Top 10 U.S. Political Scandals

but when the president does it that

but when the president does it that means that it is not illegal

means that it is not illegal

means that it is not illegal by definition exactly politics without

by definition exactly politics without

by definition exactly politics without scandal might be a lot more effective

scandal might be a lot more effective

scandal might be a lot more effective but it would also be pretty boring

but it would also be pretty boring

but it would also be pretty boring welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 u.s. political scandals because people

u.s. political scandals because people

u.s. political scandals because people have got to know whether or not their

have got to know whether or not their

have got to know whether or not their presidents a crook well I’m not a crook

presidents a crook well I’m not a crook

presidents a crook well I’m not a crook for this list we focused mainly on

for this list we focused mainly on

for this list we focused mainly on scandals where the political

scandals where the political

scandals where the political ramifications were front and center and

ramifications were front and center and

ramifications were front and center and have avoided as many sex-based scandals

have avoided as many sex-based scandals

have avoided as many sex-based scandals as possible because we’ve already done

as possible because we’ve already done

as possible because we’ve already done that video I never told anybody to lie

that video I never told anybody to lie

that video I never told anybody to lie not a single time never number 10 rod

not a single time never number 10 rod

not a single time never number 10 rod Blagojevich I don’t care whether you

Blagojevich I don’t care whether you

Blagojevich I don’t care whether you take me privately or publicly I can tell

take me privately or publicly I can tell

take me privately or publicly I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful

you that whatever I say is always lawful

you that whatever I say is always lawful moptop governor of Illinois rod

moptop governor of Illinois rod

moptop governor of Illinois rod Blagojevich flew onto the national stage

Blagojevich flew onto the national stage

Blagojevich flew onto the national stage in 2009 when he was removed from office

in 2009 when he was removed from office

in 2009 when he was removed from office and eventually imprisoned not a surprise

and eventually imprisoned not a surprise

and eventually imprisoned not a surprise it was a foregone conclusion the reason

it was a foregone conclusion the reason

it was a foregone conclusion the reason corruption charges related to a deal he

corruption charges related to a deal he

corruption charges related to a deal he tried to cut lacoya bitch could appoint

tried to cut lacoya bitch could appoint

tried to cut lacoya bitch could appoint the person to fill President Obama’s

the person to fill President Obama’s

the person to fill President Obama’s vacant Senate seat and wanted to

vacant Senate seat and wanted to

vacant Senate seat and wanted to personally profit from this appointment

personally profit from this appointment

personally profit from this appointment but I’ve got this thing and it’s gold

but I’ve got this thing and it’s gold

but I’ve got this thing and it’s gold and I’m just not giving it up nothing

and I’m just not giving it up nothing

and I’m just not giving it up nothing LaGuerta bitches arrogance and frat boy

LaGuerta bitches arrogance and frat boy

LaGuerta bitches arrogance and frat boy persona made this a front page headline

persona made this a front page headline

persona made this a front page headline for months to strive to seek to find and

for months to strive to seek to find and

for months to strive to seek to find and not to yield

not to yield

not to yield Thank You number 9 the Benghazi attack

Thank You number 9 the Benghazi attack

Thank You number 9 the Benghazi attack the 2012 presidential campaign was

the 2012 presidential campaign was

the 2012 presidential campaign was impacted by that September’s attacks on

impacted by that September’s attacks on

impacted by that September’s attacks on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi

the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi

the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi Libya four people including the US

Libya four people including the US

Libya four people including the US ambassador were killed and several more

ambassador were killed and several more

ambassador were killed and several more were injured Republican critics claim

were injured Republican critics claim

were injured Republican critics claim the details of the attacks including who

the details of the attacks including who

the details of the attacks including who was really responsible and why they

was really responsible and why they

was really responsible and why they occurred were being withheld

occurred were being withheld

occurred were being withheld that’s embarrassing if it’s true the

that’s embarrassing if it’s true the

that’s embarrassing if it’s true the controversy continues to be a point of

controversy continues to be a point of

controversy continues to be a point of contention between Democrats and

contention between Democrats and

contention between Democrats and Republicans today my memory may not be

Republicans today my memory may not be

Republicans today my memory may not be all that great but nobody died at

all that great but nobody died at

all that great but nobody died at Watergate and no one was left on the

Watergate and no one was left on the

Watergate and no one was left on the adil fail number 8 WikiLeaks and NSA

adil fail number 8 WikiLeaks and NSA

adil fail number 8 WikiLeaks and NSA surveillance inappropriate government

surveillance inappropriate government

surveillance inappropriate government secrecy and surveillance is an ongoing

secrecy and surveillance is an ongoing

secrecy and surveillance is an ongoing political hot potato and was most

political hot potato and was most

political hot potato and was most recently brought into the news by the

recently brought into the news by the

recently brought into the news by the WikiLeaks and National Security Agency

WikiLeaks and National Security Agency

WikiLeaks and National Security Agency Affairs over time that awareness of

Affairs over time that awareness of

Affairs over time that awareness of wrongdoing sort of builds up and you

wrongdoing sort of builds up and you

wrongdoing sort of builds up and you feel compelled to talk about it

feel compelled to talk about it

feel compelled to talk about it the WikiLeaks scandal involves the

the WikiLeaks scandal involves the

the WikiLeaks scandal involves the release of confidential documents the

release of confidential documents the

release of confidential documents the NSA surveillance scandal concerns

NSA surveillance scandal concerns

NSA surveillance scandal concerns government monitoring of communications

government monitoring of communications

government monitoring of communications of both government officials and private

of both government officials and private

of both government officials and private individuals big brother anyone the NSA

individuals big brother anyone the NSA

individuals big brother anyone the NSA specifically targets the communications

specifically targets the communications

specifically targets the communications of everyone it ingests them by default

of everyone it ingests them by default

of everyone it ingests them by default number seven Abscam the FBI had caught

number seven Abscam the FBI had caught

number seven Abscam the FBI had caught red-handed

red-handed

red-handed a half dozen congressman and a senator

a half dozen congressman and a senator

a half dozen congressman and a senator accepting money as a bride in return for

accepting money as a bride in return for

accepting money as a bride in return for favorable legislation in the late 1970’s

favorable legislation in the late 1970’s

favorable legislation in the late 1970’s and early 80’s the FBI targeted corrupt

and early 80’s the FBI targeted corrupt

and early 80’s the FBI targeted corrupt politicians in a sting operation known

politicians in a sting operation known

politicians in a sting operation known as Abscam short for arab scam although

as Abscam short for arab scam although

as Abscam short for arab scam although one drug finding that contraction in

one drug finding that contraction in

one drug finding that contraction in videos one senator

videos one senator

videos one senator six congressmen and an assortment of

six congressmen and an assortment of

six congressmen and an assortment of state and local officials in New Jersey

state and local officials in New Jersey

state and local officials in New Jersey and Pennsylvania were caught and

and Pennsylvania were caught and

and Pennsylvania were caught and convicted of taking bribes because most

convicted of taking bribes because most

convicted of taking bribes because most of those involved were Democrats AppScan

of those involved were Democrats AppScan

of those involved were Democrats AppScan became a nightmare for the party just as

became a nightmare for the party just as

became a nightmare for the party just as Ronald Reagan’s presidency began you

Ronald Reagan’s presidency began you

Ronald Reagan’s presidency began you gotta have a key and the key is always

gotta have a key and the key is always

gotta have a key and the key is always is in my district I don’t give a shit

is in my district I don’t give a shit

is in my district I don’t give a shit what extent we have to go through what

what extent we have to go through what

what extent we have to go through what lengths and everybody else goes the same

lengths and everybody else goes the same

lengths and everybody else goes the same way number six the Keating five

way number six the Keating five

way number six the Keating five political corruption charges tainted

political corruption charges tainted

political corruption charges tainted senators Allen Cranston Dennis Deacon

senators Allen Cranston Dennis Deacon

senators Allen Cranston Dennis Deacon Cheney John Glenn john mccain and donald

Cheney John Glenn john mccain and donald

Cheney John Glenn john mccain and donald regal jr. in 1989 the Keating five were

regal jr. in 1989 the Keating five were

regal jr. in 1989 the Keating five were accused of improperly helping Charles H

accused of improperly helping Charles H

accused of improperly helping Charles H Keating Jr who was a major contributor

Keating Jr who was a major contributor

Keating Jr who was a major contributor to their campaigns Keating was being

to their campaigns Keating was being

to their campaigns Keating was being investigated for his role in the

investigated for his role in the

investigated for his role in the collapse of a bank that resulted in a

collapse of a bank that resulted in a

collapse of a bank that resulted in a three billion dollar federal bailout

three billion dollar federal bailout

three billion dollar federal bailout many of these same people also

many of these same people also

many of these same people also apparently believe that yo action in

apparently believe that yo action in

apparently believe that yo action in perhaps the actions of other senators

perhaps the actions of other senators

perhaps the actions of other senators and congressmen was solely responsible

and congressmen was solely responsible

and congressmen was solely responsible for the saving and Loan failures of

for the saving and Loan failures of

for the saving and Loan failures of scandalous proportions Glenn and McCain

scandalous proportions Glenn and McCain

scandalous proportions Glenn and McCain continued their political careers but

continued their political careers but

continued their political careers but the others did not number five the

the others did not number five the

the others did not number five the iran-contra affair it was 1985 Iran and

iran-contra affair it was 1985 Iran and

iran-contra affair it was 1985 Iran and Iraq were at war when Iran secretly

Iraq were at war when Iran secretly

Iraq were at war when Iran secretly requested an arms deal from the United

requested an arms deal from the United

requested an arms deal from the United States senior officials in the Reagan

States senior officials in the Reagan

States senior officials in the Reagan administration ran a secret project to

administration ran a secret project to

administration ran a secret project to give weapons to Iran which at the time

give weapons to Iran which at the time

give weapons to Iran which at the time was strictly forbidden money raised from

was strictly forbidden money raised from

was strictly forbidden money raised from the sales was then funneled to the

the sales was then funneled to the

the sales was then funneled to the anti-communist contra forces in

anti-communist contra forces in

anti-communist contra forces in Nicaragua I don’t think it was wrong I

Nicaragua I don’t think it was wrong I

Nicaragua I don’t think it was wrong I think it was a neat idea

think it was a neat idea

think it was a neat idea the subsequent pardoning of those

the subsequent pardoning of those

the subsequent pardoning of those involved by George HW Bush further

involved by George HW Bush further

involved by George HW Bush further fueled cynicism about government

fueled cynicism about government

fueled cynicism about government accountability my fellow Americans

accountability my fellow Americans

accountability my fellow Americans I’ve said on several occasions that I

I’ve said on several occasions that I

I’ve said on several occasions that I wouldn’t comment about the recent

wouldn’t comment about the recent

wouldn’t comment about the recent congressional hearings on the

congressional hearings on the

congressional hearings on the iran-contra matter until the hearings

iran-contra matter until the hearings

iran-contra matter until the hearings were over well that time has come so

were over well that time has come so

were over well that time has come so tonight I want to talk about some of the

tonight I want to talk about some of the

tonight I want to talk about some of the lessons we’ve learned number four the

lessons we’ve learned number four the

lessons we’ve learned number four the Pentagon Papers former military analyst

Pentagon Papers former military analyst

Pentagon Papers former military analyst Daniel Ellsberg released the secret

Daniel Ellsberg released the secret

Daniel Ellsberg released the secret Pentagon Papers to the press in 1971 and

Pentagon Papers to the press in 1971 and

Pentagon Papers to the press in 1971 and created an instant crisis for the Nixon

created an instant crisis for the Nixon

created an instant crisis for the Nixon White House among other things the

White House among other things the

White House among other things the papers proved that the government had

papers proved that the government had

papers proved that the government had secretly expanded the scope of the

secretly expanded the scope of the

secretly expanded the scope of the Vietnam War into Cambodia and Laos they

Vietnam War into Cambodia and Laos they

Vietnam War into Cambodia and Laos they also demonstrated secret American

also demonstrated secret American

also demonstrated secret American manipulation of Vietnamese politics as

manipulation of Vietnamese politics as

manipulation of Vietnamese politics as all of this activity had been kept from

all of this activity had been kept from

all of this activity had been kept from the American people it increased the

the American people it increased the

the American people it increased the perceived credible

perceived credible

perceived credible leti gap between what the government

leti gap between what the government

leti gap between what the government says and what it does

number three the Teapot Dome scandal

number three the Teapot Dome scandal political scandals are nothing new as

political scandals are nothing new as

political scandals are nothing new as the Teapot Dome scandal of the 1920s

the Teapot Dome scandal of the 1920s

the Teapot Dome scandal of the 1920s demonstrates Secretary of the Interior

demonstrates Secretary of the Interior

demonstrates Secretary of the Interior Albert befall accepted bribes so that

Albert befall accepted bribes so that

Albert befall accepted bribes so that private oil companies could have access

private oil companies could have access

private oil companies could have access to government lands in the area known as

to government lands in the area known as

to government lands in the area known as teapot dome fall was caught and

teapot dome fall was caught and

teapot dome fall was caught and convicted and until water date the

convicted and until water date the

convicted and until water date the scandal was considered the blackest mark

scandal was considered the blackest mark

scandal was considered the blackest mark on American politics

on American politics

on American politics number two the Lewinsky affair these

number two the Lewinsky affair these

number two the Lewinsky affair these allegations are false and I need to go

allegations are false and I need to go

allegations are false and I need to go back to work for the American people was

back to work for the American people was

back to work for the American people was the fallout from President Bill

the fallout from President Bill

the fallout from President Bill Clinton’s affair with intern Monica

Clinton’s affair with intern Monica

Clinton’s affair with intern Monica Lewinsky a premeditated orchestrated

Lewinsky a premeditated orchestrated

Lewinsky a premeditated orchestrated political attack by Republicans or the

political attack by Republicans or the

political attack by Republicans or the result of a president lying under oath I

result of a president lying under oath I

result of a president lying under oath I did not have sexual relations with that

did not have sexual relations with that

did not have sexual relations with that woman the subject is still being debated

woman the subject is still being debated

woman the subject is still being debated today as is the exact meaning of sexual

today as is the exact meaning of sexual

today as is the exact meaning of sexual relations what is clear is that it

relations what is clear is that it

relations what is clear is that it resulted in the impeachment of Clinton

resulted in the impeachment of Clinton

resulted in the impeachment of Clinton though not his removal from office

though not his removal from office

though not his removal from office it also exacerbated the extremely

it also exacerbated the extremely

it also exacerbated the extremely partisan divide in America both in

partisan divide in America both in

partisan divide in America both in government and among the electorate and

government and among the electorate and

government and among the electorate and so tonight I ask you to turn away from

so tonight I ask you to turn away from

so tonight I ask you to turn away from the spectacle of the past seven months

the spectacle of the past seven months

the spectacle of the past seven months to repair the fabric of our national

to repair the fabric of our national

to repair the fabric of our national discourse and to return our attention to

discourse and to return our attention to

discourse and to return our attention to all the challenges and all the promise

all the challenges and all the promise

all the challenges and all the promise of the next American Century before we

of the next American Century before we

of the next American Century before we unveil our top pick here are a few

unveil our top pick here are a few

unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions yeah we had two men’s

honorable mentions yeah we had two men’s

honorable mentions yeah we had two men’s control over a lot of members of

control over a lot of members of

control over a lot of members of Congress through raising money for them

Congress through raising money for them

Congress through raising money for them through personal relationships by being

through personal relationships by being

through personal relationships by being politically indispensible for them I

politically indispensible for them I

politically indispensible for them I regard as indefensible the fact that I

regard as indefensible the fact that I

regard as indefensible the fact that I did not report the action to the police

did not report the action to the police

did not report the action to the police immediately

immediately

immediately number one the Watergate scandal I first

number one the Watergate scandal I first

number one the Watergate scandal I first learned from news reports of the

learned from news reports of the

learned from news reports of the Watergate break-in as a political

Watergate break-in as a political

Watergate break-in as a political scandal that actually brought down a

scandal that actually brought down a

scandal that actually brought down a president Watergate was a Republican

president Watergate was a Republican

president Watergate was a Republican orchestrated break-in

orchestrated break-in

orchestrated break-in at the Democratic National Committee

at the Democratic National Committee

at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office

headquarters in the Watergate office

headquarters in the Watergate office building it eventually precipitated a

building it eventually precipitated a

building it eventually precipitated a massive cover-up and a series of lies

massive cover-up and a series of lies

massive cover-up and a series of lies and deceptions that destroyed the

and deceptions that destroyed the

and deceptions that destroyed the Richard Nixon presidency therefore I

Richard Nixon presidency therefore I

Richard Nixon presidency therefore I shall resign the presidency effective at

shall resign the presidency effective at

shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow Nixon resigned to prevent

noon tomorrow Nixon resigned to prevent

noon tomorrow Nixon resigned to prevent his forced removal from office

his forced removal from office

his forced removal from office forty-three other people were eventually

forty-three other people were eventually

forty-three other people were eventually sentenced for their roles and missed

sentenced for their roles and missed

sentenced for their roles and missed most defining of political scandals none

most defining of political scandals none

most defining of political scandals none of us knew what was gonna happen next

of us knew what was gonna happen next

of us knew what was gonna happen next today people like the president’s kind

today people like the president’s kind

today people like the president’s kind of disappointing really our president

of disappointing really our president

of disappointing really our president wept like an insane person and then got

wept like an insane person and then got

wept like an insane person and then got in a helicopter and flew away and the

in a helicopter and flew away and the

in a helicopter and flew away and the whole nation just watched him go do you

whole nation just watched him go do you

whole nation just watched him go do you agree with our picks well I don’t know

agree with our picks well I don’t know

agree with our picks well I don’t know anybody who has a better idea what

anybody who has a better idea what

anybody who has a better idea what scandalous outrages would you have put

scandalous outrages would you have put

scandalous outrages would you have put on the list if you didn’t see a scandal

on the list if you didn’t see a scandal

on the list if you didn’t see a scandal you think should be on the list be sure

you think should be on the list be sure

you think should be on the list be sure to check out our list of the top ten

to check out our list of the top ten

to check out our list of the top ten infamous political sex scandals in the

infamous political sex scandals in the

infamous political sex scandals in the United States and for more enthralling

United States and for more enthralling

United States and for more enthralling top 10s published daily be sure to

top 10s published daily be sure to

top 10s published daily be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com thank you for

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subscribe to watchmojo.com thank you for watching and good night