 Forbes 's resignation , however , would come earlier than June 1 , 1923 as his friends had predicted . When President Harding was informed that Forbes had disobeyed a direct order to stop selling hospital supplies , Harding summoned him to the White House in January 1923 . Forbes pleaded with Harding to allow him to go to Europe to settle family matters . Harding allowed him to flee to Europe only on the condition he would resign from the Veterans ' Bureau . While in Europe , he voluntarily resigned from office on February 15 , 1923 . When Forbes took Elias H. Mortimer 's wife to Europe with him , Mortimer decided to testify against him in a Congressional investigation that started on March 2 , 1923 . Upon his return from Europe , Forbes visited President Harding at the White House . The six @-@ foot @-@ tall President grabbed Forbes by the throat and began violently shaking him " as a dog would a rat " . Forbes was saved from this attack when a guest who had an appointment with the President interrupted the altercation . President Harding was angered over Forbes ' duplicity in stopping the Perryville shipments . The Senate investigation revealed Forbes had left 200 @,@ 000 unopened pieces of mail from veterans at the Bureau . Belligerent before the Senate committee , Forbes renounced involvement in illegal activities . Mortimer provided damaging information that Forbes took a $ 5 @,@ 000 payment in Chicago and got kickbacks for land deals and building contracts for veterans ' hospitals . Forbes was indicted and tried by jury in 1924 . 
