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9 Biggest US Presidential Scandals
In all of American history, there has not been controversies or scandal that had a crushing effects on the American people, like the biggest US presidential scandals.
History is full of twists and collections of dirty atrocities, controversies and scandals in politics, and there has not one bigger or greater than this biggest US presidential scandals, which had a crushing effect on the American people.
The world of politics is a game and politicians most times find themselves in various mess. Well, American presidents are not excepted in this case just like any other president in the world can get dragged into a bitter scandal.
Additionally, the biggest us presidential scandals are ones that have a great impact not only on the politics of the American people but also on the image of the country as the single superpower in the whole world. Being a president brings on you great responsibility that you have to be constantly reminded of, and being the President of the United States is, well another thing.
Although the Chief Commander who is the president might not be directly linked to this scandal the oval office since the founding of the nation has not been without one of these major scandals. That is why in this list we bring you some of the biggest US presidential scandals some of which almost led to the impeachment of the president.
1. Watergate Scandal
The Watergate scandal is one of the biggest United States presidential scandals in all of its history. Watergate revolves around President Nixon himself who was re-elected as the United States president in 1972. Meanwhile, prior to his nomination for reelection, two men broke into the office of the Democratic National Committee Council office and were arrested. The aftermath of the arrest led to an investigation by the FBI, congress, media, and other agencies when the men who broke into the office claimed affiliation or in fact were campaign staff of President Nixon.
The news proves to be one of the worst ever in the history of the US as Nixon and his aides conspired to cover up their connection with the break-in and hinder the ensuing investigations. While further investigation revealed that the breaking was part of an attempt to ensure Nixon was reelected by spying and sabotaging his political opponents.
Additionally, unlike any other, the Watergate scandal saw 69 government officials indictment, trial, conviction, and incarceration, including much of Nixon’s inner circle. Likewise, fearing Impeachment, Nixon resigned from his position as the president, becoming the only President in American history to ever resigned from office. on August 9, 1974.
2. Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal
This scandal involving the former United States President Bill Clinton happened between 1995 and 1997 with Monica Lewinsky who was an intern at the white house before becoming a paid staff. Clinton was implicated in the mess with ongoing investigations with another woman named Paula Jones who had filed a sexual harassment case against him during his time as the Governor of Arkansas.
Although Bill Clinton didn’t deny there was no sexual relationship between him and Lewinsky, he however noted that he was not involved in any form of sexual relationship with her claiming the sexual deed were performed on him, discrediting Lewinsky’s argument that he had sexual relations with her.
Meanwhile, due to the irregularities in his statements and perjury, the House of Representatives impeached Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice in December 1998 but the Senate acquitted him on the trial allowing him to serve his remaining term. Clinton joined Andrew Johnson last the second-only president to be impeached.
3. Iran Contra Affair
The Iran-Contra scandal is one of the biggest political scandals in US history. The scandal set in the early 1980s during the War of Iran and Iraq which saw Iran in need of weapons. On the other hand, due to the embargo placed on Iran due to the hostage crisis, the administration of Ronald Reagan in 1985 faced a situation that requires them to sell weapons to aid Iran when hostages were freed. And in defiance of the embargo placed on the country, missiles were sold to them while the hostile groups holding American hostages gradually released them.
When the deal was made public in 1986, Reagan admitted to the weapons sales but denied any “arms-for-hostages” deal. But in 1987, after 14 top government officials including Oliver North Reagan’s aid on National Security Council were arrested in connection to using the proceed of the arms sale to bankroll the Contras, right-wing militant groups who opposed the socialist government of Nicaragua, defiling an amendment passed by Congress preventing the administration from aiding the Contras.
Reagan admitted in a televised address in 1987 to selling arms for hostages, while the investigation revealed non was linked to him.
4. Teapot Dome Scandal
When the Teapot Dome scandal broke out in 2024, Warren G. Harding was the president of the United States of America his presidency was struck really hard by the impact of the scandal. The Teapot Dome scandal is a significant one in this list of the biggest US presidential scandals. Harding gave the Ministry of Interior the power to control the oil reserves on federal land in Wyoming in 1921 a move which was later reversed by the supreme court after the scandal broke out.
The Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall had worked his way to gain control of the oil reserve and used his newfound power anyhow by engaging in corrupt practices, accepting bribes, and awarding no-bid contracts to private oil companies, giving them lucrative rights to extract oil and gas from the land.
Additionally, Fall used his position as the secretary of the Ministry of Interior to get no-interest loans and other gifts by giving drilling rights to the Teapot Dome oil fields. Additionally, though Harding had died before the scandal broke out, the topic remains one of the most talked about in the US media. Albert Fall was sentenced to prison, becoming the first cabinet member to be sentenced.
5. Donald Trump Capitol Scandal
During the 2021 US presidential election the Former President of the United States Trump, believing there is electoral fraud in play made some statements, encouraging his supporters to charge the Capitol before Congress could certify the electoral college results, which may prove significant to him not being re-elected.
He was charged by Congress with inciting insurrection with his statement thereby riling up his supporters up to create chaos in the Capitol. Among many arrests that were made Trump become the only US president to be impeached twice while in office.
6. The Whiskey Ring
In 1875 the Whiskey Ring scandal which Involved a bribery and tax evasion scandal among many high-ranking members of Ulysses Grant’s cabinet was one of the worse presidential scandals in US history. Owning to the fact that Ulysses Grant’s administration was named one of the most corrupt presidencies ever. In 1875, it was revealed that many government employees were pocketing whiskey taxes.
After the scandal was exposed by Grant’s Treasury secretary, Benjamin Bristow, an investigation was conducted with many indictments and convictions after which many were found guilty. Grant’s aide and personal secretary, Orville Babcock was also implicated which saw Grant testify on his behalf, becoming the first sitting president to testify in a criminal case.
7. J.F Kennedys and Marilyn Monroe
JFK was one of the most loved presidents in the history of the United States but even the golden boy still had some scandals during his administration that he faced before he was assassinated in 1963. John F Kennedy and Robert F Kennedy were linked to Monroe as having a triangular affair with her. While some inner circus of the president being aware of the affair, to protect the presidency decided to remain quiet.
Marilyn Monroe had decided to go public about the president’s infidelity which is JFK before her plan was short-lived when she was found to have died by suicide. What made the scandal more popular was the death of Monroe which created the scandal that Kennedy has a hand in her death so as to keep the truth buried.
8. Thomas Jefferson Sex Scandal
Just like every other US president, Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of America as well as the first American president was also involved in a dirty sex scandal. Unlike any other, being the first president of the newly founded country, his sex scandal with Sally Hemmings his slave was also the first of its kind in the country’s history.
Although Jefferson was charged with having an affair and fathering a child with a slave, he however, denied the allegation bluntly, that no such thing exit, remaining as the country’s president for the next seven years. Meanwhile, 200 years after the incident, DNA testing proved that Jefferson was truly guilty of having an affair with Sally, thereby, fathering at least one of her children.
9. Quincy Adams Corrupt Bargain
In my pick, this is actually worthy to be on this list. Everyone knows John Adams as one of the founding fathers and an versatile stateman, Quincy on the other hand is his son. During the 1824 presidential election unlike any other election, non of the candidate could get enough votes to be declared president, so Congress was empowered to decide who will be the president.
The candidates were Andrew Jackson, a war hero, and as you know, Quincy John Adams who is John Adams’s son and a respectable politician. The House Speaker, Henry Clay throws his support at Adams announcing his commitment to him and the other members doing so, thereby making Adams the president.
Meanwhile, when Quincy Adams became the president, he gave the position of secretary of state to the man who had helped him become the president. This event led to Andrew and his supporters stating that there is foul play over the alleged “corrupt bargain” between Clay and Adams to steal the election from Jackson, who had won the popular vote and the most electoral votes.
The process united Jackson’s supporters and thus created what is known as the Democratic Party which was built by Martin Van Buren. Jackson was elected in the 1828 election, disposing of his opponent the incumbent President, Quincy Adams from office.