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Alexander Hamilton's Scandal
Alexander Hamilton engaged in an affair with a married woman, Maria Reynolds. Reynolds’s husband became aware of what was happening between the two, and issued more than $1,000 to be paid. Hamilton paid the money. However, later on Mr Reynolds became involved with his own financial scandal and he mentioned how Hamilton had been involved with illegal finances. -
Hamilton's Scandal Continued
Hamilton was later confronted by his fellow colleagues about his affair and financial dealings and even a journalist named James Callender published a pamphlet showcasing intimate love letters Hamilton and Reynolds had shared. Many didn’t view Hamilton as the admirable politician they had looked to for so long. This event shows how in office even if simple human mistakes are made, they impact how your colleagues and followers view you. -
Iran Contra Affair
Ronald Reagan was best known for his Reagan Revolution during his presidency and for increasing our country’s economy. However, Reagan became involved in a complicated situation during his presidency. When Iran and Iraq were at war in 1815, Iran requested to purchase weapons from the US. Reagan’s National Security Advisor looked for Reagan’s approval because he believed this was a way the US could become in better relations with Iran and Lebanon. -
Iran Contra Continued
Reagan however believed that with fulfilling this request, he could negotiate for seven American hostages who were being held by Iranian terrorists to be released. Reagan didn’t allow himself to realize he would be in negotiation with terrorists. The Iran-Contra Affair holds significance because it demonstrates how even if you think doing something that’s normally considered morally wrong can be considered morally right, others may view it as more negative than positive. -
Watergate Continued
From 1912 to 1914, Nixon attempted to mend what had happened in the scandal, but eventually Nixon faced impeachment during 1914 but before he could be impeached, he sent out his resignation speech. Watergate holds significance because it demonstrates how even through bad character, you can teach a lesson and some believe Watergate discourages future political candidates from being dishonest in their time in the federal system. -
Watergate
June 17, 1912 in the early morning, a group of five men broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in an attempt to fix votes to nominate Nixon to run another presidential term. This break-in would become known as Watergate. Since 1912, Watergate has still been known as one of the most memorable scandals in US history. -
Bill Clinton Continued
Starr not only dug into Clinton’s political affairs, he also looked into his sexual relations. Once Starr began investigating Clinton further, he learned of the Clinton and Lewinsky affair and once he found this out, he started to put into motion a trial. Clinton while on trial was asked about Lewinsky and which he stated, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.” -
Bill Clinton's Affair
In January 1998, Bill Clinton partook in an affair with a White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The affair would span over the course of 18 months and would eventually result in Clinton’s impeachment. Not only was the affair considered scandalous on a moral level, but it came with major legal problems. It all started to unravel when Kenneth Starr began to investigate Clinton because he wanted to further look into Clinton’s involvement with the Whitewater dealings at the time. -
Clinton Again
This would soon be declared false and Clinton would face impeachment because he lied under oath. The significance of this affair is that if Clinton would’ve just admitted to the affair with Lewinsky, he may have faced more minor consequences but he chose to lie so he faced major consequences instead. -
Impeachment Continued
Trump’s impeachment is significant because even though he might not have actually meant his comments such as “We are going to the Capitol,If you don't fight like hell you're not going to have a country anymore, and We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn't happen” in regards to Biden’s win, the people who heard his address interpreted it in their own views and this resulted in chaos at the Capitol. -
Trump Impeachment
During his time as president, Donald Trump became the first president to be impeached twice. The first attempt at impeachment came when Trump was accused of using his government power to gain election assistance from Ukraine. The second impeachment came when many decided to attack the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The attack on the US capitol was said to have been instigated by Trump which led the Senate to vote him as unfit to fulfill the position of our nation’s president. -
Citation
Public Broadcasting Service. (2016, June 9). When power corrupts: 16 of the biggest political scandals of the last 50 years. PBS. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/blog-post/when-power-corrupts-16-biggest-political-scandals-last-50-years -
Citations
Magazine, S. (2013, July 25). Alexander Hamilton's adultery and apology. Smithsonian.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/alexander-hamiltons-adultery-and-apology-18021947/
Andrews, E. (2016, August 9). 8 early American political scandals. History.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.history.com/news/8-early-american-political-scandals -
Citation
Select Committee on presidential campaign activities. U.S. Senate: Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities. (2022, January 27). Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/investigations/watergate.htm#:~:text=Early%20on%20the%20morning%20of,in%20cash%20and%20high%2Dend Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The Iran-Contra affair. PBS. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/reagan-iran/ -
Citation
Library, N. (2022, June 14). Watergate break-in, 50th anniversary. Watergate Break-in, 50th Anniversary | Richard Nixon Museum and Library. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/news/watergate-break-50th-anniversary -
Citation
The United States Government. (2021, January 18). Ronald Reagan. The White House. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/ronald-reagan/
Riley, R., Russell Riley Professor Russell Riley, Riley, R., & Riley, P. R. (2020, September 24). The Clinton Impeachment and its fallout. Miller Center. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/impeachment/clinton-impeachment-and-its-fallout -
Citation
A&E Television Networks. (2020, February 5). President Donald Trump impeached. History.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://history.com/this-day-in-history/president-trump-impeached-house-of-representatives Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). Second impeachment of Donald Trump. PBS. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics-features/trump-second-impeachment -
SIDES
On the political side of the scandals, affairs, or moments of chaos, the politician typically doesn’t show any sense of knowing why they pay the consequences for their actions. On the other hand citizens and/or colleagues realize what went wrong and why certain punishments are given out.