NPR: A History of Political Sex Scandals

A History of Political Sex Scandals

New York Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer is not the first politician with a national profile to be caught up in a sex scandal. Back in 1998 when politics editor Ken Rudin's Political Junkie column was running in the Washington Post, he put together a history of political sex scandals during the investigation into then-President Clinton's relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky.

As Ken wrote at the time, "This history begins in 1974, but not because episodes of sexual impropriety only go back a quarter-century. In the old days, they simply weren't reported. In 1903, for example, the Speaker of the House, David Henderson (R-Iowa), was forced to resign over his sexual relationship with the daughter of a senator. Henderson never said why he was quitting, and neither did the press. But that was then, and this is now."

Some of the incidents you might remember: Rep. Wilbur Mills (D-Ark.), then-chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee with stripper Fanne Foxe, the "Argentine Firecracker." (Who can forget him dancing on stage with her in Boston?)

Or this from 1981 ...

The Wilmington News-Journal reported on March 6, 1981, that three House members -- Thomas Evans (R-Del.) , Tom Railsback (R-Ill.) and Dan Quayle (R-Ind.) --- shared a cottage during a 1980 vacation in Florida with Paula Parkinson, a lobbyist who later posed for Playboy magazine. All three proceeded to vote against federal crop-insurance legislation that Parkinson had been lobbying against, and questions were raised whether votes were exchanged for sex. Railsback and Quayle denied having sex with her. Evans said he regretted his "association" with Parkinson and asked his family and God to forgive him. But he forgot to include the voters, who in 1982 threw him out of office.

But there is also proof that being caught in a sex scandal doesn't necessary end the career of a politician. In response to a story in the Washington Times in 1989, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) confirmed he hired Steve Gobie, a male prostitute, in 1985 to live with and work for him in his D.C. apartment. But Frank, who is gay, said he fired Gobie when he learned he was running a male prostitution ring from his apartment. The House 408-18 to reprimand Frank ... but he never stepped down and is still representing his Massachusetts district in Congress 19 years later.

And that list was just up to 1998 ...

11:57 AM ET | 03-11-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

History is full of the sexual adventures of leaders and government officials, going back thousands of years. What I find amazing is that as our society has become more tolerant and more accepting of what a generation ago was considered deviant behavior the response to this kind of situation is to show moral outrage and shock. A job is a job, personal life is personal life. Unless the personal life is affecting the job, let it go. After all, pornography is one of the biggest industries in the world and it is not just a handful of perverts responsible.

Sent by Michael Jacobs | 1:33 PM ET | 03-11-2008

Remember Gary Hart? The handsome senator from Colorado who once had made a almost successful run for the nomination but was derailed for sexual improprieties. A photo was released of the senator and a shapely congressional worker sitting on his lap. It also appeared they both were intoxicated.

Sent by T. Michael Longton | 1:55 PM ET | 03-11-2008

I would love to see our country move past the hypocritical puritanical fascination we have with sex scandals. WE are the most progressive country in the world in so many areas, yet we hang onto these archaic moral standards that only apply to our politicians, despite how widespread infidelity is across our mainstream. WHy do we want or think our politicians are any holier or more moralistic than the rest of us. In Spitzer's case, his own hypocrisy is the story, not that he committed adultery. There is a reason the Wall Street folks were doing the River Dance at his fall from grace. We need to grow up!

Sent by Rose Marie | 2:13 PM ET | 03-11-2008

I can't help but think "our" reaction to sex scandals is somewhat disingenuous. It isn't the act that's condemned so much as the fact that the politician in question allowed himself to get caught.

Sent by George de Man, Rome GA | 2:43 PM ET | 03-11-2008

As I see it, this is a major reason why representational democracy doesn't work.

We do not personally know our leadership. Maybe they shake some hands, or kiss some babies, but we don't know these people.

We can't look at an individual's flaws and virtues, and evaluate their character. This is important, because in the tribal relationships we are programmed for, we elect the most respected members of the tribe to be our leaders.

The politicians project an illusory personality, that does not really reflect who they are. As a result, people who should not be trusted with power, have power.

This isn't a matter of "puritanism" at all. We need to trust that our leadership will not betray us. That they will not abuse their power. Because power will corrupt.

Wake up.

Sent by Jody Sol | 2:46 PM ET | 03-11-2008

I have difficulty understanding why the whole world knows who client 9 is, and hardly anyone knows who clients 1 through 8 and above 9 are.

Sent by John Doe | 3:17 PM ET | 03-15-2008

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