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Crooked: The Roaring '20s Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, a Crusading Senator, and the Birth of the American Political Scandal
The forgotten narrative of the most corrupt attorney general in American history and the maverick senator who stopped at nothing to take him down
Many tales from the Jazz Age reek of crime and corruption. But perhaps the era’s greatest political fiasco—one that resulted in a nationwide scandal, a public reckoning at the Department of Justice, the rise of J. Edgar Hoover, and an Oscar-winning film—has long been lost to the annals of history. In Crooked , Nathan Masters restores this story of murderers, con artists, secret lovers, spies, bootleggers, and corrupt politicians to its full, page-turning glory.
Newly elected to the Senate on a promise to root out corruption, Burton "Boxcar Burt" Wheeler sets his sights on ousting Attorney General Harry Daugherty, puppet-master behind President Harding’s unlikely rise to power. Daugherty is famous for doing whatever it takes to keep his boss in power, and his cozy relations with bootleggers and other scofflaws have long spawned rumors of impropriety. But when his constant companion and trusted fixer, Jess Smith, is found dead of a gunshot wound in the apartment the two men share, Daugherty is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, exposing the rot consuming the Harding administration to a shocked public.
Determined to uncover the truth in the ensuing investigation, Wheeler takes the prosecutorial reins and subpoenas a rogue’s gallery of witnesses—convicted felons, shady detectives, disgraced officials—to expose the attorney general’s treachery and solve the riddle of Jess Smith’s suspicious death. With the muckraking senator hot on his trail, Daugherty turns to his greatest weapon, the nascent Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose eager second-in-command, J. Edgar Hoover, sees opportunity amidst the chaos.
Many tales from the Jazz Age reek of crime and corruption. But perhaps the era’s greatest political fiasco—one that resulted in a nationwide scandal, a public reckoning at the Department of Justice, the rise of J. Edgar Hoover, and an Oscar-winning film—has long been lost to the annals of history. In Crooked , Nathan Masters restores this story of murderers, con artists, secret lovers, spies, bootleggers, and corrupt politicians to its full, page-turning glory.
Newly elected to the Senate on a promise to root out corruption, Burton "Boxcar Burt" Wheeler sets his sights on ousting Attorney General Harry Daugherty, puppet-master behind President Harding’s unlikely rise to power. Daugherty is famous for doing whatever it takes to keep his boss in power, and his cozy relations with bootleggers and other scofflaws have long spawned rumors of impropriety. But when his constant companion and trusted fixer, Jess Smith, is found dead of a gunshot wound in the apartment the two men share, Daugherty is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, exposing the rot consuming the Harding administration to a shocked public.
Determined to uncover the truth in the ensuing investigation, Wheeler takes the prosecutorial reins and subpoenas a rogue’s gallery of witnesses—convicted felons, shady detectives, disgraced officials—to expose the attorney general’s treachery and solve the riddle of Jess Smith’s suspicious death. With the muckraking senator hot on his trail, Daugherty turns to his greatest weapon, the nascent Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose eager second-in-command, J. Edgar Hoover, sees opportunity amidst the chaos.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published March 21, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 18, 2025
Nathan Masters in this book brings to life a long forgotten battle between a freshman U.S. Senator from Montana, Burton K. Wheeler, and one of the most controversial Attorney Generals ever to occupy the office, Harry M. Daugherty. The book begins with the suicide of Jess Smith, Daugherty's long time right hand man and close friend and the beginning of a coverup to hide any hint of impropriety.
Burton Wheeler had made his career in fighting corruption at all levels in Montana and made Daugherty's questionship stewardship of the Justice Department a main issue in his successful campaign for the Senate in 1922. Unfortunately for Wheeler in those years new Senators did not take their seats until over a year following their election. In the interval President Harding, Daugherty's friend and mentor, died and revelations around Oil leases on Naval land in Wyoming came to light and began to cast a shadow on many in the Harding administration.
Once Wheeler finally took his seat he convinced the Senate to launch an investigation into Daugherty and his stewardship of the Justice Department, the first time such an investigation had ever been launched. As Masters narrates the investigation had found problems in the Justice Department but little that directly tied to Daugherty but it was Daugherty's refusal to turn over documents requested by the investigating committee that finally led to Daugherty's dismissal by Harding's successor, Calvin Coolidge.
Before Daugherty left office he did put into motion a grand jury investigation into whether Wheeler had violated conflict of interest laws in connecting a businessman who was also a client of his legal firm with a government official. In the final part of the book Masters navigates the court case to its eventual conclusion as well as the Supreme Court case (McGrain v. Daugherty) that clarified Congress' investigative powers.
Overall an excellent well written and easy to read book!!
Burton Wheeler had made his career in fighting corruption at all levels in Montana and made Daugherty's questionship stewardship of the Justice Department a main issue in his successful campaign for the Senate in 1922. Unfortunately for Wheeler in those years new Senators did not take their seats until over a year following their election. In the interval President Harding, Daugherty's friend and mentor, died and revelations around Oil leases on Naval land in Wyoming came to light and began to cast a shadow on many in the Harding administration.
Once Wheeler finally took his seat he convinced the Senate to launch an investigation into Daugherty and his stewardship of the Justice Department, the first time such an investigation had ever been launched. As Masters narrates the investigation had found problems in the Justice Department but little that directly tied to Daugherty but it was Daugherty's refusal to turn over documents requested by the investigating committee that finally led to Daugherty's dismissal by Harding's successor, Calvin Coolidge.
Before Daugherty left office he did put into motion a grand jury investigation into whether Wheeler had violated conflict of interest laws in connecting a businessman who was also a client of his legal firm with a government official. In the final part of the book Masters navigates the court case to its eventual conclusion as well as the Supreme Court case (McGrain v. Daugherty) that clarified Congress' investigative powers.
Overall an excellent well written and easy to read book!!
April 11, 2023
It was interesting to realize while reading this, that not much has changed.
I spent much of this book shaking my head at the AUDACITY of Harry Daugherty and his willingness to throw others under the bus for the criminal things he both was a part of or approved of and how little he seemed to care about the outcome for said people. Even the man who died, who Mr. Daugherty was seemingly the closest to received little grief from the man. The fact that he held his office of Attorney General for so long just speaks to all the others that were corrupt right along with him [and how complacent the presidents that allowed it were as well <--I was 100% not surprised about Coolidge. Meh] and I am not surprised that it all finally caught up with him and even though he never served jail time, the court of his betters dealt him a bigger blow than any jail time could have.
I knew little about this time and Mr. Wheeler [whom the Jimmy Stewart character Mr. Smith, from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is based on], whom I found to be heartfelt and truly concerned about the laws of the land [even amid his obsession in "nailing" Harry Daugherty]and reading about him and his rise [or lack of it] was really interesting.
Overall, this was a really good, very interesting, engaging [and often infuriating] read. If you love history, this book is for you. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nathan Masters, and Hachette Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I spent much of this book shaking my head at the AUDACITY of Harry Daugherty and his willingness to throw others under the bus for the criminal things he both was a part of or approved of and how little he seemed to care about the outcome for said people. Even the man who died, who Mr. Daugherty was seemingly the closest to received little grief from the man. The fact that he held his office of Attorney General for so long just speaks to all the others that were corrupt right along with him [and how complacent the presidents that allowed it were as well <--I was 100% not surprised about Coolidge. Meh] and I am not surprised that it all finally caught up with him and even though he never served jail time, the court of his betters dealt him a bigger blow than any jail time could have.
I knew little about this time and Mr. Wheeler [whom the Jimmy Stewart character Mr. Smith, from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is based on], whom I found to be heartfelt and truly concerned about the laws of the land [even amid his obsession in "nailing" Harry Daugherty]and reading about him and his rise [or lack of it] was really interesting.
Overall, this was a really good, very interesting, engaging [and often infuriating] read. If you love history, this book is for you. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nathan Masters, and Hachette Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2022
These days, the news will have you believe every new political scandal is the biggest one ever and something like this has never happened before. Well, then come meet disgraced Attorney General Harry Daugherty!
Crooked by Nathan Masters is all about the epic take down of Daugherty by Senator Burton Wheeler in the 1920s. By itself, this is already a great story of a new senator taking on an entrenched political animal with the power of what would become the FBI. Crooked detectives, personal lives shrouded in secrecy, and dirty money; what more can you possibly want?
While the story writes itself in many ways, Masters writes this story...well, masterfully. Pun not intended but let's roll with it. Instead of reciting facts and events, Masters slowly reveals new characters as they come into the focus of the story. What results is a historical true crime narrative that feels like a thriller at times. However, Masters doesn't fall into the trap of turning everyone into a trope. He keeps perspective throughout the story. Burton Wheeler is our ostensible hero, but that does not mean he is without his faults. This is a great book and I loved all of it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Hachette Books. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 3/23/2023.)
Crooked by Nathan Masters is all about the epic take down of Daugherty by Senator Burton Wheeler in the 1920s. By itself, this is already a great story of a new senator taking on an entrenched political animal with the power of what would become the FBI. Crooked detectives, personal lives shrouded in secrecy, and dirty money; what more can you possibly want?
While the story writes itself in many ways, Masters writes this story...well, masterfully. Pun not intended but let's roll with it. Instead of reciting facts and events, Masters slowly reveals new characters as they come into the focus of the story. What results is a historical true crime narrative that feels like a thriller at times. However, Masters doesn't fall into the trap of turning everyone into a trope. He keeps perspective throughout the story. Burton Wheeler is our ostensible hero, but that does not mean he is without his faults. This is a great book and I loved all of it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Hachette Books. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 3/23/2023.)
December 15, 2022
Everyone has an opinion about who was the worst president, and Warren Harding usually heads the list. That his administration was corrupt is well known, and his only concern was that the corruption not hurt him politically. Nathan Masters writes a thrilling narrative of just how corrupt top officials were, extending as far as murder, possibly. I'm familiar with Nathan Masters as the host of Lost L.A., a public TV show about Los Angeles history in which he dives into the local archives to bring old Los Angeles to life. It's a great show and Masters tells a lot of terrific stories about Southern California history. He's used those storytelling skills to write an exciting and well researched account of Harding's attorney general, a greedy and ruthless character among a cast of dozens of other hard boiled specimens. The writing and storytelling is reminiscent of Candice Millard, who tells captivating stories in which every detail is backed up by documentary evidence. Great story and outstanding history. Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for a digital review copy.
May 10, 2024
I thought it was a very interesting story. However, there were a lot of people and backgrounds and titles to keep track of, so it was a bit difficult for me to follow at times (I listened to it).
February 11, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this history book dealing with the political scandals that took place in the early part of the twentieth century, crimes that will seem familiar to Twitter readers today.
Reading history means that I am not surprised often while reading about events going on currently. Reading history means I am more surprised by the fact that people are well to paraphrase Casablanca "shocked, shocked to find their is corruption going on in government", and probably illegal gambling too. Corruption has always existed. Call it royalty, the upper class, the old boy, the newly rich, the want to be rich, access to money means power, access to power means money, and those who have both power and money, always want more, and not pay taxes. Rules are for others, especially those without the means to buy their justice or pay off the cops and investigators with crony jobs, or just straight cash. As much as America hates to look back, people in government since the colonial governors have usually left office far wealthier than when they arrived, a quick look at Twitter shows this is still happening. Crooked: The Roaring '20s Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, a Crusading Senator, and the Birth of the American Political Scandal by historian and public television host Nathan Masters, is a look at corruption during the early part of the twentieth century, how it might have helped bring an early end to a president, and give ideas to a young up-and-coming bureaucrat in a newly started government agency.
Harry Daugherty was enjoying a shave and shoeshine when he met Warren Harding, a man that Daugherty thought seemed so respectful of everyone, even the person shining his shoes, even before Harding offered Daugherty a plug of tobacco. Daugherty saw great things for Harding, and began a lifelong friendship and partnership put Harding in the White House and Daugherty installed as Attorney General. Daugherty used his new powers to help his friends, cronies, and people with cash, continuing a tradition of graft he had long had. Things began to go bad when Jess Smith, Daughtery's roommate, long time friend and office mate was found dead, suicide it was ruled, but the gun somehow was lost. The relationship between Harding was cooling slightly with Harding almost sharing why to a few people, none of this sounding good. In a tour of America Harding seemed stressed, tired, and uncomfortable dying on the West Coast suddenly. Rumors began almost overnight, about Daughtery's standing in the new administration, rumors a new Senator form Montana began to investigate, as he was a long time foe of corruption. However Harry Daugherty wasn't going without a fight, and a government worker with a taste for power J. Edgar Hoover, and a new investigative group might be what Daugherty needed to fight back.
A very good look at corruption, how it grows, and how so many people would prefer not to bother fighting it. This book really strikes a cord today with much of what Harry Daugherty is accused of could be said of the last few Attorney Generals, well back to 2017. Overreach, corruption, making their own interpretations of laws, weaponizing government agencies. Someone has been reading history. Unfortunately not enough are, or one would learn the more this is allowed, the lack of accountability only makes corruption worse. The book is very well written balancing history politics, scandals, true crime, and people's reactions equally, never dragging or losing the narrative. There is a lot here to keep track of, from rulings against Railroad Unions, to holistic doctors carrying for presidents, and much about local politics and how not only is all politics local, but that's really where the corruption starts. Masters is a very good writer, and tells a very good, very interesting and timely tale about how easy it is to be tainted by power.
Recommended for readers of history and politics. There is so much that seems from today in here it really was eye opening. I look forward to more by Nathan Masters.
Reading history means that I am not surprised often while reading about events going on currently. Reading history means I am more surprised by the fact that people are well to paraphrase Casablanca "shocked, shocked to find their is corruption going on in government", and probably illegal gambling too. Corruption has always existed. Call it royalty, the upper class, the old boy, the newly rich, the want to be rich, access to money means power, access to power means money, and those who have both power and money, always want more, and not pay taxes. Rules are for others, especially those without the means to buy their justice or pay off the cops and investigators with crony jobs, or just straight cash. As much as America hates to look back, people in government since the colonial governors have usually left office far wealthier than when they arrived, a quick look at Twitter shows this is still happening. Crooked: The Roaring '20s Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, a Crusading Senator, and the Birth of the American Political Scandal by historian and public television host Nathan Masters, is a look at corruption during the early part of the twentieth century, how it might have helped bring an early end to a president, and give ideas to a young up-and-coming bureaucrat in a newly started government agency.
Harry Daugherty was enjoying a shave and shoeshine when he met Warren Harding, a man that Daugherty thought seemed so respectful of everyone, even the person shining his shoes, even before Harding offered Daugherty a plug of tobacco. Daugherty saw great things for Harding, and began a lifelong friendship and partnership put Harding in the White House and Daugherty installed as Attorney General. Daugherty used his new powers to help his friends, cronies, and people with cash, continuing a tradition of graft he had long had. Things began to go bad when Jess Smith, Daughtery's roommate, long time friend and office mate was found dead, suicide it was ruled, but the gun somehow was lost. The relationship between Harding was cooling slightly with Harding almost sharing why to a few people, none of this sounding good. In a tour of America Harding seemed stressed, tired, and uncomfortable dying on the West Coast suddenly. Rumors began almost overnight, about Daughtery's standing in the new administration, rumors a new Senator form Montana began to investigate, as he was a long time foe of corruption. However Harry Daugherty wasn't going without a fight, and a government worker with a taste for power J. Edgar Hoover, and a new investigative group might be what Daugherty needed to fight back.
A very good look at corruption, how it grows, and how so many people would prefer not to bother fighting it. This book really strikes a cord today with much of what Harry Daugherty is accused of could be said of the last few Attorney Generals, well back to 2017. Overreach, corruption, making their own interpretations of laws, weaponizing government agencies. Someone has been reading history. Unfortunately not enough are, or one would learn the more this is allowed, the lack of accountability only makes corruption worse. The book is very well written balancing history politics, scandals, true crime, and people's reactions equally, never dragging or losing the narrative. There is a lot here to keep track of, from rulings against Railroad Unions, to holistic doctors carrying for presidents, and much about local politics and how not only is all politics local, but that's really where the corruption starts. Masters is a very good writer, and tells a very good, very interesting and timely tale about how easy it is to be tainted by power.
Recommended for readers of history and politics. There is so much that seems from today in here it really was eye opening. I look forward to more by Nathan Masters.
March 3, 2023
Nathan Masters has pulled together a fast paced read that looks back at what was the most notorious political scandal of its day. With plenty of quotes taken directly from congressional testimony, newspaper reports, and memoirs, the book brings the Roaring 20s and the corrupt Harding administration back to life.
You might recall from your high school history class something called the “Teapot Dome” scandal. Most Americans likely have some awareness of that 1920s scandal, if only for its colorful name. But most of us, including me, don’t really know much about it. We’ve also mostly forgotten another scandal unfolding at the same time - the corruption in the Department of Justice that ultimately led to the fall of the US Attorney General, Harry Daugherty. That is the story of Crooked .
The Teapot Dome scandal had to do with the corrupt leasing of Naval petroleum reserves on two plots of Western federal land, one each to Sinclair Oil and Pan American Petroleum. One of the reserves in Wyoming was known as the Teapot Dome, named after the Teapot Rock, a sandstone formation nearby. These leases secretly made then Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall a rich man through payment of bribes.
As the scandal unfolded Senate investigative hearings began (the first of their kind) led by Sen. Thomas Walsh of Montana. The reluctance of Attorney General Harry Daugherty to pursue prosecution played into a growing concern that Daugherty himself may have been involved in the bribery. Daugherty and Fall were part of the “Ohio Gang”, the nickname given to friends and colleagues of President Harding who had been with him on the campaign trail and now served in various roles in his administration.
Two special prosecutors were assigned to investigate Daugherty’s role in Teapot Dome and concluded he had not been aware of the deal nor taken bribes.
Shortly after this, Jess Smith died, allegedly committing suicide. Smith was Daugherty’s “close friend”, fellow Ohio Gang member and his off-the-books personal assistant at the DOJ. This was a turning point in the scandal in the DOJ. Another special committee, this time led by the brand-new Senator Burton Wheeler of Montana, ultimately led to Daugherty being relieved of his office by President Coolidge.
This scandal has it all. There are bags of money illegally changing hands enabling smuggling of Prohibition booze; an illegally distributed “movie” featuring footage of a prize fight earning money under the table, with a cut of the funds going to Smith and likely the Attorney General; a possible though unproven gay relationship between the Attorney General and his assistant Jess Smith; the offices of US Senators being broken into and ransacked; and, in the aftermath of the scandal, the rise of a new head of the Bureau of Investigation, John Edgar Hoover.
Author Nathan Masters does an excellent job of unfolding this story and leaves no doubt as to the amount of corruption rampant in Daugherty’s DOJ. But, as this is a true story, not everything is black and white. The hero of this book, Senator Burton Wheeler, went on to be an America First booster and suspected anti-Semite in the run-up to WWII. As to the villain Daugherty, though he was forced out of office, he was indicted on only one of the many illegalities highlighted at the Wheeler hearings and acquitted even of that. Fall on the other hand, was jailed for one year for accepting bribes. He became the first former cabinet officer ever to receive a prison term due to misconduct while in office.
If you like US politics, are a fan of American history, or perhaps listened to and loved Rachel Maddow’s podcasts Bagman or Ultra, you’ll likely want to read Crooked.
RATING: Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠
NOTE: I read an advanced review copy of this book courtesy of the author, Hachette Books and NetGalley. The book will be available to the public on March 21, 2023.
You might recall from your high school history class something called the “Teapot Dome” scandal. Most Americans likely have some awareness of that 1920s scandal, if only for its colorful name. But most of us, including me, don’t really know much about it. We’ve also mostly forgotten another scandal unfolding at the same time - the corruption in the Department of Justice that ultimately led to the fall of the US Attorney General, Harry Daugherty. That is the story of Crooked .
The Teapot Dome scandal had to do with the corrupt leasing of Naval petroleum reserves on two plots of Western federal land, one each to Sinclair Oil and Pan American Petroleum. One of the reserves in Wyoming was known as the Teapot Dome, named after the Teapot Rock, a sandstone formation nearby. These leases secretly made then Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall a rich man through payment of bribes.
As the scandal unfolded Senate investigative hearings began (the first of their kind) led by Sen. Thomas Walsh of Montana. The reluctance of Attorney General Harry Daugherty to pursue prosecution played into a growing concern that Daugherty himself may have been involved in the bribery. Daugherty and Fall were part of the “Ohio Gang”, the nickname given to friends and colleagues of President Harding who had been with him on the campaign trail and now served in various roles in his administration.
Two special prosecutors were assigned to investigate Daugherty’s role in Teapot Dome and concluded he had not been aware of the deal nor taken bribes.
Shortly after this, Jess Smith died, allegedly committing suicide. Smith was Daugherty’s “close friend”, fellow Ohio Gang member and his off-the-books personal assistant at the DOJ. This was a turning point in the scandal in the DOJ. Another special committee, this time led by the brand-new Senator Burton Wheeler of Montana, ultimately led to Daugherty being relieved of his office by President Coolidge.
This scandal has it all. There are bags of money illegally changing hands enabling smuggling of Prohibition booze; an illegally distributed “movie” featuring footage of a prize fight earning money under the table, with a cut of the funds going to Smith and likely the Attorney General; a possible though unproven gay relationship between the Attorney General and his assistant Jess Smith; the offices of US Senators being broken into and ransacked; and, in the aftermath of the scandal, the rise of a new head of the Bureau of Investigation, John Edgar Hoover.
Author Nathan Masters does an excellent job of unfolding this story and leaves no doubt as to the amount of corruption rampant in Daugherty’s DOJ. But, as this is a true story, not everything is black and white. The hero of this book, Senator Burton Wheeler, went on to be an America First booster and suspected anti-Semite in the run-up to WWII. As to the villain Daugherty, though he was forced out of office, he was indicted on only one of the many illegalities highlighted at the Wheeler hearings and acquitted even of that. Fall on the other hand, was jailed for one year for accepting bribes. He became the first former cabinet officer ever to receive a prison term due to misconduct while in office.
If you like US politics, are a fan of American history, or perhaps listened to and loved Rachel Maddow’s podcasts Bagman or Ultra, you’ll likely want to read Crooked.
RATING: Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠
NOTE: I read an advanced review copy of this book courtesy of the author, Hachette Books and NetGalley. The book will be available to the public on March 21, 2023.
April 25, 2024
An interesting and relevant history of a crusading Montana freshman Senator, Burton Wheeler, who takes on the corrupt U.S. Justice Department, headed by Harry Daugherty. Daugherty was appointed by President Warren G. Harding, who died in office two years after his inauguration. Succeeding President Coolidge refused to appoint his own cabinet, believing it best to carry on the electoral mandate given then dead Harding.
I found the corrupt use of the nascent Bureau of Investigation to be a very interesting aspect of this story. In 1922, it was headed by an acknowledged wizard of detection, the former head of The Burns Detective Agency, William "Billy" Burns. Burns was unscrupulous in following the whims of his corrupt boss, Daugherty. It was only after the Daugherty scandal was exposed by Wheeler in a lengthy Senate investigative hearing on corruption in the Justice Department that Coolidge finally relented and demanded Daugherty's resignation. Coolidge then appointed the renowned (and honest) dean of the Columbia Law School, Harlan Fiske Stone as U.S. Attorney General. Stone dumped Burns and on May 10, 1924 appointed a young and eager lawyer from within the Bureau of Investigation as the Acting Director, J. Edgar Hoover. Stone removed the "Acting" in December, 2024, after Hoover had shown he was up to the job.
I took issue with the author's adoption of Author Tim Weiner's characterization of Hoover as the "architect of the modern surveillance state" (Pg. 288). This is a complete exaggeration and sensationalization of only a small aspect of the FBI's history under Hoover.
Overall, a fun read and very interesting study of a sad chapter in American justice.
Interesting quotes:
"The key to [your] problem is, of course, men." from a a letter sent to newly appointed Attorney General Stone by then Harvard Law Professor, though eventual Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter (Pg. 211).
Quoting John Adams (Pg. 264): "{America was] a government of laws, not of men."
I found the corrupt use of the nascent Bureau of Investigation to be a very interesting aspect of this story. In 1922, it was headed by an acknowledged wizard of detection, the former head of The Burns Detective Agency, William "Billy" Burns. Burns was unscrupulous in following the whims of his corrupt boss, Daugherty. It was only after the Daugherty scandal was exposed by Wheeler in a lengthy Senate investigative hearing on corruption in the Justice Department that Coolidge finally relented and demanded Daugherty's resignation. Coolidge then appointed the renowned (and honest) dean of the Columbia Law School, Harlan Fiske Stone as U.S. Attorney General. Stone dumped Burns and on May 10, 1924 appointed a young and eager lawyer from within the Bureau of Investigation as the Acting Director, J. Edgar Hoover. Stone removed the "Acting" in December, 2024, after Hoover had shown he was up to the job.
I took issue with the author's adoption of Author Tim Weiner's characterization of Hoover as the "architect of the modern surveillance state" (Pg. 288). This is a complete exaggeration and sensationalization of only a small aspect of the FBI's history under Hoover.
Overall, a fun read and very interesting study of a sad chapter in American justice.
Interesting quotes:
"The key to [your] problem is, of course, men." from a a letter sent to newly appointed Attorney General Stone by then Harvard Law Professor, though eventual Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter (Pg. 211).
Quoting John Adams (Pg. 264): "{America was] a government of laws, not of men."
Read
April 20, 2024Many are familiar with the Teapot Dome scandal under President William G Harding’s administration. Oil reserves vital to the US military interest ended up being leased out to those who subsequently became millionaires.
Not as well known are the many other scandals perpetrated by other high-ranking officials in Harding’s administration, including his US Attorney General, Harry Daugherty.
Junior Montana Senator Thomas J Walsh, who had run for office on an anti-corruption ticket was the committee head leading Senate investigations against Daugherty. Daugherty was ultimately shown to be involved in many shady deals to make him a rich man, including the incredibly profitable selling licenses to move bootleg liquor during Prohibition, sales of public land, movies of boxing macthes shown across state lines and other illegal schemes. These were brought to light after Harding’s death and then after the suicide of a possible gay love interest of Daughterty’s.
The 1920’s Jazz Age loved its scandals and and scofflaws and led to the term ‘Jazz Age Journalism’ with the public eager for details of the latest scandals.
It was also the rise of the FBI under J Edgar Hoover and Daugherty was not above using Hoover and his new department, leading to the first instances of national investigations being weaponized against those trying to bring the perpetrators to justice.
It’s an interesting chapter of history, bringing light to one of the earliest scandal-ridden administrations whose officials were more interested in using the Presidency to create huge fortunes, than in creating stability for the American people.
Recommended for those interested in US history and its politics.
Not as well known are the many other scandals perpetrated by other high-ranking officials in Harding’s administration, including his US Attorney General, Harry Daugherty.
Junior Montana Senator Thomas J Walsh, who had run for office on an anti-corruption ticket was the committee head leading Senate investigations against Daugherty. Daugherty was ultimately shown to be involved in many shady deals to make him a rich man, including the incredibly profitable selling licenses to move bootleg liquor during Prohibition, sales of public land, movies of boxing macthes shown across state lines and other illegal schemes. These were brought to light after Harding’s death and then after the suicide of a possible gay love interest of Daughterty’s.
The 1920’s Jazz Age loved its scandals and and scofflaws and led to the term ‘Jazz Age Journalism’ with the public eager for details of the latest scandals.
It was also the rise of the FBI under J Edgar Hoover and Daugherty was not above using Hoover and his new department, leading to the first instances of national investigations being weaponized against those trying to bring the perpetrators to justice.
It’s an interesting chapter of history, bringing light to one of the earliest scandal-ridden administrations whose officials were more interested in using the Presidency to create huge fortunes, than in creating stability for the American people.
Recommended for those interested in US history and its politics.
December 19, 2022
Synopsis:
Many tales from the Jazz Age reek of crime and corruption. But perhaps the era’s greatest political fiasco—one that resulted in a nationwide scandal, a public reckoning at the department of justice, the rise of J. Edgar Hoover, and an Oscar-winning film—has long been lost to the annals of history. In Crooked, Nathan Masters restores this story of murderers, con artists, secret lovers, spies, bootleggers, and corrupt politicians to its full, page-turning glory.
Newly elected to the Senate on a promise to root out corruption, Burton “Boxcar Burt” Wheeler sets his sights on exposing Harry Daugherty, President Warren G. Harding’s attorney general and the pup-pet master behind the nascent FBI. The famously corrupt Daugherty is known for doing whatever it takes to keep his boss in power, whether it be taking kickbacks from bootleggers or bribes for drilling rights. But when his constant companion and trusted fixer, Jess Smith, is found dead of a gunshot wound in the apartment the two men shared, Daugherty is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, exposing the rot consuming the Harding administration to a shocked public.
Determined to uncover the truth in the ensuing investigation, Wheeler takes the prosecutorial reins and subpoenas a rogue’s gallery of witnesses—ex-cons, bootleggers, disgraced government officials—all seek-ing to expose the attorney general’s treachery and solve the riddle of Jess Smith’s suspicious death. But with the muckraking senator hot on his trail, Daugherty turns to his greatest weapon, the budding Bureau of Investigation, whose eager second-in-command, J. Edgar Hoover, sees opportunity amidst the chaos.
Packed with political intrigue, salacious scandal, and no shortage of lessons for our modern era of political discord, Nathan Masters’s thrilling historical narrative shows how this intricate web of inconceivable crookedness set the stage for the next century of American political scandals.
*
Review:
As someone who has always had an interest in crime, this book peaked my interest. So when I won a copy from Goodreads, I dove in with an open mind. While the book itself is well written and full of interesting information, I often felt lost when the chapters would jump back and forth.
There were many details that were definitely interesting, much to do with the corruption within the US government at that point, but the way in which it was explained left me more confused than when I started.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to history buffs, specifically those interested in the 1920s, but it’s not something I will probably re-read.
*
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many tales from the Jazz Age reek of crime and corruption. But perhaps the era’s greatest political fiasco—one that resulted in a nationwide scandal, a public reckoning at the department of justice, the rise of J. Edgar Hoover, and an Oscar-winning film—has long been lost to the annals of history. In Crooked, Nathan Masters restores this story of murderers, con artists, secret lovers, spies, bootleggers, and corrupt politicians to its full, page-turning glory.
Newly elected to the Senate on a promise to root out corruption, Burton “Boxcar Burt” Wheeler sets his sights on exposing Harry Daugherty, President Warren G. Harding’s attorney general and the pup-pet master behind the nascent FBI. The famously corrupt Daugherty is known for doing whatever it takes to keep his boss in power, whether it be taking kickbacks from bootleggers or bribes for drilling rights. But when his constant companion and trusted fixer, Jess Smith, is found dead of a gunshot wound in the apartment the two men shared, Daugherty is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, exposing the rot consuming the Harding administration to a shocked public.
Determined to uncover the truth in the ensuing investigation, Wheeler takes the prosecutorial reins and subpoenas a rogue’s gallery of witnesses—ex-cons, bootleggers, disgraced government officials—all seek-ing to expose the attorney general’s treachery and solve the riddle of Jess Smith’s suspicious death. But with the muckraking senator hot on his trail, Daugherty turns to his greatest weapon, the budding Bureau of Investigation, whose eager second-in-command, J. Edgar Hoover, sees opportunity amidst the chaos.
Packed with political intrigue, salacious scandal, and no shortage of lessons for our modern era of political discord, Nathan Masters’s thrilling historical narrative shows how this intricate web of inconceivable crookedness set the stage for the next century of American political scandals.
*
Review:
As someone who has always had an interest in crime, this book peaked my interest. So when I won a copy from Goodreads, I dove in with an open mind. While the book itself is well written and full of interesting information, I often felt lost when the chapters would jump back and forth.
There were many details that were definitely interesting, much to do with the corruption within the US government at that point, but the way in which it was explained left me more confused than when I started.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to history buffs, specifically those interested in the 1920s, but it’s not something I will probably re-read.
*
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 2, 2023
Loved this fast-paced thriller, which also happens to be entirely historical. This story and collection of power-players, chit-calling, and "courtroom" drama is right up my alley, especially when the right threads get pulled to start unraveling the corruption. The fact that every action and bit of dialogue is researched and pulled directly from historical documents makes it all the more amazing.
What is especially interesting to me - even more than the bout between the heavyweights of Daughtery and Wheeler - is the random collection of players and facts that pry open these mysteries: a self-interested oilman that feels left out of a deal, a shady, bitter ex-agent, and a double-crossed bootlegger among them. But lest one think that only an equally cynical group is capable of exposing another, what the unfolding makes clear is that justice only works when there are at least a few people of actual integrity in the right positions, who are able to (mostly) lay aside self-interest and partisanship and uphold the dignity of their office. I was pleased to encounter at least a few of these as well in the pages of Crooked.
Still, although this book inevitably raises questions about that self-interest, partisanship, and corruption in public office, at the end of the day it is a ton of fun to read. The fact that I also learned a bunch of interesting tidbits- the origin of the term "smoke-filled room", the inspiration for Mr Smith Goes to Washington, and how J Edgar Hoover chameleoned himself into the FBI directorship - made this well worth the read. Highly recommend!
What is especially interesting to me - even more than the bout between the heavyweights of Daughtery and Wheeler - is the random collection of players and facts that pry open these mysteries: a self-interested oilman that feels left out of a deal, a shady, bitter ex-agent, and a double-crossed bootlegger among them. But lest one think that only an equally cynical group is capable of exposing another, what the unfolding makes clear is that justice only works when there are at least a few people of actual integrity in the right positions, who are able to (mostly) lay aside self-interest and partisanship and uphold the dignity of their office. I was pleased to encounter at least a few of these as well in the pages of Crooked.
Still, although this book inevitably raises questions about that self-interest, partisanship, and corruption in public office, at the end of the day it is a ton of fun to read. The fact that I also learned a bunch of interesting tidbits- the origin of the term "smoke-filled room", the inspiration for Mr Smith Goes to Washington, and how J Edgar Hoover chameleoned himself into the FBI directorship - made this well worth the read. Highly recommend!
December 1, 2022
Mark Twain said something like - history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes, this book provides an example. In 1920 Warren G. Harding was elected President and when he took office appointed his campaign manager, Harry Daugherty, Attorney General. Harding died in office and Calvin Coolidge became President and kept Daugherty on as AG. Daugherty used the DOJ to promote corporate interests for a price. Harding and Coolidge went along with Daugherty's corruption and may have assisted in ways. In 2016 Donald J. Trump was elected President first appointing Jeff Sessions and then William Barr as AG. Trump's corruption is now being revealed and his Barr's going along with and even helping with the corruption is now partly known. The roles may be somewhat reversed but the rhyme is there.
Daugherty and his co-conspirators were never really punished. Showing that the rich and politically powerful are above the law. It remains to be seen if the politically powerful get off this time.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone concerned about justice, in fact, I recommend everyone read it.
I received an ARC from HACHETTE through GOODREADS and read the 354 pages in 2 days.
Daugherty and his co-conspirators were never really punished. Showing that the rich and politically powerful are above the law. It remains to be seen if the politically powerful get off this time.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone concerned about justice, in fact, I recommend everyone read it.
I received an ARC from HACHETTE through GOODREADS and read the 354 pages in 2 days.
April 2, 2023
(Audiobook) Given all the political scandals that dominate the news, it can be hard to think of a time when such things could be considered a public novelty. Rewinding the clock back to a century ago, such scandals rocked DC and nation. President Harding had just passed away, but the scandals associated with his Administration just started to come to light, and it forever damaged his reputation. However, for those still alive, worse fallout followed. The Attorney General, Dougherty, did much to hide the impacts of Harding’s failures, but his abuse of power drew the ire of a controversial Montana Senator Wheeler, who proceeded to launch a Congressional inquiry that managed to bring down the political figure.
This engaging work manages to cover the details of how that inquiry came to be as well as the personalities involved on all sides of the debate. From Coolidge, who had to cut loose the political figure to save his reelection bit to Dougherty’s special friend Smith, and the actions of his widow to salvage his and her reputations. Reads like a current cover story in the Washington Post, save the modern polarization. Worth the read, regardless of format.
This engaging work manages to cover the details of how that inquiry came to be as well as the personalities involved on all sides of the debate. From Coolidge, who had to cut loose the political figure to save his reelection bit to Dougherty’s special friend Smith, and the actions of his widow to salvage his and her reputations. Reads like a current cover story in the Washington Post, save the modern polarization. Worth the read, regardless of format.
June 20, 2023
Masters does a wonderful job of storytelling in this book about a glossed over scandal in the 1920s. The tenure of Harry Daugherty as Attorney General during Prohibition is non-existent in American History textbook, overshadowed by the Teapot Dome Scandal and the "Roaring Twenties" theme of the decade. Even Harding gets short mention (rightfully so) in favor of Coolidge and Hoover as the Presidents of the decade, yet the Cabinet assembled by Harding was exceptionally controversial and consequential. This book delves into the crusade of Sen. Burton Wheeler of Montana to take down the most powerful and crooked man from the Harding administration, even after the death of the President and the general outrage over the Teapot Dome Scandal in the Department of the Interior. This topic is not typically riveting material, but Masters puts it together by telling the stories of those involved into more of a narrative, which humanizes them and moves the events along as if it were a novel. I learned quite a bit about the time period and the scandal, so I was impressed with the writing and the scholarship, even though he may stray a bit too far into conjecture.
September 3, 2023
This book is a gripping story, well told, with a lot of resonance in today's politics. Imagine a corrupt Attorney General (way worse than Bill Barr), weaponizing the Justice Department, living openly with his (likely) homosexual partner, who (allegedly) commits suicide under mysterious circumstances. Imagine protection from prosecution and licenses to sell alcohol during prohibition being for sale to the highest bidder. I had forgotten, but the story even includes a Presidential candidate (Eugene V. Debbs) running from jail! All of this resonates with a lot of what goes on in Washington today - we may think the scandals are bigger and more obvious, but the scandal depicted in this book is pretty egregious. Eventually, Harry Daugherty, the crooked Attorney General was brought down, but never actually faced any jail time for any of his crimes, and the death of his partner was never thoroughly investigated. So, a perhaps less than satisfying conclusion, but this I certainly found this to be an engrossing story about a forgotten chapter of American history. If you like a good history book, I'd definitely recommend this one to you.
January 5, 2023
Crooked politicians and a major political scandal—imagine that! These events happened a hundred years ago, and it seems we (society) haven’t learned a thing.
I love being immersed in the 1920s, and I enjoy history and true crime, so I expected to love this book. I did like it—some parts more than others—but it didn’t capture me the way I expected.
The research is well presented. All the little pieces fit together for us to see the big picture.
The writing provides an easy-to-read narrative, though I felt it lacked the spark needed to breathe life into these people from the past.
I was disappointed in the lack of atmosphere. We could have been discussing events from any point in history. Aside from a few references to Prohibition, I didn’t feel a strong connection to the Roaring Twenties. I would’ve loved more immersion in the happenings of society at the time.
Still, this is an interesting case that shows the extreme reach of government corruption.
*Thanks to Hachette Books for the ARC.*
I love being immersed in the 1920s, and I enjoy history and true crime, so I expected to love this book. I did like it—some parts more than others—but it didn’t capture me the way I expected.
The research is well presented. All the little pieces fit together for us to see the big picture.
The writing provides an easy-to-read narrative, though I felt it lacked the spark needed to breathe life into these people from the past.
I was disappointed in the lack of atmosphere. We could have been discussing events from any point in history. Aside from a few references to Prohibition, I didn’t feel a strong connection to the Roaring Twenties. I would’ve loved more immersion in the happenings of society at the time.
Still, this is an interesting case that shows the extreme reach of government corruption.
*Thanks to Hachette Books for the ARC.*
April 22, 2023
As always, I renew my objection that there aren't more books about the Warren Harding administration. Ludicrously corrupt politics amidst the background of the Roaring 20s? Come on, now. Anyway, I was hoping this would cover Harding more but instead, it focused on Harry Daugherty and his dirty deeds. And that's fine. It was still a readable, fascinating look at Burt Wheeler's pursuit of justice, imperfect though it was. Daugherty and his ilk were worse than even I knew through the Teapot Dome scandal and Nathan Masters brings all the juicy details of Wheeler's crusade. He also wrote at length on something I didn't know: the DOJ bringing trumped up federal charges against Wheeler. What a mess. He also touches on the fact that Wheeler was by no means some sort of super hero crusader: he relied on embellishment and innuendo and spent his final years in office stumping for Charles Lindbergh's anti-Semitic America First party before and during WWII. Anyway, this is an easy-to-read look at a political corruption scandal in the US that should be better known.
September 6, 2024
A lot is going on in this book about the history and scandal of our country which sadly has been around since our country was formed. Here you have a look into part of the Teapot Dome scandal which I don’t think they even talk about in school anymore. This was during the Coolidge and Hoover administrations and also had some part of Hoover losing the election. The corruption is done by the Attorney General of the United States but yes these other men knew about it, and of course, it started because of a strike with the railroads and the owners not wanting to pay anything for labor once again but they had the power to buy people in Washington who wanted to help them. The book shows how Senator Benton Wheeler started the investigation and how big it became oh my someone doing something in Wahington sorry that was in the 1920s. Anyway, back to the book a lot of history which is good you also get a glimpse into the beginning of the FBI and other characters if you have read other history books. I found this to be a very good book and very much worth the read.
September 30, 2023
The author sets the stage by describing Teapot Dome and then zeroes in on some of the key figures in the scandal of the U.S. Attorney General, the senator and many others (including the new head of the FBI, Hoover). I found the book could have been edited more tightly since there seemed to be many characters who make brief tangential appearances and then exit the stage. The timeline also could have been highlighted more.
In any event, it's the fourth book about the 1920's that I read this summer and adds to my understanding of the period. The others include: Fever in the Heartland, Wounded World, Against the World. I'm not reading Last Call, the story of the 18th Amendment and prohibition. Each of the books spotlighted very different slices of that decade, which I previously only thought of in terms of "The Roaring Twenties".
I don't know if this would work on different eras but I do recommend this as an approach that truly elucidates history.
In any event, it's the fourth book about the 1920's that I read this summer and adds to my understanding of the period. The others include: Fever in the Heartland, Wounded World, Against the World. I'm not reading Last Call, the story of the 18th Amendment and prohibition. Each of the books spotlighted very different slices of that decade, which I previously only thought of in terms of "The Roaring Twenties".
I don't know if this would work on different eras but I do recommend this as an approach that truly elucidates history.
November 5, 2024
In Crooked, Nathan Masters describes the political scandals in the US during the early 1920s. He begins with the Teapot Dome and then focuses on the showdown between freshman Senator Burton Wheeler of Montana and US Attorney General Harry Daugherty, over political and personal corruption. Daugherty was a good friend and sponsor of President Harding. Later Masters moves into the early years of the FBI and its rising star, J Edgar Hoover.
I was somewhat familiar with the Teapot Dome scandals, but the other politicians, operatives and incidents were mostly new to me. Masters writes of events a hundred years ago, but they seem almost minor compared to Watergate and today’s political activities. I wanted more information on the Teapot Dome, but appreciated all of the twists and turns of the investigations and court cases.
I listened to the audio book which was narrated by David H Lawrence XVII.
Crooked received the 2024 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime.
I was somewhat familiar with the Teapot Dome scandals, but the other politicians, operatives and incidents were mostly new to me. Masters writes of events a hundred years ago, but they seem almost minor compared to Watergate and today’s political activities. I wanted more information on the Teapot Dome, but appreciated all of the twists and turns of the investigations and court cases.
I listened to the audio book which was narrated by David H Lawrence XVII.
Crooked received the 2024 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime.
April 26, 2023
If there’s anything worse than 2020s American politics, I reckon it’s 1920s American politics. Well-researched review of Harding Administration scandals, such as Teapot Dome among many others that benefitted those with an inside connection to the high and mighty of the day.
I’ve always been inclined to think the best of elected officials and their coteries, but the older I get the less I do. In this Administration it seems the only incompetents were those not smart enough to get rich through graft. Oh well, representative government is better than the alternatives, as they say.
If you can’t get enough of modern day political malfeasance stories then this one will fill that hole in your soul.
I’ve always been inclined to think the best of elected officials and their coteries, but the older I get the less I do. In this Administration it seems the only incompetents were those not smart enough to get rich through graft. Oh well, representative government is better than the alternatives, as they say.
If you can’t get enough of modern day political malfeasance stories then this one will fill that hole in your soul.
July 10, 2023
Rounding up to 4 even though it's probably more like 3.5? Very engaging story about something I only know about in broad terms as "Teapot Dome." This tells the story of the people at the heart of it, including a senator who I've never heard of before who was key to uncovering the whole thing but also had a political downfall himself (though of a bright light that burnt out rather than scandal). Masters' larger point is that the way that this senator handled this scandal has direct implications to the ways that Congress has handled all such cases since, including the idea of condemnation in public opinion being worse than any actual legal case. I don't know if the book really stuck that landing firmly, but the story at the heart was interesting enough for me to enjoy it.
August 14, 2024
Crooked is an account of the unthinkably corrupt tenure of Attorney General Harry Dougherty in the early 1900's. Dougherty's masterful stewardship allowed for Warren Harding's rise to the presidency and Harding, in return, took a "hands off" approach in dealing with his newly minted AG. Burt Wheeler, a young but savvy progressive senator from Montana, took it upon himself to dig deeply into Dougherty's network of unseemly associates, ultimately leading to Doughtery's dismissal from office. Although it's well-researched and written, I found Crooked to be too detailed which made the book a slow-paced read. This sadly detracted me somewhat from the incredible scandal that Nathan Masters has reopened for us 100 years after the fact.
March 11, 2026
This book is about a fascinating and lesser-known period of American history, but unfortunately it's clumsy, repetitive, and melodramatic. It's also full of this kind of thing:
At the Capitol, Daugherty gulped and choked back tears as he entered the rotunda and saw the coffin placed atop the same catafalque that had borne Lincoln's body in 1865. But as he watched President Coolidge, that pinch-faced, moralistic little man, place an enormous wreath at the bier, his grief was tinged with a new and unsettling emotion: insecurity (44).My tolerance for this semi-fictionalized type of history has decreased as it has become more ubiquitous in popular histories like these. Bring back history that doesn't make up details about how people felt!
January 7, 2024
This is the story of how a crusading Senator brings down a corrupt Attorney General. It starts like a house afire, with Senator Wheeler vowing to bring down Harry Daugherty. Masters goes into detail on their respective backgrounds, assesses politics in 1924, and lines up the supporting cast.
This is in fact an intriguing and analytical study. The portraits are well drawn. Wheeler is obviously the hero, but his flaws are noted. He needs publicity to get President Coolidge to drop Daugherty, so he makes some exaggerated claims.
But then everything slows down. Masters’ tight control of the narrative falters as we move t the 1924 election.
This is in fact an intriguing and analytical study. The portraits are well drawn. Wheeler is obviously the hero, but his flaws are noted. He needs publicity to get President Coolidge to drop Daugherty, so he makes some exaggerated claims.
But then everything slows down. Masters’ tight control of the narrative falters as we move t the 1924 election.
January 8, 2024
What a great story and piece of history to read about. After reading "American Midnight" by Adam Hochschild, this book greatly dovetails into the corruption and flaws within American government filled with those whose personal interests exceed their public oath. One hundred years later, some of the very same concerns permeate candidates and presidential periods. Sadly, the ending is disappointing concerning the main character and his eventual fall from public view. But during his most active time, he was someone to look up to and appreciate. Fascinating and yet easy read for anyone interested in US history. As US history buff, I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it.
August 22, 2024
Fascinating! I had heard bits and pieces of the Teapot Dome Scandal from Warren Harding's time in office, but I never knew any details until now. The scandal and the money involved was a major issue for our country equal to ay scandal to happen since that time. Millions of dollars were "lost" when actually politicians and other citizens collected these millions and many of them got away with it!
The book is written so that each person is introduced at the time they enter the story so at times I was a little confused, but it all made sense as the book continued. A book well worth reading for any fan of politics and scandals.
The book is written so that each person is introduced at the time they enter the story so at times I was a little confused, but it all made sense as the book continued. A book well worth reading for any fan of politics and scandals.
February 20, 2025
Crooked delves a little deeper than other books on the subject of a series of scandals that included the Teapot Dome scandal that stated under the Harding administration. This book takes a look at Harry M. Daugherty, the most corrupt Secretary of State to hold the office until recent times. He was probably the first to weaponize the DOJ as well. This book is well-written and researched and politically neutral, all of which seems hard to find in a book on political figures.
I enjoyed this book in that ticks off three boxes at once for me as far as the kinds of books I enjoying reading—the 1920s, true crime and politics.
I enjoyed this book in that ticks off three boxes at once for me as far as the kinds of books I enjoying reading—the 1920s, true crime and politics.
May 30, 2024
Warren G.Harding came into office promising a Return to Normalcy. All was normal for Attorney General Harry Daugherty — bribes, kickbacks, intimidation, dirty deeds done none too cheaply. Freshman Senator Burton K. Wheeler was determined to unearth Daugherty’s corruption. CROOKED is a record of their battle of wills. Daugherty, Harding’s former campaign manager, was one of the most corrupt people to ever infest the Executive Branch, until recent years. In many way CROOKED is a look at our current political situation in metaphor.
November 11, 2025
3.5. Interesting how many parallels there were to today’s political dirty deeds. It was depressing to be reminded that people actually gave a shit when politicians were just out to line their pockets. I thought it was rather anticlimactic however. I kept waiting for a dramatic turn, but the justice system basically chugged along as it should. As it used to. Maybe I’m jaded. What was once shocking and scandalous in the roaring 20’s seems rather quaint when today, insurrectionists are described as patriots.
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