The Top 10 Most Shocking Political Scandals in History

1. Watergate Scandal (1972-1974)

The Watergate scandal, which involved the Nixon administration’s attempted cover-up of its involvement in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972, rocked the American political landscape and led to President Nixon’s resignation.

2. Monica Lewinsky Scandal (1998)

The scandal involving President Bill Clinton’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky captivated the nation and led to Clinton’s impeachment by the House of Representatives.

3. Iran-Contra Affair (1985-1987)

The Iran-Contra affair, in which members of the Reagan administration secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for American hostages and used the proceeds to fund Nicaraguan Contra rebels, was a major political scandal that resulted in multiple convictions.

4. Profumo Affair (1963)

The Profumo affair, a British political scandal involving Secretary of State for War John Profumo’s affair with model Christine Keeler, exposed issues of national security and ultimately led to Profumo’s resignation and the downfall of the Macmillan government.

5. Teapot Dome Scandal (1921-1923)

The Teapot Dome scandal, in which Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall accepted bribes for leasing naval oil reserves in Wyoming and California to private oil companies, marked the first time in American history that a U.S. cabinet member was convicted of a felony while in office.

6. Lewinskygate (1998)

The scandal involving President Bill Clinton’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky captivated the nation and led to Clinton’s impeachment by the House of Representatives.

7. Enron Scandal (2001)

The Enron scandal, one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in U.S. history, involved fraudulent accounting practices and led to the collapse of the energy company and the dissolution of Arthur Andersen, its accounting firm.

8. Abscam (1978-1980)

The Abscam scandal, in which the FBI conducted a sting operation targeting public officials for accepting bribes in exchange for political favors, resulted in the conviction of several members of Congress and tarnished the reputation of the U.S. government.

9. Francis Urquhart scandal (1990)

The scandal involving British Prime Minister Francis Urquhart, portrayed in the TV miniseries “House of Cards,” exposed the manipulation and corruption within the British government and showcased the dark side of politics.

10. Krav Don controversy (1952)

The Krav Don controversy, a Cambodian political scandal involving allegations of corruption and political interference, caused widespread unrest and ultimately led to the overthrow of Prime Minister Vailaboi in a coup d’état.