Have you ever wondered how deeply political corruption has shaped American history? Political corruption has transformed our elections, tarnished presidents’ legacies & even facilitated major reforms. Even though some of these incidents are really surprising when we think about them now, they all took place within the country’s political arena. In this list, I will share with you 10 shocking examples of political corruption that made US history.
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Teapot Dome Scandal (1920s)
The Teapot Dome scandal rocked President Warren G. Harding’s administration during the 1920s. The Secretary of the Interior – Albert Fall – illegally subleased two large oil reserves to private companies after accepting big bribes. This deal was done with public funds & the public exploded with anger when it was exposed. Fall was the first cabinet minister who was sent to prison for bribery.
The Iran-Contra Affair (1980s)
Iran-Contra stands as a darker episode in American history, involving political corruption at the highest level. Reagan administration top officials sold weapons to Iran (under an arms embargo) & funneled funds to Contra rebels in Nicaragua. This secret support violated U.S. laws, particularly the Boland Amendment, which forbade it.
Watergate Scandal (1972-1974)
The Watergate scandal began when members of President Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign broke into the Democratic National Committee offices. Throughout the investigations, it was visible that Nixon & his advisers executed a large-scale cover-up operation. This uncovered mass crimes, including wiretapping & campaign finance violations. In 1974, Nixon became the first U.S. president to resign due to a scandal.
Tammany Hall’s Corruption (1800s-1900s)
New York City’s Democratic Party politico Tammany Hall managed much of the city government for more than 100 years. Led by people like Boss Tweed, Tammany Hall was famous for using bribery, vote-rigging & favors to maintain control over political power.
Lincoln’s Political Patronage
Abraham Lincoln was a great president, but his presidency wasn’t without controversy. Lincoln used the political patronage system to reward his closest supporters with government office even if this meant putting less qualified individuals in important positions. Although this was an ordinary practice then, it also became the target of accusations of cronyism & corruption.
Boss Tweed & the New York City Bribery Scandal (1860s-1870s)
William “Boss” Tweed’s regime robbed millions of dollars of city money with inflated contracts & bribes. The public anger only boiled over, when investigative journalism revealed Tweed’s activities. The U.S. government convicted Tweed & sent him to jail, but his influence was not lost & the fight against political corruption was far from over.
Mayor James Michael Curley’s Scandal (1920s-1950s)
James Michael Curley was mayor of Boston for a number of terms and was known for political manipulation & corrupt practices. Curley accepted bribes, stole money and exploited his position to make himself & his friends rich. Even after a prison term for fraud, Curley was re-elected mayor because of his brazen behavior. His story tells us how corruption can still fester in political organizations, despite public awareness.
Rod Blagojevich & the “Senate Seat Sale” (2008)
In 2008, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was caught trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat. He was wiretapped saying he wanted something in return for appointing a candidate for the Senate seat. This gross treason cost Blagojevich his impeachment & prison term.