Fall from Grace: Sex, Scandal and Corruption in American Politics from 1702 to Present (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Washington scandal is more than accidental -- it's an American tradition!
Political misdeeds are older than the republic. Throughout history an aggressive news media has consistently exposed irregularities and illegalities on all sides -- helping to shape our perceptions about politics and politicians.
This fact-filled book names the names and sets the scenes -- from almost every presidential administration -- letting loose history's best-kept secrets and most infamous scandals, such as:
"The Governor in Skirts" -- In 1702, Lord Cornbury, New York's drunken, cross-dressing Colonial governor-general, insisted on wearing formal hooped skirts and lady's accessories in public as a tribute to the fashionable Queen Anne.
"The Overzealous Colonel" -- Oliver North's predecessor in clandestine paramilitary activities was William S. Smith, in Thomas Jefferson's administration. Intent on aiding Venezuelan freedom fighters in their battle against Spanish occupation, he raised private funds, secured weapons, and enlisted soldiers of fortune for his private army.
Drawing comparisons between malfeasance in times gone by and today's simmering scandals, Fall From Grace demonstrates how our intriguing if imperfect system manages to stay afloat -- almost despite itself -- and exposes the all-too-fallible men and women who take the front page by storm.

From the Inside Flap

Washington scandal is more than accidental -- it's an American tradition!
Political misdeeds are older than the republic. Throughout history an aggressive news media has consistently exposed irregularities and illegalities on all sides -- helping to shape our perceptions about politics and politicians.
This fact-filled book names the names and sets the scenes -- from almost every presidential administration -- letting loose history's best-kept secrets and most infamous scandals, such as:
"The Governor in Skirts" -- In 1702, Lord Cornbury, New York's drunken, cross-dressing Colonial governor-general, insisted on wearing formal hooped skirts and lady's accessories in public as a tribute to the fashionable Queen Anne.
"The Overzealous Colonel" -- Oliver North's predecessor in clandestine paramilitary activities was William S. Smith, in Thomas Jefferson's administration. Intent on aiding Venezuelan freedom fighters in their battle against Spanish occupation, he raised private funds, secured weapons, and enlisted soldiers of fortune for his private army.
Drawing comparisons between malfeasance in times gone by and today's simmering scandals, Fall From Grace demonstrates how our intriguing if imperfect system manages to stay afloat -- almost despite itself -- and exposes the all-too-fallible men and women who take the front page by storm.

Product Details

• Paperback: 327 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st Edition. edition (June 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345353811
• ISBN-13: 978-0345353818
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,863,440 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex Scandals Of The White House, September 6, 1998

By	[e-mail] "katieeileen" (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

My grandmother has a copy of this book. I am desperately seeking a copy for my self.

Candid retrospect of the sex scandals in the White House, including J.Edgar Hoover, from Washington to Carter.

I highly recommend this book for several pages you can;t get through without laughing out loud. Makes you wonder if we, as taxpayers are funding/ supporting a government or private "stable."

If anybody knows of a copy, please contact me.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There is hope!, January 29, 2006

By	kathy moult-applewhite (Bar Harbor, me United States) - See all my reviews

A fascinating, well-documented, and fun look at our country's highest echelons. Really puts the mess we have today in perspective and gives me hope. A hearty people, we will endure.

5.0 out of 5 stars What They Didn't Teach You in School, March 4, 2008

By	Acute Observer (North Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is the history book that if likely banned from school libraries since it has the stories censored from or obliquely mentioned in Official History. Some of the stories will be news to the reader. The 'Introduction' notes that "some of our most moral leaders have been our weakest, while some with the most scandalous behavior have served the country the best". [What did Machiavelli say?] The press ignored most scandals of the 20th century before Watergate (p.xix). Some political scandals were omitted from this book. This 1988 book needs extra chapters on recent events. Journalist Ross believes sex, scandal, and corruption will always be part of the political system. Ross does not provide any background on the groups behind the politicians, like bankers, big landowners, a secret society, etc.

Chapter 1 tells of Colonial America. Lord Cornbury's misrule led to the idea of impeachment of a ruler. Ben Franklin had his secrets. George Washington corresponded with a married woman (Chapter 2). He married a wealthy widow (p.15). Alexander Hamilton's cousin embezzled Treasury funds, tried to corner the market on government bonds, and created the first financial panic (Chapter 3). Congress condemned Hamilton (p.22). Hamilton had an affair with Mrs. Reynolds and paid her husband for it (p.23). The scandals about Thomas Jefferson originated from a single source (p.29). Chapter 4 has the stories. Chapter 5 lists the scandals of the Adams family. There were scandals for Andrew Jackson over his wife, and then the wife of the Secretary of War (Chapter 6). There were no personal scandals for Martin Van Buren (Chapter 7). His Vice-President, a War Hero, was unmarried with children (p.68). John Tyler was nearly impeached for his use of government money for secret purposes ("executive privilege").

The 1850s were marked by violence, corruption, and decadence (Chapter 8). James Buchanan promised government contracts for campaign contributors. Bids were rigged (p.84). Buchanan's corruption led to the election of "Honest Abe" (p.91). Lincoln's Presidential scandals were mostly caused by his wife (p.92). President Grant was "personally incorruptible", unlike his friends and relatives (Chapter 10). Grant's reign was notorious for scandals. Rutherford B. Hayes was the cleanest candidate (Chapter 11). James Garfield put strains on his marriage. Grover Cleveland was an honest politician when government was considered a tool of business (p.120). James Blaine made money from nearly every railroad organized during his terms as Congressman. Chapter 12 tells of the election of 1884. Cleveland's cancer surgery during the Depression of 1893 was kept secret (p.129). Chapter 13 lists a few sexual scandals of politicians in the Gilded Age.

The love scandals of Woodrow Wilson are in Chapter 14. Warren Harding's scandals were revealed after his death (Chapter 15). FDR and Eleanor had no public scandals; their private life was "bizarre" (p.169). Chapter 16 has the secrets revealed in 1978. Chapter 17 has the scandals of the Truman administration (influence peddling). Eisenhower said "a gift is not necessarily a bribe" (p.186). Kay Summersby wrote her story (p.189). JFK's romances are in Chapter 18; they were mostly censored until Nixon's first term. Were the Kennedy's reckless (p.203)? LBJ had almost as many romantic scandals as JFK (Chapter 19). Chapter 20 tells about J. Edgar Hoover. Nixon was the only President to resign from office. What was Nixon's friendship with a cocktail-lounge hostess (Chapter 21)? Did J. Edgar Hoover use this scandal to stay in office (p.224)? Gerald Ford set a higher standard, the scandals were in Congress or the CIA (Chapter 22). Jimmy Carter was a moral man, the scandals came from his brother Billy, Budget Director Lance, and Congressmen (Chapter 23). The sheer number of scandals in the Reagan administration is unprededented (p.269). Their political appointees were businessmen on the make (Chapter 24). Chapter 25 discusses the scandals of the 1988 presidential campaign.