The Teapot Dome Scandal
The Teapot Dome Video
Congress’ investigation of the Teapot Dome political corruption scandal exposed secret oil leases and bribery within the federal government during the 1920s. This classroom-ready video designed for high school students, provides historical context and expert commentary to help students understand how Senate investigators uncovered the scandal and why the investigation, and the legislation and governmental norms that flowed from it, became a landmark moment in congressional oversight . This video was produced in partnership with Detroit PBS.
In this ten-minute video, students will learn about the Teapot Dome scandal and the ensuing investigation. This video features a host, a content-area expert, and many interesting and engaging primary source documents from the time. This video features expert testimony from Jim Townsend, the Director of the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. The video leaves students with three significant takeaways that connect this scandal to broader themes in history and civics.
What was the Teapot Dome scandal and its investigation?
We are of opinion that the power of inquiry—with process to enforce it—is an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the legislative function…. A legislative body cannot legislate wisely or effectively in the absence of information respecting the conditions which the legislation is intended to affect or change, and where the legislative body does not itself possess the requisite information — which not infrequently is true — recourse must be had to others who do possess it. Experience has taught that mere requests for such information often are unavailing, and also that information which is volunteered is not always accurate or complete, so some means of compulsion are essential to obtain what is needed.
Congress’ investigation of the Teapot Dome scandal began in 1922 after allegations surfaced that valuable federal oil reserves had been secretly leased to private companies under highly favorable terms. These oil fields had originally been set aside for national emergencies and were controlled by the federal government.
Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall persuaded President Warren G. Harding to transfer control of the Naval Oil Reserves from the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Interior. Soon afterward, Fall approved private leases for oil companies to drill at Teapot Dome in Wyoming and at another federal reserve in California.
Members of Congress became suspicious when reports surfaced that the leases had been granted without competitive bidding and without informing the public. Senate investigators began examining the agreements and eventually uncovered evidence that Fall had accepted large financial payments from oil executives in exchange for granting the leases.
The investigation revealed widespread federal corruption and ultimately led to Fall becoming the first U.S. cabinet official convicted of a felony for actions taken while in office.
Questions you will be able to answer after watching this video include:
- Why did Congress begin to investigate the Teapot Dome oil leases?
- How did Senate investigators uncover evidence of bribery and corruption?
- What does the Teapot Dome investigation reveal about congressional oversight and government accountability?
- Why is the Teapot Dome scandal considered a landmark moment in U.S. political and legal history?
Content Standards
This video aligns with Michigan social studies content standards and supports instruction in U.S. history and civics by helping students analyze political corruption during the 1920s and understand how congressional investigations promote transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. The Teapot Dome scandal is one of the exemplar case studies students use to analyze and evaluate the importance of the media in informing the public about government activities.
Want to learn more? The Teapot Dome Scandal video is used in our lesson on the relationship between the media, the government, and the public. Check it out here!
MI USHG – 7.1.1 The Twenties Explain and evaluate the significance of the social, cultural, and political changes and tensions in the “Roaring Twenties” including:
- cultural movements such as the Jazz Age, the Harlem Renaissance, and the “Lost Generation.”
- the increasing role of advertising and its impact on consumer purchases.
- the NAACP legal strategy to attack segregation.