President Warren G. Harding was concerned about prohibition. In 1920, the 18th amendment was ratified by congress overriding a presidential veto and the United States and was dry. Well maybe not so dry, their was still bootleggers, moonshine, rum runners, Canadian whiskey, sacramental wine, prescription wine, and of course politicians. Prohibition did not bring about morality and health as many in the temperance movement hoped, but rather corruption and law enforcement issues. In 1922, two years into prohibition, President Warren Harding addressed Congress expressing his concerns:
"Constitutional prohibition has been adopted by the Nation. It is the supreme law of the land. In plain speaking, there are conditions relating to its enforcement which savor of nation-wide scandal. It is the most demoralizing factor in our public life.
Most of our people assumed that the adoption of the eighteenth amendment meant the elimination of the question from our politics. On the contrary, it has been so intensified as an issue that many voters are disposed to make all political decisions with reference to this single question. It is distracting the public mind and prejudicing the judgment of the electorate.
The day is unlikely to come when the eighteenth amendment will be repealed. The fact may as well be recognized and our course adapted accordingly. If the statutory provisions for its enforcement are contrary to deliberate public opinion, which I do not believe the rigorous and literal enforcement will concentrate public attention on any requisite modification. Such a course, conforms with the law and saves the humiliation of the Government and the humiliation of our people before the world, and challenges the destructive forces engaged in widespread violation, official corruption and individual demoralization."
These words are ironic coming from a President who liked his drink very much. Bootleggers kept the White house stocked. When President Harding was not at the golf course, he hosted long poker games with his political friends where the liquor flowed freely. His presidency was full of rumors of affairs with women and scandals (Teapot scandal) that rivaled Watergate. Harding died at age 57 only 2 years into his presidency. There were even rumors that his wife murdered him.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29563
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G._Harding
http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/unintended-consequences/
http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/article.php?Article_Summary=1321
bro had that dawg in him
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