Agnew, Spiro Theodore (1918–1996) in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hanover, by Democrats, Apportioned His Seat out New Jersey

14 Agnew, Spiro Theodore (1918–1996) in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hanover, by Democrats, apportioned his seat out New Jersey. of existence, he ran instead for county executive and was elected in 1962. He References: Addonizio v. United States, 405 U.S. served in this office for four years. In 1966, 936 (1972); Anyon, Jean, Ghetto Schooling: his political star rising, Agnew was nomi- A Political Economy of Urban Educational Reform (New York: Teachers College Press, nated by the Republicans for governor. He 1997), 109; Nash, Jay Robert. Encyclopedia defeated Democrat George P. Mahoney of World Crime: Criminal Justice, Crimi- to become the governor of Maryland. nology, and Law Enforcement, 4 vols. (Wil- Agnew's election as governor marked a mette, IL: CrimeBooks, Inc., 1989), 1:30–31; turn in Maryland politics. Previously the United States v. Addonizio, 442 U.S. 178 cities had dominated the political agenda, (1979). but now the suburban areas, where Agnew had won a majority of his votes $JQHZ6SLUR7KHRGRUH and which controlled both houses of the ± Maryland General Assembly, dominated. Agnew reorganized state government and Governor of Maryland (1967–1969), vice revised the state tax code. He became the president of the United States (1969– first “law and order” official, speaking out 1973), the second vice president to resign against protests by students and others from office and the first because of crimi- against the Vietnam War. Nevertheless, nal charges leveled against him. Agnew he was considered a moderate politically, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 9 standing for strong laws against pollution November 1918, the son of Theodore and signing the first open-housing law Agnew, a Greek-born restaurateur who south of the Mason-Dixon Line. shortened his name from Anagnostopou- As the 1968 election approached, los, and Margaret (née Akers) Agnew. Agnew threw his support behind New Called “Ted” by his friends, Spiro Agnew York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller attended the schools of Baltimore before for the Republican presidential nomi- he went to Johns Hopkins University and nation. However, when it appeared that studied the law at the University of Balti- former Vice President Richard M. Nixon more Law School, from which he gradu- would receive the party nod, Agnew ated from in 1947. During World War backed the Californian. In a stunning II, he served in the U.S. Army in France, political move, Nixon chose Agnew as and was decorated with the Bronze Star his running mate. Little known outside for heroism. After he graduated from of Maryland, Agnew took to the stump law school, Agnew was admitted to the and campaigned across the nation and Maryland bar and opened a practice in was rewarded for his efforts when Nixon Baltimore. won a close victory over Vice President Agnew entered the political realm Hubert Humphrey. In eight short years, in 1957 when he won a seat on the Bal- Agnew went from the Baltimore County timore County Zoning Board. When the Zoning Board to become the thirty-ninth county council for Baltimore, dominated vice president of the United States. Agnew, Spiro Theodore (1918–1996) 15

(Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-USZ62-116459) 16 Agnew, Spiro Theodore (1918–1996)

During his first four years in office, time as governor and continuing even as Agnew earned a reputation as the admin- he sat a heartbeat away from the presi- istration's “hatchet man,” criticizing the dency, was taking kickbacks from milk press (as “nattering nabobs of nega- producers and others in Maryland. U.S. tivism”) and Vietnam War protestors Attorney George Beall headed up the (“hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs investigation and ran the grand jury. of history”). In 1972, when Nixon and In 1999 the FBI files on Agnew were Agnew were renominated for a second released pursuant to a Freedom of Infor- term, Time magazine wrote: mation Act request. One contractor told the grand jury investigating the case, “I For much of Nixon's first term, the just paid off the vice president of the vice president's principal duty seemed United States,” and described how he to be to go after the Administration's had given Agnew $10,000 in cash in the enemies and critics with a spiked White House basement. One person mace. In alliterative swings he who paid Agnew a kickback of $1,500 denounced Democrats, liberals, the cash was allowed to fly on board the vice Eastern Establishment, even dissident president's jet to watch an Apollo moon members of his own party, with an launch. One FBI document reads, “The assiduousness and acidity that would gist of this background was that [missing hardly have been becoming of the information] prior to 1966, when Agnew President. There were liberal Republi- was the County Executive (Mayor) of cans who though it unbecoming even Baltimore, [missing information] began in a vice president, and who saw in making payments to [missing informa- Agnew few qualities that would make tion] of kickbacks from three to five him a suitable President of the U.S., percent of the total of the contracts he should the need arise. They urged received.” Nixon to choose a new running mate Beall traced the corruption to Agnew, for his second term. But the President, and called four men who had worked secure in the polls and mindful of for him before the grand jury, among Agnew's loyal and noisy constituency them Jerome Wolff, a former staffer for on the right, decided not “to break up Agnew who then headed the Maryland a winning combination. Highway Administration, and Lester Matz, head of an engineering firm. Matz The ticket was reelected in a land- told Beall, “You probably don't want to slide, and to many it appeared that in know about this, but I've been paying off 1976 Agnew would be the Republican the vice president of the United States.” nominee for president. Beall was ready to indict Agnew, when Even as he was being reelected, how- The Wall Street Journal broke the story ever, Agnew was under investigation by in August 1973. Agnew called Attorney the FBI and a grand jury in Baltimore. General Elliot Richardson, demand- Allegations had arisen that Agnew, from ing that leaks of such an investigation his time as county executive through his be stopped. Behind the scenes, Agnew Ames, Adelbert (1835–1933) 17 knew he was finished and negotiated a T. Agnew (New York: Viking Press, 1974); deal in which he would resign his office “The Coronation of King Richard,” Time, and plead no contest to falsifying his 28 August 1972, 17; Hill, Janellen, Spiro T. Agnew: Tactics of Self-Defense, August 1 tax returns and not reflecting the bribes. to October 15, 1974 (Master's thesis, Ari- On 10 October 1973, less than two years zona State University, 1974); Lucas, Jim after he was inaugurated for his second Griffing, Agnew: Profile in Conflict (New term as vice president, Agnew resigned. York: Award Books, 1970); Marsh, Robert, That same day, in district court in Bal- Agnew: The Unexamined Man—A Political timore, he pled nolo contendere to Profile (New York: M. Evans, 1971); “Spiro the single charge and admitted that he Agnew: Dishonest Vice President Resigns,” in George C. Kohn, Encyclopedia of Ameri- had been taking bribes for many years. can Scandal: From ABSCAM to the Zenger Agnew was fined $10,000 and sentenced Case (New York: Facts on File, 1989), 3–4; to three years’ probation. Weil, Martin, “Former Vice President Spiro In his final years, Agnew became a T. Agnew Dies at 77,” Washington Post, 18 business consultant. He stayed out of September 1996, Al. the public eye, except for penning his memoirs, Go Quietly … or Else (1980). He entered a hospital in September 1996 $OH[DQGHU/DPDU for heart surgery and died on 17 Septem- ber at the age of seventy-seven. After his See Blanton, Leonard Ray death, it was discovered that he had been suffering from incurable leukemia. His remains were cremated, and the ashes $PHV$GHOEHUW ± were interred in Dulaney Valley Memo- rial Gardens in Timonium, Maryland. United States senator from Mississippi It is a common fallacy that Agnew (1870–1873) and governor of that state was the first vice president to resign or (1868–1870, 1874–1876), impeached to face criminal charges—those “hon- and forced to resign because of race ors” go to Aaron Burr, who was charged riots and corruption of the carpetbag with treason (and acquitted), and to government in the state. Ames was born John C. Calhoun, who resigned on 28 in Rockland, Maine, on 31 October 1835, December 1832 to fill a vacancy in the the son of Jesse Ames, a mill owner and U.S. Senate. Agnew is the first vice presi- former sailor, and Martha (née Tolman) dent to resign because of charges relat- Ames. His granddaughter, Blanche Ames ing to corruption. Ames, wrote in 1964, “His people were New Englanders descended from the References: Agnew, Spiro T., Go Quietly … Or early Pilgrims and Puritans, of English Else (New York: Morrow, 1980); Albright, and Scottish descent. They were venture- Joseph, What Makes Spiro Run: The Life and some people, and many had fought in the Times of Spiro Agnew (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1972); Cohen, Richard M., and Jules Colonial and Revolutionary wars. Some Witcover, A Heartbeat Away: The Investiga- were farmers and teachers and some were tion and Resignation of Vice President Spiro seafaring men like Adelbert's father.” Roberts, Owen Josephus (1875–1955) 473 for an action committed before the mem- Roberts, Owen Josephus ber's election to the Senate. (1875–1955) Roach completed his single six-year term without any further difficulties. Attorney who served as special counsel He served as the chairman of the Select in the Teapot Dome investigation and Committee to Investigate Trespasses Upon Indian Lands and was a member later as an associate justice on the United of the Committees on Agriculture and States Supreme Court. He was born in Forestry, Indian Affairs, Irrigation, and Germantown, Pennsylvania, on 2 May the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians. He 1875. He attended local schools, includ- attempted to run for reelection in 1898, ing the prestigious Germantown Acad- but by then the coalition that had served emy, before graduating at the top of his to elect him had faded, and the Repub- class from the University of Pennsylva- licans, now in complete control of the nia in 1895. He then earned a law degree legislature, elected Porter J. McCumber from the University of Pennsylvania law to the seat. school. He opened a private law practice Roach retired to Washington, D.C., in Philadelphia, at which he worked from after his election loss. He was in New 1898 until 1903. He served as a professor York City on business on 7 September of law at the University of Pennsylvania 1902 when he suddenly died, two weeks shy of his sixty-second birthday. His School of Law from 1898 to 1919 and body was returned to Washington and served as first district attorney for the buried in the Congressional Cemetery in city of Philadelphia from 1906 to 1930. that city. Roberts became one of Philadelphia's most respected attorneys, with his prac- References: “Roach, William Nathaniel,” in tice heavily involved in corporate law. In Biographical Directory of the United States 1912 he formed a law partnership with Congress, 1774$-$1989: the Continental two local attorneys, William W. Mont- Congress, September 5, 1774, to October gomery Jr. and Charles L. McKeehan, 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United who later served on the U.S. District States, from the First through the One Court for the Eastern District of Penn- Hundredth Congresses, March 4, 1789, to sylvania. In 1918 Roberts was named by January 3, 1989, Inclusive (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1989), Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer as 1737; “Roach, William Nathaniel,” in The his special assistant to prosecute cases National Cyclopaedia of American Biogra- involving the 1917 Espionage Act in phy, 57 vols, and supplements A-N (New Pennsylvania. Roberts obtained several York: James T. White & Company, 1897- convictions. 1984), V:263; Schlup, Leonard C, “Wil- In 1923 after Congress began to inves- liam N. Roach: North Dakota Isolationist tigate the so-called Teapot Dome scan- and Gilded Age Senator,” North Dakota dal, in which Secretary of the Interior History, 57 (Fall 1990), 2-11. Albert B. Fall had taken bribes from oil 474 Roberts, Owen Josephus (1875–1955)

Owen J. Roberts (left) and Atlee Pomerene (right) were assigned as the two special prosecutors in the Teapot Dome investigation. (Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DlG-npcc-10611) men to lease government reserves in Cali- prosecutors—one Republican, one Dem- fornia and Wyoming to their companies, ocrat. These two men would have the full Congress became suspicious that Attor- backing of the president and the Con- ney General Harry M. Daugherty was gress “to prosecute all illegal acts that dragging his feet in the department's own occurred in connection with the granting inquiry. Congress began to draft a law of the [oil] leases.” to name a special prosecutor on Teapot On 16 February 1924 Coolidge named Dome. However, before Congress could Roberts and Atlee Pomerene, a Demo- act, President Calvin Coolidge, who had crat and former U.S. senator from Ohio, become president upon President War- to the two positions. When the Sen- ren G. Harding's death in August 1923, ate confirmed them, it became the first announced he would name his own spe- and only time in history that a special cial prosecutor “of high rank drawn prosecutor's position was confirmed with from both political parties to enforce the the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. law.” Coolidge asked that Congress pass As the American Bar Association Jour- legislation allowing for two special nal pronounced in 1955 upon Roberts's Robinson, Charles (1818–1894) 475 death, “Six years were spent by the two the United States (presented May 27, 1925). counsel in this litigation, resulting in a Atlee Pomerene, Owen J. Roberts, Special restoration to the Navy of all lands which Counsel of the United States (Washington, had been leased, and later in the convic- DC: Government Printing Office, 1925); tion of Secretary of the Interior Albert “Roberts Confirmed for Oil Counsel, Phil- B. Fall, and the holding in senatorial and adelphian is Accepted by the Senate by a judicial contempt of Harry F. Sinclair.” Vote of 68 to 8,” New York Times, 19 Feb- Roberts and Pomerene proved that Fall ruary 1924, 2. had received some $300,000 in bribes, and Fall was sentenced to prison. Harry F. Sinclair and Edward Doheny, the oil- Robinson, Charles men who had bribed Fall, ironically were (1818–1894) found not guilty of making the bribes. On 2 June 1930, President Herbert Governor of Kansas (1861-1863), Hoover rewarded Roberts for his work impeached but acquitted of charges that for the nation by naming him to a seat he sold state bonds at a price less than on the U.S. Supreme Court. He was con- their actual value. Charles Robinson was firmed without delay by the U.S. Senate born in Hardwick, Massachusetts, on and took his seat on the high court, serv- 21 July 1818, the son of Jonathan Rob- ing until his resignation on 5 July 1945. inson, a farmer, and Huldah (née Wood- He was a moderate voice on that court, ward) Robinson. Robinson attended a swinging between conservative and liberal positions. He retired to his farm in series of academies in the area, as well Pennsylvania, where he died on 17 May as the Berkshire Medical School, gradu- 1955, just two weeks after his eightieth ating with a medical degree in 1843. He birthday. opened a medical practice serving the Springfield and Belchertown areas and See also: Teapot Dome Scandal. also taught school. In 1849 he decided References: “Owen J. Roberts, 1875-1955,” to throw his lot in with a wagon train ABA Journal, 41:7 (July 1955), 616-17; headed to the California gold fields and District of Columbia, Supreme Court, he settled down near Sacramento, open- Title United States v. Harry F. Sinclair and ing a restaurant and editing a newspa- Albert B. Fall. Indictment: Violation Sec- per for gold field squatters. He became tion 37, Penal code, Conspiracy to defraud the president of the association that the United States. (Presented May 27,1925.) defended squatters’ rights and during Atlee Pomerene, Owen J. Roberts, Special Counsel of the United States (Washington, a squatters’ riot was severely wounded. DC: Government Printing Office, 1925); Despite his wounds, Robinson won a District of Columbia, Supreme Court, seat in the California state house of rep- United States v. Edward L. Doheny and resentatives, where he served from 1850 Albert B. Fall. Indictment: Violation Sec- to 1851. When he finished his term in the tion 37, Penal code. Conspiracy to defraud California house, Robinson returned Table of Contents

IMPEACHMENT OF JOHN PICKERING...... 661 1804: Report on the historic impeachment trial of Judge John Pickering, the second such trial up to that time. THE DISPUTED GOVERNORSHIP OF WISCONSIN ...... 662 THE GOVERNORSHIP OF WISCONSIN ...... 663 1856: Reports on the fight between the Democrats, wanting to keep Governor Barstow in power amid fraud and corruption charges, and the Supreme Court wanting to replace him with Republican Bashford AMES AND BROOKS ...... 663 1873: Details the debate in the House on the censure motion against both Oakes Ames and James Brooks for their roles in The Credit Mobilier railroad scandal. THE SECRETARY OF WAR ...... 666 THE CASE IN THE HOUSE ...... 666 THE DISGRACED SECRETARY...... 671 1876: Reports on an investigation into the fraud perpetrated by William Belknap’s office, the announcement of Belknap’s impeachment and resignation. ARCHER STOLE HEAVILY ...... 671 TREASURER ARCHER RESIGNS ...... 672 GOVERNOR JACKSON ACTS ...... 673 HIS FIRST DAY IN PRISON ...... 673 1890: Detail Stevenson Archer’s fraud as Maryland’s Treasurer and discusses Governor Jackson’s removal of Archer. Also, a report of Archer’s first day in prison. GOEBEL SHOT DOWN ...... 673 1890: Highlights the shooting of William Goebel of Kentucky, who is reportedly the only major politician murdered in American history because of politics. CLARK IS REAPPOINTED...... 678 1900: Details the intrigue of Montana Senator William Clark’s resignation due to electoral misconduct, and his reappointment by the Lt.Governor while the Governor was out of state. CASE AGAINST SWAYNE ...... 685 SWAYNE NOT GUILTY ...... 687 1905: Report on Judge Charles Swayne’s impeachment by the House, and his acquittal by the Senate on charges of corruption. BURTON’S SUCCESSOR ...... 690 1906: Details of Senator Joseph Burton’s resignation following allegations of illegally accepting compensation for services. Primary Documents 661

Impeachment of John Pickering return made and subscribed by me, upon the process issued on the 12th day of January, last, National Intelligencer, March 21, 1804. by the Senate of the United States, against John Pickering, is truly made, and that I have per- Friday being the day assigned by the Senate for formed said services, as there described—So the commencement of the trial of Judge Picker- help me God. ing, impeached by the House of Representatives, “Which oath shall be entered at large on the of high crimes and misdemeanors, the Senate records. formed themselves into a Court of Impeach- “The Secretary shall then give notice to the ments, and sent a message to the House of house of representatives, that the Senate in their Representatives, informing them that they were capacity of a court of impeachments, are ready ready to receive the managers and proceed with to proceed upon the impeachment of John Pick- the trial; communicating, at the same time, the ering, in the Senate chamber, (which chamber is following rules entered into by the Senate: prepared with accomodations for the reception “Resolved, That the President of the Senate of the house of representatives.) shall direct all the forms of proceeding, While “Resolved, That counsel for the parties the Senate are sitting as a court of impeach- shall be admitted, to appear and be heard upon ments, as so opening, adjourning, and all forms, said impeachment. And upon attendance of during the session, not otherwise specifically the House of Representatives, their managers, provided for by the Senate. or any person or persons, admitted to appear “And that the president of the Senate be for the impeachment; the said John Pickering requested to direct the preparations in the Sen- shall be called to appear and answer the arti- ate chamber, for the accomodation of the Sen- cles of impeachment exhibited against him. If ate while sitting as a court, and for the reception he appears or any person for him, the appear- and accomodation of the parties to the impeach- ance shall be recorded______particularly if by ment, their counsel, witnesses, etc. himself, or if by agent or attorney, naming the “And that he be authorised to direct the person appearing, and the capacity in which he employment of the Marshal or any officer or appears. If he does not appear, either person- officers of the district of Columbia, during the ally, or by agent or attorney, the same shall be session of the court of impeachments, whose recorded. All motions made by the parties or services he may think requisite, and which can their counsel, shall be addressed to the President be obtained for the purpose. of the Senate, and if he shall require it, shall be “And all expenses arising under this resolution, committed to writing, and read at the secretary’s after being first allowed by the President of the Sen- table; and after the parties shall be heard upon ate, shall be paid by the secretary, out of the fund such motion, the Senate shall retire to the adjoin- appropriated to defray the contingent expenses ing committee room, for consideration and deci- of both houses of congress. sion; which shall be had, as well in such cases, as “Resolved, That on the 2d day of March, in all questions to be decided by the Senate, as a in___at noon, 2 o’clock, P.M. the legislative and court of impeachments, with closed doors. executive business of the Senate, be postponed, “All decisions shall be ayes or noes, which and that the court of impeachments shall then shall be entered on the records of the court. be opened—after which the process, which, on After decision, the Senate shall return to their the 12th day of January, last, was directed to be chamber, and the President shall then make issued and served upon John Pickering, and the known the decision to the parties. return thereupon shall be read. And the secre- “Witnesses shall be sworn by the secretary tary of the Senate, shall administer an oath to in following, form viz. I, A B do swear (or affirm the returning officer, in the following form, viz. as the case may be) that the evidence I shall give I, James Mathews, do solemnly swear, that the to this court, in the case now depending shall be 662 Primary Documents

the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the defense of the accused, and in case the Senate, truth, so help me God! notwithstanding his non-appearance, should “Witnesses shall be examined by the party proceed to try the articles of impeachment pre- producing them, and then cross examined in the ferred against him, and should permit him to usual form. take a part in the proceedings without thereby “If a Senator is called as a witness, he shall implicating any acknowledgement, on the part be sworn and give his testimony standing in his of accused, of their validity. place. Mr. Nicholson, on behalf of the Manag- “If a Senator wishes a question to be put to ers, observed, that in his opinion, Mr. Pickering a witness, he shall hand it in writing to the Presi- could only appear by himself or by counsel; that dent, who shall put the same.” Mr. Harper could only, therefore, be admitted to On motion of Mr. Nicholson the House of a hearing in the exercise of the right of counsel Representatives directed the Managers to attend for the accused; and as he disclaimed all author- on the trial. ity from Mr. Pickering, in his opinion, he could The Managers having accordingly repaired not be allowed to take a part in the trial. to the Senate chamber, the House of Representa- Several additional remarks, enforcing the tives adjourned with the view, it was understood, same opinion, were expressed by Messrs. G. W. of attending the trial. Campbell, Rodney, Early, and J. Randolph. The Senators were ranged on each side of Mr. Harper enquired whether it would be the chair of the President. The Mangers were regular in him to reply to these remarks. placed in front and on the right of the chair; and The President said it would not; and imme- seats were assigned in the same line on the left diately after put the question to the Senate for the accused and his counsel. Additional seats whether Mr. Harper should be heard in support on the elevated area of the Senate were assigned of the prayer of the petition of Pickering. for ladies. Between the Senators and the Man- Whereupon the Senate retired to a private agers a seat was allotted to the Speaker of the chamber, from which they returned about 3 House. o’clock, when the President advised the Manag- About half past one o’clock the name of ers that the Senate would take further time to John Pickering was called three times, without consider the question before them, and would any answer being given. The President (Mr. make them acquainted with their decision. Burr) then stated that he had received a letter from Robert G. Harper, and a petition from— Pickering, son of John Pickering impeached; The Disputed Governorship of which were read by the clerk. The petition rep- Wisconsin resents that John Pickering is insane, and could not, from the state of his health, attend without New York Times, March 8, 1856 endangering his life, & therefore prays a post- ponement of the trial. The letter of Mr. Harper The Legislature, today, received a message from contained an offer of his professional services in Mr. Barstow, the acting Governor, transmitting a support of the prayer of the petition. copy of a notice which had been served upon the These papers being read, the President Supreme Court by the counsel of Mr. Barstow, in desired Mr. Harper to take the seat assigned for the contested election case. The notice protests the council of the accused. against the action of the Court, denies its juris- Mr. Harper having taken his seat, rose and diction of the case, and recommends that it dis- stated, that he appeared not at the instance of charge its legitimate functions, and not arrogate John Pickering, from whom he had received no the prerogatives of the Legislature. Finally, the authority to appear, but from a desire to sup- counsel gives notice that they take leave of the port the petition offered by his son, to aid the Court and its unwarrantable proceedings. APPENDIX NINE

UNITED STATES MAYORS INVOLVED IN POLITICAL CORRUPTION

While the corruption of US representatives, US Senators, and Governors are big news, the corruption involving mayors of big and small cities is usually overlooked or forgotten. The following is just a small listing of some of the mayors of American cities implicated in corrupt activities. The list is not exhaus- tive, however; many names do not appear here because they were never charged with a crime despite allegations of corruption. Two cases in point: William Hale “Big Bill” Thompson, Mayor of Chicago (1915-23, 1927-31), whose administration is considered by most historians of that city to be one of the most corrupt in American history. Nevertheless, Thompson was never formally charged with a crime, and he never served any time in prison. Another, James John “Jimmy” Walker of New York City, was implicated by Samuel Seabury in corruption, but he also was never charged with a crime and never went to prison. The following mayors were charged with a crime in a criminal proceeding.

Mayor City Allegation Trial Held? Outcome

A. Oakey Hall New York, NY Rampant corruption 1872 Acquitted

Thomas Coman New York, NY Rampant corruption 1875 1 William M. Tweed New York, NY Rampant corruption 1874 Prison2

Eugene Schmitz San Francisco, CA Extortion 1907 3 Hiram C. Gill Seattle, WA Rampant corruption No Recalled4

John L. Duvall Indianapolis, IN Bribery 1929 Jail5

James J. Walker New York, NY Financial irregularities No Resigned

James M. Curley Boston, MA Inﬂuence Peddling

S. Davis Wilson Philadelphia, PA Extortion, Bribery No Died in Ofﬁce6

T. Frank Hayes Waterbury, CT Fraud Yes Prison7 CHRONOLOGY

1635 questioned about the spending of money by his campaign. Washington reportedly April The first impeachment in the English bought wine and spirits for the few hundred colonies occurs. Governor John Harvey of constituents in his district. Virginia is informed by the House of Burgesses that he is being impeached according to 1795 provisions established by Parliament in London for his Indian, land-grant, and trade policies. 28 December Robert Randall and Charles No corruption is alleged, but this “petition of Whitney are taken into custody for attempting grievances” leads to Harvey’s departure from to bribe several congressmen. Whitney would the colony and return to London in disgrace. be discharged on 7 January 1796, before he No impeachment trial is ever held. could stand trial; however, on 6 January, Randall is tried in Congress and found guilty 1649 of contempt and breach of the privileges of Congress, reprimanded by the Speaker of 22 May The first fraudulent campaign law in the House, Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, the British colonies is passed. The General and committed to the custody of the sergeant Court in Warwick, Rhode Island, enacts the at arms. On 13 January his petition to be law, which provides that “no one should bring discharged is granted, after he pays a fine. into any votes that he did not receive from the voter’s own hands, and that all votes should 1795-1796 be filed by the Recorder in the presence of the Assembly.” The U.S. House of Representatives is asked to investigate Judge George Turner of St. Clair, in 1685 the Ohio Territory, for unspecified crimes. Nicolas More, chief justice of Philadelphia, is 1797 impeached by the Pennsylvania Assembly on The House committee investigating Judge ten charges, among them “assuming himself an George Turner recommends further unlimited and arbitrary power in office.” He is proceedings, but Turner resigns. A new judge, convicted and removed from office on 2 June Jonathan Return Meigs, is named to his vacant 1685, but the council in London overseeing the post on 12 February 1798. colony refuses to sanction the proceedings or the July President John Adams sends a removal. message to the U.S. Senate, describing in 1757 detail alleged charges against Senator William Blount of Tennessee. Based on Adams’s letter, During his race for a seat in the Virginia the Senate votes to expel Blount by a vote of House of Burgesses, George Washington is twenty-five to one.