Desiree's Desires, Inc.Presidents’ Day: Time to reflect on our Presidents and the Sex Scandals
As we celebrate all of our Presidents, I thought it would be fun to look back at the sex scandals throughout our American History. We remember the most recent presidential sex scandals. Everyone knows of Bill Clinton and John Kennedy’s trysts. However, according to several articles there were 7 Presidents in history with big sex scandals.*
1. John F. Kennedy: whether it was a famous Hollywood actress or his presidential secretary, this guy got around. In his very short time as president, Kennedy clearly became the most infamous of the presidents for his extramarital affairs. Yet, the country still loves this guy. In Massachusetts, where I am from, the Kennedy family still has clout and powerful influence.
2. James Buchanan: Apparently this dude was gay. As the 15th president, he certainly could not “come out” at the time. He lived with the former vice president, William Rufus King, for 10 years. Andrew Jackson even called them “Miss Nancy” and “Miss Fancy,” which I can only presume was a gay slur of the times.
3. Grover Cleveland: This guy was a trip. He fathered a son out-of-wedlock prior to his presidency in 1884. He never denied paternity and did pay child support. He was not married at the time he became president, so his sister became the First Lady. She became “friends” with a married woman, and they apparently had a love affair.
4. Franklin Roosevelt: Although he had paralysis from polio, that didn’t stop this man from having a long-term love affair with his wife’s social secretary. As one of the nation’s first political power couples, Eleanor stayed with FDR as to not ruin his politically prospects while engaging in a lesbian affair of her own.
5. Lyndon Johnson: Apparently this guy is a self-proclaimed womanizer. LBJ once claimed, “I have had more women by accident than he has had on purpose.” With a wife and two 30-year long mistresses, this man truly had some stamina.
6. Warren Harding: Having an affair with his friend’s wife and a woman 30 years his junior was quite the secret. That was until, Mrs. Harding found out. Shortly thereafter, Harding died in office getting poisoned from eating bad crab meat. However, some speculate, Mrs. Harding was the one who poisoned him.
7. Thomas Jefferson: Sally Hemings was his half-black slave who he fathered 6 children with. Hemings was also the half-sister of Jefferson’s wife, Martha (they shared a father). Disgusting thing was, he freed all of his illegitimate children, but never freed the mother of his children. Jefferson’s daughter freed Hemings after his death.
Of course there are other presidents with notable mentions, such as Bill Clinton. However, Clinton’s sex scandal happened in the modern era of the internet and court news TV. We didn’t have that accessibility with the other presidents of the past. I find it extremely interesting to delve into the history, the social norms, and how sex scandals were handled in different eras. All of these men were elected to the highest office of the land. Clearly the public and/or political establishment were aware of their “shortcomings.”
I wonder if these men with their scandalous resumes were running for office in this year’s presidential race, how would they make out? My guess, dead upon arrival. What do you think?
*Larry Swartz, “The 7 Biggest Presidential Sex Scandals in History” from AlterNet.