ADULTEROUS POLITICIANS
(I don’t have time to provide references, so you will have to Google.)
Politician “Offense”
President Warren G. Harding had mistress living in the White House. Evidently they sent her on a long trip to the Orient during the presidential campaign.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt several long term mistresses (mitigating factor: Eleanor)
Pres. candidate Wendell Willkie living with mistress before running for president
President Dwight Eisenhower Had an affair with (female) driver during WWII. General George Marshall wouldn’t let him divorce Mamie.
President John F. Kennedy Sex maniac. Multiple affairs and one night stands. At one point he shared a mistress with Mafia Don Sam Giancana.
President Lyndon Johnson Played around
Pres. candidate Nelson Rockefeller Multiple affairs, including Angie Dickenson. Second wife, “Happy”, gave birth to their child one day before 1964 California primary. Bad timing! Nelson died en flagrante in 1979.
Pres. candidate Robert Kennedy Multiple affairs, including one with Marilyn Monroe. (There is some question about what involvement, if any, he and JFK had with Monroe’s death by accidental drug overdose in August, 1962.)
President Richard Nixon No affairs that I know of. Rather, he screwed the entire country.
President Ronald Reagan Active sex life after divorce from Jane Wyman and before marrying Nancy. (Said he often didn’t remember the name of the woman he woke up in bed with. ) Their daughter Patti was born eight months after their wedding.
President George H. W. Bush Supposedly had affair with State Dept. staffer named Jennifer. Never confirmed.
Senator Bob Packwood (R-OR) Multiple shenanigans with staff members and others. Forced to resign in 1993.
Pres. candidate Bob Dole Divorced first wife in 1975. Shortly thereafter married Elizabeth Hanford.
President Bill Clinton Sexual predator. Possible rapes and sexual assaults. Getting blow job in Oval Office besmirched the presidency, but it was not an impeachable offense.
Vice Pres. candidate Joe Lieberman Divorced first wife in 1981. Met his second wife, Hadassah Tucker, in 1982.
Pres, candidate Al Gore No offense, Tipper.
Pres. candidate John Kerry Divorced first wife. Second wife Theresa is widow of Senator John Heinz, a fact she doesn’t let anyone forget.
Pres. candidate John Edwards Had affair with staffer, which produced a baby. She snared him by saying “You’re so hot!”
Pres. candidate John McCain Divorced first wife after returning from Vietnam, where he was a POW. Then married beer distributor heiress Cindy Hensley.
Pres. candidate Rudy Giuliani Peccadilloes too numerous to mention, including shopping while dressed in drag. Announced divorce from wife Donna Hanover at press conference. She later pitched him out of Gracie Mansion, and he stayed with some gay friends.
Pres. hopeful Newt Gingrich Multiple infidelities. Served first wife with divorce papers in hospital room where she was being treated for cancer. Had affair with future third wife while married to the second, (and during Clinton impeachment proceedings.) Recently converted to Catholicism.
Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL) Busted up first marriage of his second wife at age 41. He called it a “youthful indiscretion.”
Senator David Vitter (R-La) Relationship with hooker while in the House. An “adult entertainer” may challenge him for his senate seat.
Senator Larry Craig (R-ID). anonymous gay sex in public restrooms.
Senator John Ensign (R-NV) Affair with staffer whose husband was also on his staff.
Gov. Elliot Spitzer (D-NY) Relationship with hooker.
So did (or does) any of the above affect these politicians’ ability to govern or serve?
JFK: Who was watching the “nuclear button”?
Clinton: Could have been subject to blackmail (by the Israelis?) Fighting impeachment was a great distraction.
In general, the answer is “no”, except when they are breaking the law, or the hypocrisy factor. (Family values, fighting prostitution, my wife is an integral part of my campaign, etc.)
Barack Obama benefited from two marital scandals while running for the US Senate in 2004, one during the Democratic primary and one which removed his probable Republican opponent. So, such scandals can sometimes have a very positive effect!
So why aren’t there any women on my list?
Eleanor Roosevelt. Some say she was a lesbian. (Especially lesbians!)
Nancy Reagan and Frank Sinatra? Only on Saturday Night ,Live.
Hillary Clinton and Vince Foster? She certainly was justified.
Well, enough of this salacious political gossip. After all, it’s Fathers day
Update (6/27): Now you can add Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC) to the list. He wants to stay on as governor to set a good example to his sons. A strange reason! Anyway, it won’t cancel out his bad example. His wife is great! (Born and raised in the Chicago area.)