10 White House Scandals that Shocked America
Obama Administration (D)
Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt of Congress after refusing to release all documents that House lawmakers had demanded. The sting operation allowed weapons from the U.S. to pass into the hands of s
Obama Administration (D)
Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt of Congress after refusing to release all documents that House lawmakers had demanded. The sting operation allowed weapons from the U.S. to pass into the hands of suspected gun smugglers so ATF could trace them to Mexican drug cartels. In the process, ATF lost track of hundreds of firearms, one of which was used to kill Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010.
Source: LA Times
Georg W. Bush Administration (R)
Lewis “Scooter” Libby, former senior advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in March 2007 for leaking the classified identity of CIA Agency Valerie Plame.
Georg W. Bush Administration (R)
Lewis “Scooter” Libby, former senior advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in March 2007 for leaking the classified identity of CIA Agency Valerie Plame. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined $250,000. President George W. Bush commuted his sentence in 2007.
Source: USA Today
No one bought the black lace bedroom slip, part of Monica Lewinsky’s memorabilia that went up for auction earlier this year because the top bid for the lot failed to meet the undisclosed minimum price requirement. The lot also included other items used in Ken Starr’s investigation of Bill Clinton’s extramarital affair with the then-White House intern.
Reuters
Reagan Administration (R)
Senior administration officials, including Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. for secretly facilitating the sale of arms to
Reagan Administration (R)
Senior administration officials, including Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. for secretly facilitating the sale of arms to Iran to secure the release of U.S. hostages. The administration used part of the money to fund illegally Contra rebels who were trying to overthrow Nicaragua’s government. In a TV appearance, President Reagan assured the public there was no "arms for hostages" deal, but was later forced to admit that there had been. North and Poindexter were indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S.
Source: NY Times
Nixon Administration (R)
The cover up of a “bugging” and burglary at the Democratic Party National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel by President Richard Nixon and his staff resulted in 69 government officials being charged and 48 pleadi
Nixon Administration (R)
The cover up of a “bugging” and burglary at the Democratic Party National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel by President Richard Nixon and his staff resulted in 69 government officials being charged and 48 pleading guilty. The House of Representatives approved the articles of impeachment of Nixon for obstruction of justice, abuse of power and defiance of committee subpoena. He resigned from office in August 1974.
Source: Washington Post
Harding Administration (R)
Albert Fall, President Warren G. Harding’s Secretary of the Interior, in 1920 sold the right to oil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming, among other locations, in exchange for personal profit and cattle. Fall was e
Harding Administration (R)
Albert Fall, President Warren G. Harding’s Secretary of the Interior, in 1920 sold the right to oil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming, among other locations, in exchange for personal profit and cattle. Fall was eventually convicted and sentenced to jail.
Source: About.com
Library of Congress
Grant Administration (R)
Employees in President Ulysses S. Grant’s administration were accused of pocketing whiskey taxes in 1875. Grant immediately called for swift punishment. That backfired on him when he tried to protect his personal se
Grant Administration (R)
Employees in President Ulysses S. Grant’s administration were accused of pocketing whiskey taxes in 1875. Grant immediately called for swift punishment. That backfired on him when he tried to protect his personal secretary, with whom he allegedly had an affair, causing an even bigger scandal.
Source: About.com
Library of Congress
Johnson Administration (D)
On February 24, 1868, President Andrew Johnson became the first president to be impeached. The House charged Johnson with eleven articles of impeachment, including the violation of the Tenure of Office Act (that
Johnson Administration (D)
On February 24, 1868, President Andrew Johnson became the first president to be impeached. The House charged Johnson with eleven articles of impeachment, including the violation of the Tenure of Office Act (that Congress had passed a year earlier) for removing Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton from office without the Senate’s consent and replacing him with Major General Lorenzo Thomas. Stanton supported the Republican’s program for Civil War Reconstruction, a plan Johnson staunchly opposed.
Source: PBS
Library of Congress
Adams Administration (Federalist)
A diplomatic incident between the U.S. and France referred to as the “X, Y, Z Affair” nearly led to a war between the two nations. Three French agents (referred to by President John Adams as “X, Y, and Z”)
Adams Administration (Federalist)
A diplomatic incident between the U.S. and France referred to as the “X, Y, Z Affair” nearly led to a war between the two nations. Three French agents (referred to by President John Adams as “X, Y, and Z”) demanded $50,000 pounds, a $10 million loan and a $250,000 bribe to French Foreign Minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand in exchange for bilateral peace negotiations with France. The U.S. refused. The affair caused an unofficial naval war, but the two countries negotiated their differences and ended their conflict in 1800.
Source: American-presidents.org
Library of Congress