Whether at the national, state, or local level, political scandals are often a major source of news and can dramatically impact voters’ perceptions of politicians’ honesty and integrity. While many people believe that political scandals are rare, the reality is that they occur frequently and can have long-lasting consequences. For example, a scandal may prompt reforms aimed at increasing transparency and oversight within government. It can also shape ongoing debates about how to address corruption in politics, as well as the importance of ethical behavior by politicians while in office.
The Watergate scandal is one of the most famous political scandals in American history. The break-in that triggered the investigation led to Richard Nixon’s resignation as president, and it shook public trust in U.S. democracy. Another famous scandal was the Union Pacific scandal of 1875, which exposed a widespread bribery ring among leaders of the Union Pacific Railroad. The scandal damaged the reputations of several prominent men, including President Ulysses S. Grant, who had hitched his wagon to Harding’s star. In the end, however, few of the swindlers were prosecuted; instead they received generous pardons from the president.
This article reviews the research on political scandal, finding that despite the widespread belief that scandals are rare, they occur frequently. Studies typically find that scandals have negative evaluative consequences for politicians, but five central moderators—candidate characteristics, behaviors, prior attitudes, context, and scandal type—significantly influence their effects. Political polarization, for instance, reduces the negative effect of scandals on politicians by making it harder for voters to determine whether accusations of misbehavior are actually true.
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