Isn’t It Strange by Frank Shortt
History is rife with presidential scandal.
One president married a lady who was already married then blamed his critics for her untimely death.
Another president had scandal after scandal, but the one that he is most remembered for was that he lowered the gold standard when gold was most needed by the healing nation. He was also accused of being a drunkard.
Another had to deal with private mail handlers who contracted for one price with the local governments, then, when they presented their contracts to the Federal Government, they had raised their rates considerably.
In the late 1800’s it was not an unheard of thing for a presidential candidate to father an illegitimate child. Somehow when the candidate for president owned up to the affair, he was praised instead of scolded and won the election hands down.
One Secretary of the Interior sold oil reserves for favors and cattle. The president at the time had egg on his face because he was the one who appointed the man who, by the way, was also his poker buddy.
One notable president became famous because his cohorts broke into the opposing party’s headquarters stealing valuable documents. He resigned rather than face impeachment.
One president, and his brother, was accused of having a physical relationship with the same actress. The press had a field day with this one.
The selling of arms to one nation to finance the war in another nation was the bane of one presidency. Many hearings were held due to the fact that those involved felt that by selling the arms to the first nation, hostages would be allowed to leave that country. There was egg on some faces again.
The last, but not least, incident that should be listed as strange, involves the definition of the word “is”. This president took advantage of a white house staffer and then tried to weasel out of the whole affair by twisting the word “is” around.
Why this interest in presidential scandals?
These scandals meant that much money would be won or lost by those involved. Some of these men, after leaving office, became public speakers and was paid exorbitant amounts of money for one public speech. Others wrote books about their exploits, and a forgiving American public forgave all their evil deeds and bought their books anyway.
Is this setting a good example for our future citizens? How is our youth to know what is the right or wrong thing to do when they see these recalcitrant ones being eulogized instead of punished for their wrong-doings?
We were taught in the 1950’s and 60’s that public officials should be above scandal. They were the ones who should set good examples at all costs. Somehow the bottom fell out of this whole idea when scandals became more and more public knowledge.
Who is to blame for all this confusion? Who will make this all right?
Wouldn’t it be a good idea to have a public official sign a ‘pre-nuptial’ agreement, that if scandal arose during their term of office, he or she would bear all the cost of their defense? This would put a stop to a lot of public scandal!
Patriotism Lost?
Where’s the Spirit of Freedom now?
Where is the sweat from every brow,
That sacrificed on foreign shores,
Who now are crowned with heads of hoar?
Where’s the flag at every dwelling,
Brave and loyal thoughts impelling?
Where’s Washington and John Hancock,
People marching on every block?
If America suffers shame
We all must share the entire blame.
Is she excels, we share that too
For the banner, Red, White and Blue.
Let’s work together, whattaya say,
For the old American way?
Stop this knocking all our leaders
Vote ‘em out if they’re not keepers.
Frank Shortt