Teapot Dome

American  

noun

U.S. History.

1. a federal oil reserve in Wyoming, leased to private producer Harry F. Sinclair by Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall in 1922, leading to a major government scandal and the tarnishing of the reputation of President Warren G. Harding's administration (1921–23).

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Teapot Dome

The interior department secretary accepted bribes in exchange for awarding oil leases during Warren Harding's presidency in the 1920s, an episode known as the Teapot Dome scandal.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

In that case Congress was investigating the Teapot Dome scandal, which involved the corrupt sale of oil rights in Wyoming.

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2023

With no new revelations, a popular syndicated newspaper column raised the inevitable question: “And is that Teapot Dome oil row a tempest in a teapot?”

From Washington Post ● Jan. 9, 2022

In 1922, the Teapot Dome scandal had its beginnings as Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall signed a secret deal to lease U.S.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 7, 2021

The scandal, known as Teapot Dome, landed the secretary of the interior in prison.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield