A timeline tracing the most significant US political scandals from the early 1800s to the present day. Starting in 1821 with The Corrupt Bargain of 1824 through to recent sexual harassment claims and the Capitol riots following Joe Biden winning the 2020 election.
A timeline of US political scandals
1800s
- 1824 – The Corrupt Bargain
- The presidential election was decided by the House of Representatives after no candidate secured a majority in the Electoral College.
- Allegations arose that Henry Clay, Speaker of the House, influenced the vote in favor of John Quincy Adams in exchange for being appointed Secretary of State.
- This scandal undermined trust in the democratic process and spurred Andrew Jackson’s successful campaign in 1828.
- 1831-1832 – The Peggy Eaton Affair
- A social scandal involving Margaret “Peggy” Eaton, wife of Secretary of War John Eaton, whose marriage was deemed scandalous by Washington’s elite.
- The fallout disrupted Andrew Jackson’s cabinet and highlighted the role of gender and morality in political dynamics.
- 1868 – Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
- Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without Senate approval.
- The trial highlighted post-Civil War tensions and Reconstruction politics, but Johnson narrowly avoided removal.
What is a Corrupt Bargain?
Three events in American political history have been called a corrupt bargain: the 1824 United States presidential election, the Compromise of 1877, and Gerald Ford’s 1974 pardon of Richard Nixon.
1900s: Early 20th Century
- 1920-1923 – Teapot Dome Scandal
- Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall leased Navy petroleum reserves in Wyoming and California to private companies in exchange for bribes.
- The scandal, under President Warren G. Harding’s administration, became a symbol of government corruption and led to Fall’s imprisonment.
- 1948 – The Truman Administration’s Influence-Peddling Scandal
- The “five percenters” were intermediaries who charged businesses a fee to secure government contracts.
- Allegations of corruption tainted Harry Truman’s administration but did not result in significant legal repercussions.
1950s-1970s
- 1954 – McCarthyism
- Senator Joseph McCarthy led a campaign accusing individuals in government and entertainment of communist sympathies.
- His tactics, which included false accusations and fear-mongering, were discredited in the Army-McCarthy hearings, but not before damaging many careers.
- 1972-1974 – Watergate Scandal
- Members of President Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign were caught breaking into Democratic National Committee headquarters.
- Investigations revealed a cover-up orchestrated by the Nixon administration.
- Nixon resigned in 1974, becoming the only U.S. president to do so.
Richard Nixon resigned
Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 following the Watergate scandal. He is the only president of the United States of America to have resigned.
1980s
- 1980 – ABSCAM
- An FBI sting operation exposed bribery involving seven members of Congress.
- Undercover agents posed as Middle Eastern businessmen offering money in exchange for political favors.
- 1985-1987 – Iran-Contra Affair
- Senior Reagan administration officials facilitated the sale of arms to Iran, despite an embargo, and used the proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
- Investigations revealed a violation of both U.S. law and congressional authority.
1990s
- 1992 – House Banking Scandal
- Numerous members of the House of Representatives were found to have overdrawn their House bank accounts without penalties.
- While no laws were broken, public outrage over perceived privilege contributed to anti-incumbent sentiment in the 1994 elections.
- 1998 – Monica Lewinsky Scandal and Clinton Impeachment
- President Bill Clinton had an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and later lied about it under oath.
- He was impeached by the House for perjury and obstruction of justice but acquitted by the Senate.
Clinton-Lewinsky affair
Clinton was found to be having a sexual relationship with White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. It began in 1995—when Clinton was 49 years old and Lewinsky was 22 years old—and lasted 18 months, ending in 1997. It was one of the biggest political scandals of the 90s.
2000s
- 2002 – Enron and Corporate Scandals
- The collapse of Enron and revelations of accounting fraud implicated politicians who had received campaign contributions from the company.
- This scandal influenced the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to enhance corporate accountability.
- 2006 – Jack Abramoff Scandal
- Lobbyist Jack Abramoff was found guilty of fraud and bribery involving lawmakers.
- The scandal exposed the deep ties between money and politics in Washington.
2010s
- 2013 – IRS Targeting Scandal
- The IRS was accused of unfairly scrutinizing conservative and Tea Party-affiliated groups applying for tax-exempt status.
- Congressional investigations led to widespread criticism of the agency.
- 2016 – Hillary Clinton Email Controversy
- Clinton was investigated for using a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State, raising concerns over national security and transparency.
- 2016-2019 – Trump-Russia Investigation
- Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia.
- While no direct conspiracy was proven, the investigation uncovered extensive Russian efforts to influence the election.
Robert Mueller investigation
The Robert Mueller special counsel investigation was an investigation into 45th U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and was conducted by special prosecutor Robert Mueller from May 2017 to March 2019. It was also called the Russia investigation, Mueller probe, and Mueller investigation.
2020s
- 2021 – January 6 Capitol Riot
- After the 2020 presidential election, supporters of Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to overturn the results.
- Congressional investigations and a special counsel probe sought to determine Trump’s role in inciting the attack.
- 2022 – Hunter Biden Laptop Controversy
- Allegations emerged regarding President Joe Biden’s involvement in his son’s business dealings.
- The issue remains under investigation, with debates over its political and ethical implications.
- #MeToo Movement and Sexual Harassment Scandals
- Starting in the late 2010s and continuing into the 2020s, numerous politicians faced allegations of sexual misconduct, reshaping expectations of accountability.
- High-profile resignations included Senator Al Franken and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Common FAQs
What was the Watergate scandal in simple terms?
The Watergate Scandal revolved around members of a group associated with Nixon’s 1972 re-election campaign breaking into and planting listening devices in the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on June 17, 1972, and Nixon’s later attempts to hide his administration’s involvement.
Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal
The Clinton–Lewinsky scandal was a sex scandal involving Bill Clinton, the president of the United States, and Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern. Their sexual relationship began in 1995—when Clinton was 49 years old and Lewinsky was 22 years old—and lasted 18 months, ending in 1997.
Trump-Russia Investigation
The Robert Mueller special counsel investigation was an investigation into 45th U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. Special prosecutor Robert Mueller conducted it from May 2017 to March 2019. It was also called the Russia investigation, Mueller probe, and Mueller investigation.