The American people like to believe that their government is incorruptible. We tell ourselves that our politicians are honorable men and women who have our best interests at heart. However, the ugly reality is that government corruption is rampant in the United States. From backroom deals to undue influence, our political system is fraught with ethical problems. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most corrupt moments in American history and explore what can be done to fix this broken system.
The Teapot Dome Scandal
One of the most infamous instances of government corruption occurred during the administration of President Warren G. Harding. Known as the Teapot Dome Scandal, this event involved the secret leasing of oil fields in Wyoming and California that were owned by the federal government. In exchange for these leases, Harding’s interior secretary, Albert Fall, accepted bribes totaling more than $400,000 from two oil companies. When the scandal came to light, Fall became the first Cabinet member to ever be convicted of a crime. He was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $100,000.
The Iran-Contra Affair
Another notorious case of government corruption took place during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. The Iran-Contra Affair involved the sale of weapons to Iran—a country that was technically an enemy of the United States—in an effort to secure the release of American hostages being held in Lebanon by Hezbollah militants. Reagan’s National Security Advisor, John Poindexter, and his Deputy National Security Advisor, Oliver North, oversaw the illegal sale of arms to Iran. In exchange for their cooperation, Iranian officials agreed to funnel money and weapons to anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua known as the Contras. Despite denials from Reagan himself, investigations into the matter revealed that he had knowledge of—and perhaps even authorized—the sale of arms to Iran.
The Abramoff Scandal
In 2006, Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist with close ties to several powerful politicians, pled guilty to charges of mail fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion. Abramoff had been engaged in a scheme to defraud Native American tribes out of millions of dollars by promising them favorable treatment from lawmakers in exchange for exorbitant lobbying fees. Abramoff also admitted to bribing public officials in order to gain access to government contracts worth millions more. In total, Abramoff was ordered to pay $26 million in restitution and served four years in prison.
Conclusion:
Government corruption is a problem that has plagued American politics since its inception. Special interests and backroom deals have led to some of the darkest moments in our history. If we’re going to fix this broken system, it’s going take time, patience, and most importantly—vigilance on behalf of everyday citizens.