Scandals have rocked politics for years. Congressional leaders and presidents have all faced the shame and embarrassment as their sordid lives spilled into the public arena. Typically, their wives have managed to skate from scandal. However, this hasn’t always been the case. Consider some of the tawdry tales that have fallen from the lives of the first ladies and wrecked their husband’s political aspirations.
Dolley Madison, the fourth first lady and wife to President James Madison is seen as a bit of a heroine. She is credited with saving the Declaration of Independence and the portrait of President Washinton while the British burned the White House in 1814. Prior to becoming first lady, though, she was accused of being a mistress to President Jefferson. It all started after the death of Martha Jefferson which left President Jefferson floundering to entertain dignitaries and hosting parties. James was serving as Secretary of State. Dolley worked closely with Jefferson as hostess of events. This caused the rumor mill to swirl that the widowed president and her were too close. Though the rumors were unfounded and vehemently denied, it didn’t stop people from talking. When James ran for the presidency, the rumors started that she was selling herself for votes.
Immorality isn’t just something that rocked the presidents of the 20th and 21st centuries. It seems that many of the presidents had inappropriate relations, including Andrew Jackson who would become the seventh president of the United States. During the campaign against John Quincy Adams, the accusations became especially devastating when Jackson was accused of being the offspring of an English prostitute. His wife, Rachel, was accused of adultery and bigamy because she had left her first husband and was accused of having multiple affairs, one of which was with Jackson. “Jackson and Rachel were accused of adultery for living together [and getting married] before her divorce was finalized and Rachel heard about the accusation. She had been under stress throughout the election, and just as Jackson was preparing to head to Washington for his inauguration, she fell ill. She did not live to see her husband become president, dying of a stroke or heart attack a few days later. Jackson believed that the abuse from Adams’ supporters had hastened her death, stating at her funeral: “May God Almighty forgive her murderers, as I know she forgave them. I never can.”1
Some of the accusations of scandal were ridiculous like when Julia Tyler was 19 and not even married yet. She appeared in dry-goods advertisement with a man who was not her relative, selling a handbag. This was taboo for a socialite. However, this “disgraceful” act nearly wrecked her future marriage as well as Tyler’s run for the presidency.
Other scandals were good scandals. Lucy Hayes banned alcohol from all White House functions. Lou Hoover had a tea for congressmen’s wives in 1929 which included Jessie DePriest, wife of the only Black congressman, Oscar DePriest. And, Bess Truman, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, took a stand for black pianist Hazel Scott who was banned from performing at Constitution Hall.
These scandals are a part of the national historical record. Other scandals are a part of the historical Biblical record. There was an ugly scandal in the church of Corinth. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 says, “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. (2) And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” Several scandals popped up in the Old Testament from the incestuous relationships of Lot and his daughters and Tamar with her father-in-law to the many sordid relationships of Gomer.
What is supposed to be done when scandals erupt? Romans 16:17-18 says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences [Greek word skandalon] contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (18) For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” This is the response that must be enacted towards those unrepentant of their sin. Ties must be cut.
We certainly must NOT do what is done so often in our world where the scandals are celebrated and those involved receive the world’s commendations. A scandal in America today is worn as a badge of honor and flaunted. This is absolutely disgraceful!
We need to keep ourselves free of scandal so that the testimony of the Lord in our lives is unhindered.
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jackson
