IFC LIST MONTH: Top 10 Presidential Sex Scandals
By William Rabbe on 07/09/2008
By Sarah Scully & William Rabbe
Politics makes for strange and sometimes scandalous bedfellows. What are power, fame and money without sex? What is a presidency without secret children, hush money or naughty interns? Presidential sex scandals go back as far as the Founding Fathers and we've put together a list of the most scandalous...
1. THOMAS JEFFERSON
During Thomas Jefferson's first term, rumors were flying -- and in fact, printed that he had fathered children by his slave, Sally Hemings. Evidence strongly suggests that it is true but DNA findings have been inconclusive. The matter is still a point of controversy as the nature of the relationship is debated amongst historians.
2. GROVER CLEVELAND
During Grover Cleveland's 1884 run for office it was discovered that he had paid child support to a shop clerk named Maria Halpin whom he had known as a young bachelor. His political rivals attacked with the taunt: "Ma, Ma, Where's my Pa?" Cleveland did not deny the story (though some accounts suggest he was covering for a married friend) and weathered the scandal. Upon winning the election, his opponents added the line: "Gone to the White House Ha Ha Ha!" His second year in office, Cleveland married his former partner's 21-year-old daughter. Frances Folsom became the youngest First Lady ever.
3. WARREN HARDING
Warren Harding had a reputation as a lady's man. Rumors circulated that the GOP paid one mistress to stay quiet during his campaign, while another girlfriend, Nan Britton, was raising his illegitimate child. Harding reportedly maintained his relationship with Britton, paying child support and continuing the affair, sometimes in an anteroom of the Oval Office.
4. FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
FDR was a known as a incorrigible flirt, but one woman held his fancy for nearly as long as his political career -- Lucy Mercer. Originally hired as FDR's wife's secretary, Lucy and Franklin enjoyed a romance that nearly came to an end in 1918 when Eleanor (his wife AND distant cousin) discovered their love letters. She offered a divorce, but FDR vowed never to see Lucy again. Fat chance -- they enjoyed a romantic relationship until 1945 -- Lucy was even with Roosevelt at the time of his sudden death in Georgia. Sorry Eleanor, ouch.
5. DWIGHT EISENHOWER
Even nice guy Ike reportedly had a relationship outside of his marriage. Apparently, he planned on divorcing wife Mamie for Kay Summersby, who worked as his driver during the war. Fortunately for Eisenhower's career, his superior officer, General Marshall threatening to boot him from the Military if he did not break it off.
6. JOHN KENNEDY
JFK purportedly had a number of girlfriends but one in particular tied him to a notorious mobster and set off a Congressional Committee investigation. Judith Campbell Exner claimed to have carried on a two-year affair with the president during which she had an abortion and acted as a go-between for Kennedy and her mob boss friend, Sam Giancana. Kennedy loyalists denied the story yet her name does appear in J. Edgar Hoover's memos and on White House phone logs.
7. JOHN KENNEDY
Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe were rumored to have begun an affair after meeting through Frank Sinatra (who also introduced Kennedy to Exner... hmmm). Speculation reached a fever pitch after Marilyn stood before a star-studded crowd at Kennedy's birthday bash, in a skin tight dress, amorously whispering Happy Birthday to "Mr. President." It has also been suggested that she was sleeping with his brother Bobby during the same time period. Yowsa! Monroe's emotional distress and subsequent death have fueled conspiracy theories that her relationship with the Kennedys put her on a hit list as she knew enough to bring down the reputation of the illustrious family.
8. BILL CLINTON
A number of rumors plagued Clinton on his way to and during his time in the white house. Cabaret singer Gennifer Flowers was the earliest affair of Clinton's to crop up during his Presidential Campaign. It was claimed that she was his lover for 12 years - Clinton later acknowledged that he did have relations with her, but only once, in 1977. The story almost torpedoed his bid for the Presidency, but a timely appearance on "60 Minutes" with Hillary saved the day.
9. BILL CLINTON
During Clinton's second term, Paula Jones filed a suit against him stating that while he was Governor of Arkansas, he had a state trooper escort her to a hotel room where he pulled his pants down and asked her for sexual favors. Clinton settled out of court, agreeing to pay her $850,000, most of which went to her legal team.
10. BILL CLINTON
Investigations into the Paula Jones incident led to the discovery of his affair with Monica Lewinsky - a White House intern who was only a few years older than his daughter Chelsea. The original story broke on Drudge Report, a site that became a household name as a result. Investigator Ken Starr uncovered nine specific incidences of inappropriate contact between the president and the intern, the explicit details of which appeared in his Starr Report, which reads like a raunchy drug store novel.
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