History remembers US presidents for their leadership, policies, and impact on the nation. However, some presidents have also left a mark for less admirable reasons. This list explores ten presidents whose actions, whether through corruption, misdeeds, or questionable character, have earned them a place among the “bad boys” of the White House.
U.S. Grant (1869-1877)
The Grant administration is remembered as one of the most corrupt in American history. “Grantism” became synonymous with greed and corruption due to the numerous scandals that occurred during his presidency. These included “Black Friday,” a gold market scheme involving his brother-in-law, the “Whiskey Ring” scandal where federal officials were convicted of selling whiskey stamps at discounted rates, and the “Credit Mobilier” scam which defrauded the government of $20 million with Vice President Schuyler Colfax accepting bribes. The “Indian Ring” scandal saw Secretary of War William Belknap taking bribes from companies seeking licenses to trade on reservations.
Grant’s inexperience in politics led him to appoint and trust people who proved untrustworthy. While Grant himself wasn’t directly involved in these schemes, his failure to address them proactively contributed to his tarnished legacy.
Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885)
Chester A. Arthur’s rise to the presidency was more of an accident than an achievement. He had never held elected office until he became vice president through the influence of Senator Roscoe Conkling. Arthur was a loyalist to New York Republican power brokers and was appointed as customs collector for the Port of New York, earning a large sum of $50,000 per year in 1877. Despite being fired by President Rutherford B. Hayes due to corruption charges, he later became chairman of the New York Republican State Committee.
During the 1880 Republican convention, Arthur and Conkling supported former president Grant, reflecting their attitude toward corruption. After President James Garfield’s assassination, Arthur surprised many by supporting the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883.
However, Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 into law, a decision that remains a controversial aspect of his presidency. His history of corruption and overall career contribute to his place on this list.
Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
While Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge was not personally corrupt, he failed to address the excesses of Wall Street that led to the 1929 market crash. His laissez-faire philosophy led to perceptions of indifference toward struggling farmers (he vetoed farm subsidies) and the victims of the 1927 Louisiana flood, who received little federal assistance.
Coolidge’s refusal to help England and France restructure Germany’s reparations debt after World War I is a significant reason for his inclusion on this list. His isolationist approach and lack of foresight had severe economic repercussions.
James Buchanan (1857-1861)
While it may be harsh to blame the Civil War solely on one person, James Buchanan’s inaction as president contributed significantly to the conflict’s length. Many contemporaries criticized him for not preventing the southern states from preparing for war. Although Buchanan verbally opposed secession, he claimed the federal government lacked the authority to stop it.
Buchanan, though a northerner, was sympathetic to the South. He supported slavery while in the Senate, advocated for Kansas’s admission as a slave state, and filled his cabinet with southerners. U.S. Grant noted that Buchanan’s Secretary of War, John B. Floyd, allowed federal weapons to fall into southern hands before the war began.
Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969)
Lyndon B. Johnson, known for his cunning political maneuvers, is often the subject of JFK assassination conspiracy theories. His misdeeds date back to his Senate primary against Texas Governor Stevenson, where LBJ ensured victory through manipulated vote counts. Johnson’s people counted absent voters and, in some cases, simply added votes to the tallies for him.
Lady Bird Johnson’s ownership of a Texas radio station, which LBJ claimed he had no part in, helped enrich the Johnsons. Additionally, LBJ strong-armed Don Reynolds into buying advertising time and providing expensive gifts in exchange for life insurance. The corruption surrounding Johnson and his associates, including Bobby Baker, led to investigations and convictions.
Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
Bill Clinton’s presidency was marked by numerous scandals. From the Whitewater scandal to allegations surrounding the Clinton Foundation, Clinton has faced allegations of both financial and sexual misconduct.
In 1998, Clinton settled a lawsuit brought by Paula Jones, who alleged that Clinton had exposed himself to her while she was an employee of the State of Arkansas, agreeing to pay $850,000 without admitting guilt. Other allegations include those from Kathleen Willey, who claimed Clinton groped her, and Juanita Broaddrick, who accused Clinton of rape.
Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky led to his impeachment. He lied about their sexual relationship, resulting in investigations that cost $80 million. While Clinton survived impeachment, he lost his Arkansas law license for five years and was disbarred from practicing before the U.S. Supreme Court.
John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
John F. Kennedy’s many affairs posed a matter of national security. His affairs opened him up to blackmail. It has been claimed that the mob regretted not taping an orgy they set up for the young JFK.
JFK’s affair with Judith Campbell, who was also involved with mafia boss Sam Giancana, left him vulnerable. Campbell revealed that she became pregnant by JFK and had an abortion arranged by Giancana, and she also carried cash from the mob to JFK.
His cover-up of serious health problems made him look like he was projecting an image of “vigor” and youth. Kennedy had Addison’s disease, which made him extremely vulnerable to infections. Soviet Premier Khrushchev, unimpressed by Kennedy during talks in 1961, likely took this into account when deciding to put nuclear missiles in Cuba.
Warren Harding (1921-1923)
Warren Harding presided over one of the most significant political scandals in U.S. history, allowing his friends to enrich themselves through their positions and using the White House for his sexual escapades. The Teapot Dome scandal led to the imprisonment of Albert Bacon Hall, Harding’s Secretary of the Interior. Although Harding wasn’t directly implicated financially, his administration was plagued by misconduct and criminality.
Harding’s attorney general, Harry M. Daugherty, and his “Ohio Gang” enriched themselves by selling pardons and exploiting their positions during Prohibition. Daugherty was later charged with corruption but evaded conviction.
Harding also had a talent for womanizing. Letters released by the Library of Congress revealed his affair with Carrie Fulton Phillips, and DNA testing confirmed he fathered a child with another woman.
Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
Placing Thomas Jefferson on this list may seem surprising, but his character flaws cannot be overlooked. Jefferson avoided confronting his political opponents directly, using others to criticize them. George Washington discovered that Jefferson was spreading rumors about him and reprimanded him.
Jefferson was a hypocrite both personally and politically. Despite his advocacy for freedom, he owned slaves and had children with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves. He opposed banks but borrowed heavily, dying deeply in debt. Jefferson also encouraged Americans to enter the Louisiana Territory before its purchase but pursued Aaron Burr for similar actions in Spanish territory.
Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
Andrew Jackson was known as an angry, violent man with a fierce temper, involved in numerous duels. He killed Charles Dickerson and wounded Thomas Hart Benton. Jackson is on this list because he allowed the forcible removal of the Cherokee from the southeastern states to Oklahoma, resulting in the “Trail of Tears” where thousands of Native Americans died. This action violated a Supreme Court decision.
A strong supporter of slavery, Jackson appointed Roger Taney as chief justice, who later led the court in the infamous Dred Scott Decision, stating that blacks could not be citizens. Jackson’s autocratic style of governing led critics to call him “King Andrew I.”
These presidents, with their flaws and misdeeds, remind us that leadership is complex and that even those at the highest levels of power can succumb to questionable behavior.
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