You've heard it before, you'll hear it again: enough about the Lewinsky thing. Most people on campus and in the country feel the same way: Clinton made a boo-boo, he should be reprimanded then the issue left to him and family to deal with. But how bad a thing did he really do to the American people? Presidents have quite a sordid record of abusing their power, with little or no concern for the public. power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. while the Republican Congress is having their impeachment parties, let us take a brief look back to some other, far more heinous crimes that presidents have gotten away with this century.
Lets start with Teapot Dome. This was under Warren G. Harding's term, who history considers to be one of the failures as president. As the story goes, Harding's secretary of the interior leased oil from the navy's petroleum reserve in Wyoming to one of the presidents political allies, who quickly drained the supply. The secretary received $400,000 and a job at the oil company, before the scandal went public and he resigned and became the fall guy. Harding himself died of mysterious causes a year before the scandal broke.
Next, although not a formal 'scandal', its fair to mention lyndon b. Johnson's tall tales about Vietnam during any discussion of presidential dishonesty. Not only did hundreds of thousands of young Americans senselessly lose their lives as a result from his lies that unnecessarily prolonged U.S. involvement in the war, but he too allegedly had a mistress. He just never admitted it.
We skip ahead to the infamous Watergate scandal. Still involving abuse of power and deceit by a president, but considerably less bloody. Sure, few political careers were ruined and some peoples names were tarnished, but as far as we can tell, no one was killed. Or, unfortunately, impeached.
Moving into the 80's, many of us undoubtedly have some sort of recollection of the Iran-contra affair. This scandal, during Reagan's second term, dealt with illegal arms-for-hostages exchanges with Iran and also involved the sale of arms to the Contras in Nicaragua. You may remember a teary Oliver north testifying to congress about his involvement, or maybe Reagan saying he involvement, or maybe Reagan saying he 'didn't remember' what happened. North, (who now has a radio talk show in Washington after a failed senate campaign) managed to get off scot-free after lying to congress. The CIA, by the way, earned themselves $4 billion as a result of the deal.
All of these scandals area direct result of presidents or other political figures in positions of power misusing their influence resulting in pain, suffering or embarrassment on the part of the American people. This still applies to Clinton's escapades, but how hurt as a nation are we? The economy, as everyone is quick to point out, is strong. We live more or less in a time of tranquility. So if he's doing his job the way he should, is it really our business that the president had an affair?
Now we have Independent Inquisitor Starr and his gaudy report, brought to you by millions of taxpayer dollars. I don't know how many of you have actually read it, but it's awful. Splendidly written, but awful. It preys mercilessly on our own American voyeuristic streak, honed and cultivated by years of "Cops" and "America's Funniest Home Videos." When you read it, one thing keeps nagging you, telling you to close the Netscape window and go back to your homework. That little voice is your conscience, and what it's telling is absolutely right: it's none of your business.
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© 1998 Chris campbell. All rights reserved.
