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[[File:Jay's-treaty.jpg|thumbthumbnail|left|250px|Figure 1. The Jay Treaty was perhaps the first scandal to directly affect a sitting President. ]] 

George Washington is not often thought of as a scandalous president, but even he could not get away from some rumors. This included having been accused of fathering children out of wedlock, something not acceptable to 18th-century norms. However, one documented scandal did great problems for him and may have contributed to his somewhat early death. The Jay Treaty was a treaty signed in 1795 between the United States Government and Great Britain, which helped establish a firmer peace between the two countries at the time. The treaty gave Britain favored trading status and this greatly angered France, the ally of the United States, and led to a split among US politicians, with Jefferson accusing Washington of treason.  The Jeffersonian party saw this as a power grab by the Hamiltonians; in Washington's own farewell address he warned against party politics and the influence of political parties (Figure 1).<ref>For more on the Jay Treaty, see: Estes, T. (2006). <i>The Jay Treaty debate, public opinion, and the evolution of early American political culture</i>. In Political Development of the American Nation. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.</ref> Another early scandal, and perhaps the first major scandal involving sex, involved a cabinet member of Andrew Jackson, John Eaton, who was Secretary of War in the so-called Petticoat affair. Eaton had just married Peggy O’Neale after his previous wife had died. O'Neale herself was a young widow and had soon married Eaton after her husband died, which led to many accusations that the two were conducting an affair prior to what was seen as a convenient death.  The wives of Jackson's cabinet refused to socialize with O'Neale, leading to Jackson becoming angry with his cabinet and scolding them for not having their wives socialize with O'Neale. Eventually, Jackson's entire cabinet resigned, as they saw Eaton's relationship as scandalous for the moral standards of the day.<ref>For more on John Eaton and how this scandal affect Jackson, see: Marszalek, J. F. (2000). <i>The petticoat affair: manners, mutiny, and sex in Andrew Jackson’s White House</i>. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.</ref>

Another early scandal, and perhaps Andrew Johnson is known as the first major scandal involving sex, involved a cabinet member of Andrew Jackson, John Eaton, President who came closest to being impeached. His relationship with Congress was Secretary of War in the so-called Petticoat affair. Eaton had just married Peggy O’Neale after his previous wife had died. O'Neale herself was a young widow and had soon married Eaton after her husband died, which led to many accusations fractious that the two were conducting an affair prior to what was seen as a convenient death. The wives of Jackson's cabinet he even refused to socialize with O'Nealecarry out laws they had passed, leading to Jackson becoming angry with his cabinet resulting in continuous problems between the president and scolding them for Congress. He also fired officials despite having been warned he could not having their wives socialize and repeatedly created crises with O'Nealecongressional leaders. EventuallyIn fact, Jackson's entire cabinet resigned, as they saw Eaton's relationship as scandalous for his violation of the moral standards Tenure of the day.<ref>For more on John Eaton and how this scandal affect JacksonOffice Act, see: Marszalekwhich gave authority to Congress for removing certain office holders, J. F. (2000). <i>The petticoat affair: manners, mutiny, and sex in Andrew Jackson’s White House</i>. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Pressis what led to impeachment.</ref>

Andrew Johnson is known as the President who came closest to being impeached. His relationship with Congress was so fractious that he even refused to carry out laws they had passed, resulting in continuous problems between the president and Congress. He also fired officials despite having been warned he could not and repeatedly created crises with congressional leaders. In fact, his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, which gave authority to Congress for removing certain office holders, is what led to impeachment. The scandal did not reflect well on Congress either, as it was seen by the wider public as an attempt by Republicans to assert their authority on the President rather than being a legitimate reason for the impeachment.<ref>For more on Johnson's various conflicts with Congress, see: McKitrick, E. L. (1988). <i>Andrew Johnson and Reconstruction</i>. New York: Oxford University Press.</ref>

Perhaps among the biggest scandals of 19th-century American presidents involved Grover Cleveland. This scandal also demonstrates the power of the public to give a President a pass, albeit the public may have been deceived. In 1884, Cleveland ran for president as a clean, moral president and was labeled as "Grover the Good." The reality was he had fathered an illegitimate child years earlier. The woman in question was Maria Halpin, a widow. Cleveland quickly admitted to the affair once it was revealed and said he even took care of the child in question by finding a family to adopt the child, even though he stated he was not sure he was the father of the child and Halpin had been accused of being with other men. Cleveland said he was being gallant for taking responsibility for the child even if he was not sure he was the father.  Halpin, on the other hand, accused him of having forced her to give up the child for adoption and Cleveland had effectively bribed his way out of the issue by paying to have the child taken by adoptive partents and away from political scrutiny. It was bad enough to force the child to be taken away from Halpin and to then try to hide the story, but Cleveland was able to push his version of events, perhaps through some clever spinning, that he was trying to do the honorable thing in a difficult situation. This scandal occurred mostly during the campaign and led to a very close election that Cleveland was able to win.<ref>For more on Cleveland and his scandals, see: Lachman, C. (2011). <i>A secret life: the sex, lies and scandals of President Grover Cleveland</i>. New York: Skyhorse Pub.</ref>

After Nixon, perhaps the second most well-remembered scandal in recent history was the Monica Lewinsky affair during Clinton's time as President. Similar to Nixon, the coverup of the affair led to Congress investigating further and ultimately drawing articles of impeachment against him for perjury. Ultimately, Clinton triumphed against the impeachment but made this among the most memorable scandals of his time. During the presidency of George W. Bush, perhaps the Iraq war and events related to how the war was sold to the public might be among the biggest scandals of the administration.  It did lead to the arrest and jail time for one administration official, Scooter Libby, for having leaked a name of a CIA opperative operative who was the wife of a prominent Iraq war critic. Accusations also revolved around how much did the Bush administration know before they launched the war and if they lied to start the war.<ref>For more on Clinton and George W. Bush scandals, including media responses, see: Entman, R. M. (2012).<i> Scandal and silence: media responses to presidential misconduct</i>. Cambridge, UK ; Malden, MA: Polity Press. </ref>