Before Watergate and Iran-Contra defined scandal culture, numerous political scandals rocked headlines and then faded into obscurity. These nine incidents involved corruption, cover-ups, abuse of power, and surprise revelations. From oil reserve bribery to covert surveillance programs, each moment reflects how easily major controversies can slip from collective memory. These stories offer a vivid look at overlooked scandals that shaped public trust and political transparency and yet remain under-discussed today.
1. Teapot Dome Corruption
The Teapot Dome scandal of the early 1920s involved Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall secretly leasing federal naval oil reserves to private companies without competitive bidding. In return, he accepted bribes totaling over $400,000. He was convicted, becoming the first U.S. cabinet member imprisoned for crimes in office. The scandal tarnished President Harding’s administration and set a precedent for federal oversight and accountability. Though once massive news, Teapot Dome today is often overlooked despite its status as one of America’s earliest major scandals.
2. Air Mail Fiasco
In 1934, the U.S. government canceled airmail contracts under Herbert Hoover and handed delivery to the unprepared Army Air Corps. The result was a series of deadly crashes in winter conditions, causing 13 fatalities within days. Under pressure, Roosevelt reinstated private contracts and reforms passed under the Air Mail Act of 1934. The scandal revealed dangerous favoritism in awarding contracts and exposed flaws in early aviation oversight. Most Americans today forget this dramatic episode of political and bureaucratic mismanagement.
3. Huey Long’s Power Plays
Louisiana Senator and Governor Huey Long rose to power by promising wealth redistribution, but governed through illicit tactics. Known as “The Kingfish,” he used nepotism, patronage, and legislative bribery to maintain control, often manipulating the judiciary and media. At least a dozen of his relatives held state jobs. Although impeached by the state House on eight counts, he survived in the Senate. His brutal style reshaped Louisiana politics, but his scandalously authoritarian rule faded from national memory.
4. CONUS Intel Spy Files
Between 1967 and 1970, the U.S. Army Intelligence and NSA ran a covert domestic surveillance operation called CONUS Intel, spying on protesters and dissidents across the country. They compiled dossiers on over 100,000 American citizens and transmitted data over ARPANET despite congressional restrictions. A Senate inquiry in 1971 revealed the program, sparking debate about civil liberties. Despite its scope, awareness of CONUS Intel today is minimal compared to other forms of Cold War-era surveillance.
5. Abscam Undercover Sting
In the late 1970s, an FBI sting known as Abscam posed as a fake Middle Eastern investment operation to identify corrupt members of Congress. Agents caught several officials accepting bribes in exchange for political favors, leading to convictions including a U.S. senator and multiple representatives. The scandal raised ethical questions about entrapment tactics and media sensationalism. While it once dominated headlines, Abscam now serves more as a reference point than a remembered scandal.
6. Koreagate Bribery in Congress
In 1976, it emerged that the South Korean KCIA attempted to influence U.S. policy through bribes to members of Congress. Lobbyist Tongsun Park funneled payments to at least ten lawmakers. Some pleaded guilty, while others were reprimanded or resigned. The scandal was exposed through a congressional investigation but quickly faded, overshadowed by later controversies, even though it demonstrated foreign influence in American politics.
7. Iran‑Contra Illegal Arms Deal
During Reagan’s presidency, the U.S. secretly sold arms to Iran, which was under embargo, and used proceeds to finance Contra rebels in Nicaragua. This violated congressional law and led to televised hearings. While widely discussed in its time, many details remain forgotten today: the involvement of CIA agents, covert fund transfers, and allegations of drug ties. Iran‑Contra still reflects complex executive overreach that has largely faded from modern discourse.
8. Whitewater Real Estate Saga
Whitewater involved Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and his wife’s failed real estate venture in the 1980s. The collapse of a related savings and loan institution cost taxpayers over $70 million. Although independent investigators cleared the Clintons, several associates were convicted of fraud. The scandal fed media frenzy and political behind-the-scenes drama, yet most Americans today associate Whitewater chiefly with later controversies, not the original scandal.
9. Neil Goldschmidt’s Hidden Abuse
Oregon political star Neil Goldschmidt was governor and U.S. transportation secretary before admitting in 2004 to a sexual relationship in the 1970s with a 14-year-old girl. Though the abuse was long ago and the statute of limitations had expired, the revelation destroyed his reputation. Goldschmidt had otherwise been praised for urban planning and public transit development. The scandal erupted quietly decades after the events, leaving many unaware of the man behind the visionary public image.