Politics and Sex seem Inseparable

California Congressman Eric Swalwell is the latest example of former Secretary of Defense Henry Kissinger’s famous observation — that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” He was not the most handsome guy in the lineup, but was often seen in the company of stunningly beautiful women.

I saw it in my days in Washington. The was no end to the number of young ladies (and men) who were eager to “hook up” with members of Congress, Cabinet members and other high ranking officials. Every lobbyist knew of public officials “getting a little on the side.”

Occasionally, one of the dalliances would burst into scandal. During my lifetime there have been frequent sex scandals involving public officials. The numbers seem to have increased over time – likely resulting from the fact that the media was more likely to protect politicians in the old days. They knew but just did not report.

It seems most presidents messed around. Franklin Roosevelt had Lucy Mercer as a longtime lover. General Eisenhower was reported to be involved with Kay Summersby, his secretary and driver. Jack Kennedy was considered a sex addict, with numerous partners, including a Mafia kingpin’s moll, an intern, a foreign spy and possibly Marilyn Monroe.

You may not be aware of the names Alice Glass and Madeline Duncan Brown, but they are only two of President Johnson’s many paramours over his long political career. President Carter confessed only to “committing adultery in (his) heart.” President Reagan was a Hollywood leading man – often “associated” with leading ladies in the gossip columns. Then there was President Clinton. His serial extramarital affairs were front page stories since his impeachment in 1998 – and he remains in the center of sex controversy today thanks to his pal, Jeffrey Epstein and his “Fantasy Island.”

Like Clinton, President Trump has been long associated with multiple assignations — including extramarital affairs. During his 2016 campaign, Trump paid hush money to an “adult entertainment performer.” He was found libel in a civil sexual assault case currently under appeal. He is also embroiled in the Epstein Case.

There were rumors about some of the unnamed modern-day presidents, but no credible evidence – no scandals. Although a 90-year-old George H. W. Bush made headlines with a claimed rump grab during a photo shoot.

And that is only the presidents. Since the 1950s there have been many other public officials involved in sex scandals. Here is a partial list of the most notable cases.

1950s–1960s

• Sen. Styles Bridges (R, Senate Majority Leader) 1954: Implicated in blackmail scheme threatening to expose Sen. Lester Hunt’s (D-WY) son as a homosexual
• George Dame (White House correspondence clerk) 1957: Arrested in a men’s bathroom at George Washington University library. Resigned
• Walter Jenkins (Chief of Staff to President Johnson)1964: Arrested in a YMCA men’s restroom for disorderly conduct involving sexual activity with another man. Worked for Johnson since 1939. (Prior 1959 arrest in same location). Resigned.

1970s

• House Ways & Means Chairman Wilbur Mills (D-AR) 1974: Stopped by police intoxicated with stripper Fanne Foxe (Tidal Basin incident).
• Rep. Wayne Hays (D-OH) 1976: Hired staffer Elizabeth Ray explicitly for sexual favors (she could not type or file). Forced to resign from Congress.
• Rep. Robert L. Leggett (D-CA) 1976: Fathered two children with a congressional secretary and had an affair with another aide.
• Rep. Allan Howe (D-UT) 1976: Arrested for soliciting undercover police posing as prostitutes. (Defeated for reelection.)
• Rep. John Young (D-TX) 1976: Accused by former secretary of sexual demands tied to pay raises. (Defeated in election.)
• Rep. Fred Richmond (D-NY) 1978: Arrested for soliciting a minor and undercover officer. Underwent counseling and won reelection. (Later resigned after unrelated convictions.)

1980s

• Rep. Robert Bauman (R-MD) 1980: Arrested for soliciting a minor male prostitute. Charges dropped after rehab. (Defeated for reelection).
• Rep. Jon Hinson (R-MS)1981: Arrested for oral sodomy in a Capitol restroom and prior arrests for obscene acts. (Resigned).
• Rep. Dan Crane (R-IL) 1983: Had sex with a 17-year-old female page. (Lose reelection).
• Rep. Gerry Studds (D-MA) 1983: Had sex with a 17-year-old male page. (Served 13 more years).
• Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) 1987–1989: Reprimanded after male escort/prostitute Steve Gobie (whom Frank employed) ran an escort service from their apartment. (Reprimanded by House but reelected repeatedly).
• Sen. Gary Hart (D-CO) 1987: Photographed with Donna Rice on the appropriately named yacht Monkey Business amid presidential campaign. (Dropped out of presidential race).

1990s

• Sen. Bob Packwood (R-OR) 1992–1995: Accused by at least 19 women of sexual harassment/assault over decades, including groping and forced kisses. (Resigned ahead of Senate expulsion vote.)
• Sen. Brock Adams (D-WA) 1993: Accused by eight women of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape. (Did not run for reelection).
• Rep. Mel Reynolds (D-IL) 1994: Convicted of sexual assault and child pornography involving a 16-year-old campaign worker. Resigned from Congress and later imprisoned (Pardoned by Clinton in 2001).
• HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros (D, Clinton appointee) faced scrutiny over payments to former mistress (Resigned).

2000s–2010s

• Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) 2006: Sent explicit messages to underage male congressional pages. (Resigned).
• Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) 2007: Arrested for lewd conduct in airport restroom (soliciting undercover officer) Pleaded guilty. (Did not seek reelection).
• Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobias 2007: Listed as client of a prostitution escort service. (Resigned).
• Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) 2007: Name surfaced in the high-profile “D.C. Madam” scandal involving Deborah Jeane Palfrey. (Won reelection).
• Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) 2011: Affair with a campaign aide’s wife with hush payments/cover-up. (Resigned from Senate).
• Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) 2011: Sent explicit photos/sexts to women including a minor. (Resigned from Congress and later imprisoned).
• Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX) 2014–2017: Settled sexual harassment claim with staffer using taxpayer funds as hush money. (Resigned).
• House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) 2015: Pleaded guilty to financial crimes tied to hush-money payments for past sexual abuse of boys as a wrestling coach. (Imprisoned).
• Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) 2017: Accused of feigning groping/forcibly kissing women in photographs and earlier accusations. (Resigned).

The MeToo cases: 2017-2018

• Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Sexual assault and settlement payments. (Resigned).
• Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) Charged with sexual harassment. Paid settlement. (Resigned)
• Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA) Accused of sexual harrassment, Paid settlement. (Resigned). 2020s (through 2026)

• Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) 2021–2022: Accused of harassment and assault seen on leaked explicit video. (Lost primary).
• Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) 2019–2021: Investigated over alleged involvement with a 17-year-old. No charges filed. (Did not run for reelection).
• Rep. Ernest “Tony” Gonzales (R-TX) 2026: Alleged inappropriate texts/affair with staffer (who later committed suicide). Dropped out of race for reelection.
• Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) 2026: Multiple women alleged harassment/assault including involvement with a suspected Chinese spy. (Resigned from House and withdrew from campaign for governor).

Whew! That is a lot of misbehaving by our public officials – and it is only the tip of the iceberg.

Kissinger was right. Money and power are human pheromones. You can most assuredly count on this list to continue to continue to grow.

So, there ‘tis.