responsibilities?
  • Based on what you learned about the Teapot Dome, predict what might have occurred if President Harding had not died in office in 1923.