The Clinton Presidency and the Analysis of - Durham e-Theses

199 Pages·2014·6.92 MB·English

Durham E-Theses
The Clinton presidency and the analysis of political
scandal
Edmundson, Gareth M.
How to cite:
Edmundson, Gareth M. (2005) The Clinton presidency and the analysis of political scandal, Durham
theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2841/
Use policy
Thefull-textmaybeusedand/orreproduced,andgiventothirdpartiesinanyformatormedium,withoutpriorpermissionor
charge,forpersonalresearchorstudy,educational,ornot-for-pro(cid:28)tpurposesprovidedthat:
• afullbibliographicreferenceismadetotheoriginalsource
• alinkismadetothemetadatarecordinDurhamE-Theses
• thefull-textisnotchangedinanyway
Thefull-textmustnotbesoldinanyformatormediumwithouttheformalpermissionofthecopyrightholders.
PleaseconsultthefullDurhamE-Thesespolicyforfurtherdetails.
AcademicSupportO(cid:30)ce,DurhamUniversity,UniversityO(cid:30)ce,OldElvet,DurhamDH13HP
e-mail: [email protected]: [phone]
http://etheses.dur.ac.uk
Gareth M. Edmundson
The Clinton Presidency and the Analysis of Political Scandal
Abstract
This study analyses the usefulness of recent offerings from scholars, such as John
Thompson, that have aimed to bring a greater understanding of the subject of political
scandal, by applying them to case studies of authentic political scandals during the
Clinton Presidency. Academics have attempted to discover a more authoritative
definition of a political scandal and have suggested tentative theories to explain the
phases of high and low scandal activity that have been experienced throughout
history, this is no more evident than in the United States. By applying these offerings
to the highly detailed examinations of the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky scandals,
this study argues that the academic theories, thus far, are found to have limitations
when faced with complex, modem political scandals in the United States. While this
study does not offer a theory on political scandal of its own, it suggests that, although
important contributions have been made, that more academic work is required to gain
a greater understanding to potentially develop a new theory on political scandal.
The Clinton Presidency and the Analysis of Political Scandal
Gareth M. Edmunds on
M. A. Thesis
Department of Government and International Affairs
University of Durham
2005
The copyrigM of this thesis rests wtth the
author or the unhrerslty to which It was
submitted. No quotation from It, or
Information derived from tt may be published
without the prior written consent of the author
or university, and any Information derived
from It should be acknowledged.
2 DEC 2006
Contents
Acknowled&ments i
1. Introduction pi
2. Whitewater p26
3. Monica Lewinsky D72
4. Conclusion D151
5. Bibliosraohv pl77
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my research supervisor Professor Robert Williams for his help and
support during the course of this Masters degree. Thank you sparking my interest in
American politics.
Dr. Welch and Prof Williams, thank you for allowing me to use your unpublished
research papers as part of my thesis.
Finally, thank you to my family for all their support and help.
To Bom and Nin
Introduction
Political scandals have existed in the United States for as long as the republic itself.
Nevertheless, no two scandals are identical. The development of American society and
politics has influenced the frequency, nature and consequences of scandals over time. In
the last four decades, American public life has experienced an energetic cycle of poUtical
scandal. Nixon and Watergate, Reagan and Iran-Contra and investigations into the
Whitewater land deal and Monica Lewinsky impacted President Clinton. Major scandals
have not been reserved for the Office of the President. Congress has received scrutiny,
most notably, Abscam, an FBI sting operation exposed members caught up in bribery and
the Keating Five, involved high profile Senators accused of using their influence in return
for large campaign contributions.
Incidence of scandal is particularly attractive to the mass media. Television, radio talk
shows, newspapers and more latterly the internet have all been eager to fiilfil a public
desire to debate and gossip as to what may have really been happening behind closed
doors.
The abiUty of scandals to capture interest often causes major problems for politicians and
their staff. In a clamour for information, investigation from journalists, independent
counsels, the FBI and Congress can have major and varied ramifications. In the midst of
scandal, politicians may require professional assistance to respond to allegations and on
occasion, scandals force resignations as criminal investigation disrupts a politician's
ability to fiilfil his duties. In the worst cases, scandals can suffocate and temporarily
disable the political system. Clearly, with the potential for such a powerfiil impact,
political scandal should not be dismissed.
Scandals are often exceptionally complex, particularly if they stimulate intrigue in the
media and public. They can very quickly develop a 'Ufe and momentum of their own'',
becoming less responsive to attempts to extinguish or direct their course. Scandals are
given fiirther unpredictabiUty by the fact that the severity of alleged misconduct does not
have a direct correlation to the exposure in the media. Individuals can pay a significant
price for their involvement in political scandals, careers are ruined as they are forced to
resign or face criminal convictions. Yet, others, who may also appear to be more at fault,
can escape without any convictions and survive relatively unscathed.
The potential impact of a scandal has increasingly been determined by the debate over
evidence, particularly as it is often inconclusive or ambiguous. In these instances, teams
of lawyers from both sides compete with each other for extended periods. As with most
court cases, opposing sides will attempt to buUd facts to either prosecute or defend those
involved in the scandal. Consistently, this can reach the public as accusation followed by
rebuttal in the media. Where incomplete evidence forms the main basis for the scandal
and, during investigation, lawyers and aides are imable to build an agreed factual
chronology of events, it is imderstandable that scandal can overwhelm all involved and
produce inconsistent reactions and results.
Clearly, the liberal democracy of the United States, with a free press, political
competition and a porous political system, provides an ideal environment in which to
create a political scandal in any branch of government. Other countries, with more
' Robert Williams, Political Scandals in the USA (Edinburgh, Keele University Press, 1998) pi
stringent controls over the press and institutions, with fewer democratic checks and
controls, allow politicians within the system to misbehave in the knowledge their
misdeeds will be suppressed. In such regimes, scandal may only come to light after a
coup or revolution allowing previous governments to face investigation. While in this
thesis the focus is the United States, most liberal democracies with a free press suffer the
consistent presence of scandal. Of course, culture will determine the characteristics of the
scandal. For example, the issue of sexual impropriety tends to have a less significant role
in French or Italian poUtics compared to Britain or the United States.
A variety of reasons have been put forward to explain the recent phase of scandals in
contemporary America. Williams suggests three major viewpoints. Firstly, that Watergate
was a catalyst in highUghting the extent of corruption in the United States. Secondly, that
the media are more vigilant and sensitive to scandal and finally that far from signifying a
deterioration in the behaviour of politicians, a new determination to find scandals has
developed in recent years.^
Richard Nixon's administration highlighted that politicians should be continuously
watched for any signs of suspect behaviour. Politicians, aware of a new sensitivity to
misconduct, would be equally cautious. In the years following Watergate, a number of
reforms to campaign finance, public financial disclosure and the introduction of new
mvestigative bodies such as the Office of the Independent Counsel were created to bring a
new level of scrutiny to pubUc officials. But paradoxically, the number of scandals
increased in the wake of reforms. If corruption was the sole cause of scandal then an
increase in the number of scandals after Watergate would signify a worsening spiral of
corruption in the United States and that reforms were ineffective.
Williams, Political Scandals in the USA, p4-5
With regard to the media, Larry Sabato's notion of a 'feeding frenzy' describes a
fransformation of the press from 'lapdog' to 'watchdog' and ultimately 'junkyard dog'
during the 20"" century.^ Li the pursuit for a prized exclusive a competitive press will feed
off each other, collectively lower standards and make ill-judged decisions and risk libel
suits to get the story. Sabato categorizes 1966-74 as a period of 'watchdog' journalism,
but both the Vietnam War and then Watergate stimulated a shift to 'harsh, aggressive and
intrusive"* 'junkyard-dog' journalism from 1974 onwards. Rather than an increasingly
larger sink of corruption developing in recent years, a larger number of scandals may be a
reflection of a concerted effort in the media and all levels of government to draw attention
to any suggestion of malpractice. A higher sensitisation to corruption may have shifted
norms and values. What may have previously been considered as normal behaviour for a
public official suddenly becomes 'scandal worthy'.
In contemporary America there may have been an increasing tendency to manufacture a
scandal as a political tactic. A successful scandal will detract the media and pubUc from
the realities of governing. They can deflect interest away from an individual as a form of
protection or can be used to attack or retaUate against an opponent.
Garment has asserted that the interaction of press and various investigative arms of
government, most notably the Office of hidependent Counsel, since Watergate, has
created a scandal 'machine'^. Once started, a scandal becomes caught in the process of
investigation from government and the press and becomes very difficult to stop.
^ Larry J. Sabato, Feeding Frenzy: Attack Journalism and America Politics (New York, MacMillan
Publishers 1993)p25-27
Sabato, Feeding Frenzy: Attack Journalism and America Politics p26
' Su2anne Garment, Scandal: The Culture of Mistrust in American Politics (London, Anchor Books,
1992)