Posted on 05/03/2009 11:31:02 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
With the recent impeachment of Governer Rod Blagojevich, we thought it only fitting to take a look at politicians we found to be the most corrupt of all time. There could easily be a Top 100 most corrupt politicians list, but we chose to narrow our focus to 10.
One of the people you won’t find here is Richard Nixon. Despite his well known transgressions, Nixon didn’t line his own pockets. Defining political corruption as the use of power for personal gain, this list includes only those public servants who used their office for financial profit.
William Marcy "Boss" Tweed (1823 - 1878)
The American symbol of inner-city political corruption, William “Boss” Tweed brilliantly mastered the form of aiding his constituents and business partners in return for votes, money and power. Tweed served as a member of and eventually headed New York’s Tammany Hall amidst heavy war profiteering during the Civil War. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1852, the New York City Board of Advisers four years later, and the New York State Senate in 1867.
The city’s debts jumped about $100 million dollars in just two years from 1868 to 1870. Tweed was convicted in 1873 for his role in a corruption ring that stole at least $1 billion in today’s dollars and given a 12-year sentence. Tweed was released a year later however after his prison term was reduced, though he was immediately rearrested, as the city sued him for $6 million. Tweed escaped and fled to Spain where he was arrested and sent back to New York City. Tweed died in prison from pneumonia in 1878. Many, including Tweed himself, believed that despite his crooked ways he did a lot of good for the city, especially for the poor.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
It’s weighted too much towards recent figures. Bill Clinton should be on the list but isn’t.
It’s not, but that list is highly incomplete. Seeing Bubba’s name not on there proves it.
GMTA.
Thank goodness things have improved so much!/
No and Franks name is not there.The Kingfish Obama would set the all time record once the finances are reveled.
What a load. Hamilton should be on there for his pro-central banking corruption. Wilson should also be there for cooperating with the Federal Reserve Act. How about Prescott Bush, Joe Kennedy, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, the Clinton Admin for Chinese campaign contributions, oh man, there’s just too many.
But the story about the guy who blew his head off during a press conference was pretty cool. That should probably stay on the list!
Pelosi/Reid/Obama overshadow all these.
Ramming a bill through Congress, without any time to read it, that gave billions and billions of dollars to pay back supporters (including ACORN) and provide pork projects that benefit their districts eclipses the sum total of all the damage done by these ten corrupt politicians.
John Murtha
Richard Daley. Both of them.
Coleman Young
Boss Tweed
Edwin Edwards
George Ryan
Bill Clinton
US Grant
Warren Harding
Rod Blagojevich
Illinois is well represented....
Dishonorable mention to Obama, Dodd and Frank.
What about Kwami Kilpatrick?
Well, my grandfather had a gentleman by the name of Frank Hague as his mayor (Jersey City, NJ) who used to hire street gangs to intimidate political opponents. I guess old Frankie has to be up there somewhere.
Oh, almost forgot!!
Dan Rostenkowski, and by extension the entire Chicago ‘Daley’ scene.
Well, they were all corrupt, but the MOST corrupt? Where’s Mayor Daley (senior or junior), for instance? And as several have already said, Bill Clinton?
How about Tom Menino? Where’s Lyndon B. Johnson? Gray Davis? James Florio, Jim McGreevey, and Jon Corzine?
I think it’s Sheryl Crow.
Actually, I'm pretty sure that's Sheryl Crow.
I'm sure Slick asked Ms. Rich to blow the fuse!
LOL - I'll have to remember that one - especially as I'm an electrical engineer!
You beat me to it, exactly what I was thinking.
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