Dirty politics, including slander, libel, and forgery, has been present in American elections since George Washington’s time. Examples include Edmund Muskie’s leaked letter and Richard Nixon’s staff of experts. Candidates may use any means necessary to win, and dirty politics can occur at any level of public service.
Few campaigns in the modern era have been completely free of dirty politics, which generally means the use of slander, libel, forgery, or other potentially criminal act to embarrass a political rival. Because either candidate can engage in this type of behavior during an election year, the losing candidate rarely pursues legal action after the election is over. While voters may be offended by the use of dirty politics, political campaigns are notoriously results-oriented, suggesting that the candidate should use any means necessary to ensure a victory.
A legendary but unconfirmed example of dirty politics is said to have occurred during a heated campaign between Claude Pepper and George Mathers in the 1950s. Mathers is often credited with giving a speech describing Pepper’s sister as a “famous actress.” Pepper’s brother was a “practicing homo sapiens.” Pepper himself reportedly “chewed daily” or “openly enrolled in college.” While none of these allegations were in the least bit unethical or illegal, Mathers relied on voter ignorance to turn voters away from a questionable candidate like Claude Pepper.
While that example of dirty politics may be apocryphal, there are other examples that are all too real. In 1972, an early favorite for the Democratic presidential race named Edmund Muskie became the victim of dirty politics. Political enemies leaked a letter to the press that allegedly contained quotes from Muskie condemning French-Canadians. This letter followed allegations that Muskie’s wife was an active alcoholic. Muskie’s emotional defense of his wife made him appear weak and vulnerable, two qualities not often seen. as presidential. The “Canuck Letter” also turned out to be a complete forgery.
Dirty politics can range from invasive investigations into an opponent’s personal life to completing IRS audits ordered by a sitting president. President Richard Nixon is said to have maintained a whole staff of experts in this kind of political maneuvering, including Donald Segretti and a young Republican named Karl Rove. The president’s political enemies have been routinely vetted for years, even TV hosts like Dick Cavett. Cavett had criticized one of Nixon’s policies on the air, in front of a guest who Cavett correctly assumed worked for the Nixon White House.
Manipulative politics has played a role in American elections since the days of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson himself is said to have used pamphlets filled with incriminating or embarrassing information about his political opponents. Opponents of presidential candidate James Garfield in 1880 published a letter, allegedly written by Garfield himself, in which he recommended that companies use cheap labor whenever possible, including Chinese immigrants. Garfield was able to prove the letter was a forgery before it could permanently damage his campaign.
Dirty politics can happen at any level of public service. Local political candidates often use financial data to embarrass an opponent. Even family members and known political associates can become fair game. A candidate’s mental stability can be called into question, especially if he offers an emotional or overheated response to political tactics. A negative advertising campaign is not always the same thing as a questionable policy, as long as the allegations in those ads are true and confirmable. Dirty politics often occurs away from the scrutiny of the press, so many examples rarely come to light until years after the campaigns have ended.
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