Coolidge's Administration, 1923-29

Coolidge's honesty and forthrightness helped to remove the stigma of scandal from the Republican party, and he was elected President by a landslide in 1924. The poor showing of Democrat John W. Davis was partly the result of the candidacy of Senator Robert La Follette, who ran for President as a Progressive and attracted many Democratic votes. Another factor, probably the most important cause of the Republican landslide, was that business was entering a period of prosperity. The prices of securities soared and everyone—except the farmer—seemed to be making money. It later became clear, however, that this boom was not soundly based.