Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power, and Greed

Front Cover
ABC-CLIO, 2003 - Political Science - 466 pages

The complete scandal-filled history of American political corruption, focusing on the infamous people and cases, as well as society's electoral and judicial reactions.


From judges to senators, presidents to mayors, Political Corruption in America discusses the infamous people throughout history who have been accused of and implicated in crooked behavior. More than 250 A-Z entries explore the people, crimes, investigations, and court cases behind 200 years of American political scandals. This unbiased volume also delves into the issues surrounding Koreagate, the Chinese campaign scandal, and other ethical lapses. Relevant statutes and terms, including the Independent Counsel Statute and impeachment as a tool of political punishment, are examined as well.

Students, scholars, and other readers interested in American history, political science, and ethics will appreciate this survey of a wide range of corrupting influences. This title focuses on how politicians from all parties have fallen because of their greed and hubris, and how society has used electoral and judicial means against those who tested the accepted standards of political conduct.


- 250 A-Z cross-referenced entries covering scandals such as Watergate and the Whiskey Ring, laws such as the Ethics in Government Act, court cases such as Nixon v. United States, and biographies of key figures such as Kenneth Winston Starr and Oakes Ames

- Comprehensive chronology of major political scandals in U.S. history from colonial times until the present

- Extensive bibliography listing sources including archival letters, newspapers, and private manuscript collections from the United States and Great Britain

- A full range of illustrations including political cartoons, photos of key figures such as Abe Fortas and Archibald Cox, graphs of presidential pardons, and tables showing the number of expulsions and censures in both the House and Senate

About the author (2003)

Mark Grossman is a professional writer specializing in American and world history, constitutional law, and the environment. He is the author of ABC-CLIO's award-winning books Encyclopedia of the Persian Gulf War and Encyclopedia of the United States Cabinet.