By: HISTORY.com Editors
Former Cabinet member found guilty in Teapot Dome scandal
During the Teapot Dome scandal, former Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall, who served in President Warren G. Harding’s Cabinet, is found guilty of accepting a bribe while he was in office. On October 25, 1929, Fall became the first individual to be convicted of a crime committed while serving as a presidential Cabinet member.
As a member of President Harding’s corruption-ridden Cabinet in the early 1920s, Fall accepted a $100,000 interest-free “loan” from Edward Doheny of the Pan-American Petroleum and Transport Company, who wanted Fall to grant his firm a valuable oil lease in the Elk Hills naval oil reserve in California. The site, along with the Teapot Dome naval oil reserve in Wyoming, had been previously transferred to the Department of the Interior on the urging of Fall, who evidently realized the personal gains he could achieve by leasing the land to private corporations.
Teapot Dome Scandal
Warren Harding's presidency was rocked by scandal, including one that didn't come to light until after he left office.
In October 1923, the Senate Public Lands Committee launched an investigation that revealed not only the $100,000 bribe that Fall received from Doheny, but also that Mammoth Oil President Harry Sinclair had given him some $300,000 in government bonds and cash in exchange for use of the Teapot Dome oil reserve in Wyoming.
In 1927, the oil fields were restored to the U.S. government by a Supreme Court decision. Two years later, Fall was convicted of bribery and sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000. Doheny escaped conviction, but Sinclair was imprisoned for contempt of Congress and jury tampering.
Also on This Day in History
Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on October 25th
Related
Crime
42 videos
The brutal 1947 murder in Los Angeles of aspiring actor Elizabeth Short has never been solved. But there is no shortage of theories.
The FBI released two sketches of the Unabomber suspect: the first in 1987 and a second, which became iconic, in 1994.
Orphaned at 14, Billy the Kid became one of the Wild West’s most legendary outlaws. But how much of his reputation matches the real man?
About the author
HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Christian Zapata, Cristiana Lombardo and Adrienne Donica.
Fact Check
We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.
Citation Information
- Article Title
- Former Cabinet member found guilty in Teapot Dome scandal
- Author
- HISTORY.com Editors
- Website Name
- History
- Date Accessed
- October 22, 2026
- Publisher
- A&E Television Networks
- Last Updated
- October 22, 2026
- Original Published Date
- February 09, 2010
