5 of the Biggest Election Scandals in American History

Although we’re still months away from the next presidential election, there have already been countless scandals swirling around the news. From Hillary Clinton’s emails to Donald Trump’s employees roughing up protesters, this election is certainly one for the history books.

Among the historical experts who know how infamous American politicians can act and behave are the professional curators at Raab Collection. They note that their selection of letters and autographs from controversial politicians is in high demand. Among them are many personal documents from the Civil War era. They serve as pieces of history that provide a glimpse into the thoughts and decisions of prominent leaders like William T. Sherman and James Buchanan.

As many controversial topics are taking front and center during election year, we look back at some of the most notable elections in our country’s history. 

The First Presidential Election

George Washington’s transition from general to the first president of the United States was a smooth one. He proved to be a highly capable, thoughtful leader when our country needed it the most. The first actual presidential election in 1796 between then VP John Adams and Thomas Jefferson was a bit controversial.

The candidates had very different political views on how to best move the country forward. Supporters on both sides got very nasty and weren’t beneath slandering the other nominee’s name. The real catch is that due to the way the system was set up at the time, Adams became the second president and Jefferson was named his VP. Talk about an awkward work environment.

To make things even more interesting, in the next election Jefferson and Adams went head-to-head again and this time Jefferson won.

The 2000 Florida Presidential Vote

No election debacle in recent years has rivaled the 2000 Florida vote recount. VP Al Gore was running against George W. Bush in a campaign to take over Bill Clinton’s role as president. On election night, it all came down to the votes in Florida, which was too close to call.

It took more than a month for the recount to be completed. George W. Bush was named the winner, but to this day, there is controversy surrounding that outcome. There were many disputed ballots and questions as to how the votes were being hand-counted. Many believe that the questionable counting had dramatic consequences for the future of our country given the war on terror that began soon after.

It was very reminiscent of the controversial 1876 presidential election when the Republican Party un-conceded then contested and “corrected” votes in Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana.

The 1855 Bleeding Kansas Election

This scandalous and violent election happened the same year the newly formed state of Kansas was voting on whether or not to allow slavery. In an attempt to sway the vote, people on both sides of the debate moved to Kansas. Many were from the slave state of Missouri. After the proslavery side won the election, violence broke out involving citizens and federal politicians.

The Bleeding Kansas election was just a decade before the Civil War. Some historians note it as a precursor for what was to come in the country’s darkest days.

Gary Hart’s Affair With the Media in 1988

No politicians would ever dare modern-day media sources to dig through their information and follow them around. Information is much too easy to get these days. However, in 1988 it took at little more legwork. When presidential primary frontrunner Gary Hart challenged journalists, they answered the call.

Hart had been accused of having an affair with a much younger woman. Miami Herald reporters had a jumpstart since they had already been doing research on the presidential hopeful. After staking out his home in Washington D.C., they gathered evidence of 29-year old Donna Rice leaving at odd hours. Later they released pictures of the two on his yacht without his wife. Hart confessed and dropped out of the race.

It was a lesson to all politicians that journalists don’t need goading. 

New School Election Scandal

Technology has changed the way candidates campaign and voters vote. In 2002, New Hampshire’s Senate election was heating up. The New Hampshire Republican Party hired an outside telemarketing firm that was ultimately found guilty of election tampering.

The firm was able to jam the system and disrupt call centers for the Democratic Party and state firefighter union. The Republican Party ended up narrowly winning the seat. However, four men were eventually convicted, and it was revealed that the Republican Party officials hired the firm specifically for the purpose of tampering with the phone systems.