The New York Times called Warren Harding "a respectable Ohio politician of the second class" when he became the Republican nomination for President. The quote means he respectable but is not member of the elite. The quote didn't matter thought because he won the Presidential election in a landslide. Harding wanted to "return to normalcy" before the Progressive Era. He believe the government shouldn't control business and shouldn't deal with affairs with Europe. Harding's cabinet was made primarily of friends and political supporters known as "Ohio Gang" and that is where all the corruption began. The first scandal that occured during his presidency was the Teapot Scandal. Another scandal that occured was that Jesse Smith assistant to Attorney General Harry M. Cramer was exposed as a "bagman". He was carrying bribes to and from the Attorney General's office. He later committed suicide when he was banished from Washington. Another cabinet member that was expose for bribery was Charles Cramer legal advisor to the Veterans Bureau. He too committed suicide. Charles Forbes was convicted of taking at least $250 million in kickbacks and bribes. Forbes was a also a member of the Veterans Bureau. Thomas W. Miller was convicted of fraud when he sold valuable German patents seized in the war for far below market price and had also taken bribes. Miller was the head of the Office of Alien Property. In the end Harding's administration has been seen as one of the most corrupt of all time. Warren, Coolidge and a few members were kept in the clear. Warren even said "I have no trouble with my enemies... but my damned friends, they're the ones that keep me up at night!"