The Political Scandal of Wilbur Mills

I. The Wilbur Mills political scandal

Stopped for drunken driving with Mrs. Battistella in the car.

Subsequent questioning reveals they had been having an affair.

B. Impact on MillsÆ political career

Lost position on Ways and Means Committee

Subsequently reelected but after serving that term never ran again.

C. Difference between the political atmosphere before and after Watergate.

1. Teddy Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopechne

D. Duality/duplicity of politicians and their public.

Responsible in office but engaging in wrongdoing at home.

Acceptance by public indicates a similar dichotomy in their morality.

E. Conclusion: What Americans need to do about it.

The Wilbur Mills political scandal provides a snapshot in time of both the political scene of the mid-1970Æs and the character of politicians in general; indirectly, it also reveals the character of the nation that elected these politicians. The scandal occurred in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, when the activities of politicians were under much greater scrutiny than before. Mills, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, probably would not have been singled out for humiliation over the incident except that the recent Wa

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ttee. You did not have to worry about the other two dozen committee members.ö An analysis of the Wilbur Mills situation reveals a number of things about the political scene in the post-Watergate years. First of all, MillsÆ only actual crimeùdrinking while intoxicatedùwas an infraction normally overlooked in Washington, traditionally understood to be a haven of debauchery for politicians. The increased sensitivity of the media to political chicanery is evidenced by the contrast between this incident and one a few years earlier in which someone actually diedùa young woman riding in Teddy KennedyÆs car at the time, Mary Jo Kopechne. Although the incident was investigated, Kennedy did not endure nearly the embarrassment that Mills did only a few years later, post-Watergate. Furthermore, KennedyÆs drinking and ôraffish behaviorö are the stuff legend is made of, betokening what has been called ôthe character issue,ö yet his political career continues unscathed, 35 years later. Mills, however, ended his career in disgrace and never lived down the unfortunate incident with his mistress. The contrast between Kennedy and Mills highlights an important trend in Washington. Although legions of politicians for many decades, including
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Approximate Word count = 1925
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)