Final answer:
The Teapot Dome Scandal was a political scandal where Albert Fall, the Secretary of the Interior, leased Navy oil reserves to private oil companies in exchange for bribes, without competitive bidding. It symbolized government corruption and led to Fall's conviction, being the first cabinet official to be convicted for crimes committed in office.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Teapot Dome Scandal
The Teapot Dome Scandal was a major political scandal that took place in the early 1920s, during President Warren G. Harding's administration. The scandal is named after the Teapot Dome oil field in Wyoming, which was one of the locations involved.
The scandal erupted when Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall secretly leased Navy oil reserves to private oil companies without competitive bidding. These reserves included Teapot Dome in Wyoming and two other locations in California. In return, Fall received bribes totaling about $300,000 in cash and bonds, as well as other benefits such as livestock for his ranch.
Albert Fall's actions were a violation of public trust, considering that the oil reserves had been set aside for use by the navy in times of national emergency. When this arrangement was discovered, it became a symbol of government corruption. Fall was eventually convicted of accepting bribes from the oil companies, making him the first cabinet official to be imprisoned for crimes committed while in office.
The Teapot Dome Scandal had long-lasting effects on public perception of the federal government and led to significant concerns about the integrity of those in high positions of power. It remains one of the most infamous tales of political corruption in American history.