The Great Teapot Dome scandal

Websters describes a teapot as a "a vessel with a spout and a handle in which tea is brewed and from which it is served"; a vessel used for steeping tea leaves or an herbal mix in boiling or near-boiling water, and for serving the resulting infusion which is called tea.

The first known use of the teapot was in the year of our Lord, 1685.The teapot was invented during the Yuan Dynasty, tea preparation in past dynasties didn't use a teapot. In the Tang Dynasty, a cauldron was used to boil grounded tea, which was served in bowls. Song Dynasty tea was made by pouring water boiled using a kettle into a bowl with finely ground tea leaves. A brush was then used to stir the tea. The innovation of the teapot, a vessel that steeps tea leaves in boiling water, occurs during the late Yuan dynasty. Written evidence of a teapot appears in the Yuan Dynasty text, Jiyuan Conghua, which describes a teapot that the author, Cai Shizhan, bought from the scholar Sun Daoming. By the Ming Dynasty, teapots were widespread in China.The earliest example of a teapot that has survived to this day seems to be the one in the Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware; it has been dated to 1513 and attributed to Gongchun.

So what does that mean to us? It means that when the is the word "dynasty" used, never fuck with them. Ever. They don't like that. I mean, would you? I certainly wouldn't. And being half Irish, I have an outrageous temper anyhoo. When the Steelers or Penguins lose, like a child, I can get so fucking mad that I have been known to throw "things" up against a wall. (Notice I didn't say wine or hard liquor; that's more expensive.)

Of course, Ireland is a small independent island nation, which means they are surrounded by water. Ireland is divided into two parts--The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. So the Irish like to fight, drink, fish and grow potatoes.

So it seems, basically, that the Yuan, Tang, Song, Ming, the Yankees, Celtics, Canadian & Steeler Dynasty were responsible for all of this.

The unsubstantiated world's largest architectural teapot is to be found in here in good ole West "By God" Virginia. In 1938 the Chester teapot was constructed by William "Don't call me Babe Ruth or Warren" Devon. The Teapot started its life as a gigantic wooden hogshead barrel for a Hires Root Beer advertising campaign.Devon purchased the barrel in Pennsylvania and had it shipped to Chester, WV where it was set up at the junction of State Route 2 and U.S. Route 30. A spout and handle were added at this time and the wooden barrel was covered with tin to form the teapot's shape. A large glass ball was placed on top to make the knob of the "lid". The Teapot stood in front of Devon's pottery outlet store. Local teenagers were hired to run a concession and souvenir stand which was set up inside the Teapot.

In 1948 the 1st Annual Teapot Bowl was held in this structure, making the way for the domed stadiums, and by lifting off the lid, was the inspiration for the retractable roofs we have today. In the 1st Annual Teapot Bowl, the University of Pittsburgh played the University of Nebraska, in which Nebraska won 23-20 with a last second kick by Nebraska All American kicker Jack Koff. Also what authorities didn't know was that Devon was using the teapot as a moonshine still which was a damn good source of revenue for the Teapot Bowl that kept the teapot "perculating" for years! (See what I did there!!)

Around the 1960's, it seems that a "tea infuser" is responsible for making the teapot a viable and useful pot around the house.

The tea infuser was modified in the 1960's for use on NASCAR race cars engines and 5 drivers, Phil These, Craven Morehead, Ben Dover, Bob Uppendown and Drew Blood won 27 races in 5 years with this innovative engine setup. They were inducted in the Racing Hall of Fame together as the "Teapot Dynasty". (and there is that word again!)

Speaking of cars, Teapot Dome Service Station was built in 1922 in Zillah, Washington on what later became U.S. Route 12. The building has a circular frame with a conical roof, sheet metal "handle", and a concrete "spout". 

The unique service station continued operation as a full-service gas station for some years. When Interstate 82 was constructed near Zillah, the station was relocated less than a mile down the Yakima Valley Highway. It is no longer in operation. In 2007, the City of Zillah purchased the station, and in 2012, relocated and rehabilitated the Teapot Dome Gas Station. The new location is 117 First Avenue, Zillah, Washington.

Of course there is nothing as frustrating as a dropped teapot. Let us take some time here to ponder on some words that rhyme with teapot. We have (and I quote) allot, a lot, ascot, a shot, Banat, bank shot, besot, big shot, black rot, black spot, blind spot, bloodshot, bowknot, boycott, brown rot, buckshot, bullshot, cachepot, calotte, cheap shot, chip shot, crackpot, Crock-Pot, culotte, dashpot, despot, dogtrot, dovecote, draw shot, dreadnought, drop shot, drylot, dry rot, dunk shot, ear rot, earshot, ergot, eyeshot, eyespot, feedlot, fiat, firepot, fleshpot, foot rot, foul shot, fox-trot, fusspot, fylfot, garrote, gavotte, grapeshot, G-spot, gunshot, half-knot, have-not, highspot, hotchpot, hot pot, hotshot, ikat, jackpot, job lot, jog trot, jump shot, Kalat, Korat, kumquat, leaf spot, long shot, loquat, love knot, manat, marplot, moon shot, motmot, mug shot, nightspot, odd lot, one-shot, Pequot, Pol Pot, potshot, Rabat, red-hot, reef knot, ring spot, robot, root knot, root rot, sandlot, set shot, sexpot, Shabbat, Shebat, sheepcote, slap shot (great fucking movie!), slingshot, slipknot, slungshot, snapshot, soft rot, soft spot, somewhat, split shot, square knot, stinkpot, stockpot, subplot, sunspot, sweet spot, sword knot, tin-pot, topknot, tosspot, try-pot, upshot, wainscot, warm spot, whatnot, white-hot, woodlot, wood shot, and of course, wrist shot ("He shoots, he scores!!").

What is the teapot's greatest enemy, other than the floor?

Well, strictly speaking, in the natural habitat of the teapot lies the silver hammer. In fact, Sir Paul tells us that it is the "silver hammer" that is the teapot's biggest predator. 

☜(DID YOU KNOW? The "silver hammer" was invented by Maxwell Edison majoring in medicine at Oxford.)

Now for the basis of this story. In my history class I have wrote a paper. I'm thinking about making a short, student produced movie out of it with Tiffany Leslie in the starring role. The creepy monster HAS to be played by Kristen Call. It is a role that Mrs. Call was destined for!

(Notice the picture on the left: Looks like someone bashed the head in of the ghost of Mommy Dearest.

The Teapot Dome scandal

Before the Watergate scandal, Teapot Dome was considered the "greatest and most sensational scandal in the history of American politics". The scandal also was a key factor in posthumously further destroying the public reputation of the Harding administration, which was already unpopular due to its poor handling of the Great Railroad Strike of 1922 and the President's veto of the Bonus Bill in 1922.

Of course Warren G. Harding was from Blooming Grove, Ohio and as everyone knows, Ohioans have the reputation of fucking things up, total fucking dumbasses, especially those from Loveland, Ohio but I digress because basically Loveland is famous for producing pimps and prostitutes, which the great Jack White pontificates you can't be both. I got news for Jack. It has happened.

Of course remember this was the beginning of the "Harding curse"....... remember Tonya Harding.... remember Jeff Gillooly.... remember Shawn Eckhardt?? ("WHY, WHY??")

Basically it goes like this: In April 1922, a small Wyoming oil operator wrote to Senator John B. Kendrick, angered that Sinclair had been given a contract to the lands in a secret deal. Kendrick did not respond, but two days later on the 15th, he introduced a resolution calling for an investigation of the deal. Republican Senator Robert M. LaFollette, Sr. of Wisconsin led an investigation by the Senate Committee on Public Lands. At first, La Follette believed Fall was innocent. However, his suspicions deepened after his own office in the Senate Office Building was ransacked. Democrat Thomas J. Walsh of Montana, the most junior minority member, led a lengthy inquiry. For two years, Walsh pushed forward while Fall stepped backward, covering his ass as he went. No evidence of wrongdoing was initially uncovered as the leases were legal enough, but records kept disappearing mysteriously. Fall had made the leases appear legitimate, but his acceptance of the money was his undoing. By 1924, the remaining unanswered question was how Fall had become so rich so quickly.

Money from the bribes had gone to Fall's cattle ranch and investments in his business.  Finally, as the investigation was winding down with Fall apparently innocent, Walsh 
uncovered a piece of evidence Fall had forgotten to cover up: Doheny's $100,000 loan to 
Fall. Dumbass.

This discovery broke the scandal open. Civil and criminal suits related to the scandal 
continued throughout the 1920s. In 1927 the Supreme Court ruled that the oil leases had 
been corruptly (fraudulently) obtained. The Court invalidated the Elk Hills lease in 
February 1927 and the Teapot Dome lease in October. Both reserves were returned to the 
Navy.

Albert Fall was found guilty of bribery in 1929; he was fined $100,000 and sentenced to one year in prison, making him the first Presidential cabinet member to go to prison for his actions in office. Harry Sinclair, who refused to cooperate with the government investigators, was charged with contempt, fined $100,000, and received a short sentence of 6 1/2 months for jury tampering. Edward Doheny was acquitted of bribery in 1930.
Another significant outcome was the Supreme Court's ruling in McGrain v. Daugherty (1927) which, for the first time, explicitly established that Congress had the power to compel testimony.

Now, not only did this put these sleazy fellows in the hoosegow, but effectively killed the Teapot Bowl which went on to become the Sugar Bowl down in New Orleans.

The moral of this story...... be careful who you fuck with.

... and so now you know, the rest of the story.

Paul Harvey....... 

Good Day.





In closing I would just like to say..............

Suck on it LOSER.

From time to time I will post little snippets that go through that crazy little noggin of mine.

So , as the great Jackie Gleason used to say... and away we go!!

My lady Hannah sent this to me and it was so beautiful: "Dating an ex is the equivalent of failing a test you already had the answers to. So with that stated can we please have a moment of silence for the respect I lost for you?"

Now folks, that's a girl after my own heart and odds on favorite to be my next wife. The family loves her, unlike.......................

From the irony is rich department: Come and get your love, bitch.
No one likes a man hating lesbo.

So until next time my peeps....

"Tarzan go now. Swing away on vines!"