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Political Suicide: Missteps, Peccadilloes, Bad Calls, Backroom Hijinx, Sordid Pasts, Rotten Breaks, and Just Plain Dumb Mistakes in the Annals of American Politics
Just in time for the presidential election of 2016 comes Political Suicide, a history of the best and most interesting missteps, peccadilloes, bad calls, back room hijinks, sordid pasts, rotten breaks, and just plain dumb mistakes in the annals of American politics.
They have tweeted their private parts to women they're trying to impress. They have gotten caught on tape doing and saying things they really shouldn't have. They have denied knowing about the underhanded doings of underlings — only to have a paper trail lead straight back to them. Nowadays, it seems like half of what we hear about politicians isn't about laws or governing, but is instead coverage focused on shenanigans, questionable morals, and scandals too numerous to count. And while we shake our heads in disbelief, we still can't resist poring over the details of these notorious incidents.
In Political Suicide, the foibles of our politicians are brought from the tabloid pages to this entertaining — and cautionary — tale of American history.
They have tweeted their private parts to women they're trying to impress. They have gotten caught on tape doing and saying things they really shouldn't have. They have denied knowing about the underhanded doings of underlings — only to have a paper trail lead straight back to them. Nowadays, it seems like half of what we hear about politicians isn't about laws or governing, but is instead coverage focused on shenanigans, questionable morals, and scandals too numerous to count. And while we shake our heads in disbelief, we still can't resist poring over the details of these notorious incidents.
In Political Suicide, the foibles of our politicians are brought from the tabloid pages to this entertaining — and cautionary — tale of American history.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2016
12 people are currently reading
1416 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 25, 2016
The timing for Erin McHugh's Political Suicide couldn't be better. With the craziness of the 2016 election season in full bloom, her book reminds us that our democracy has survived it in the past and hopefully will in the future.
McHugh's book is divided into eleven chapters, with titles like "The Many Faces of Death", (which shows us that duels were the thing back in the day even if most of us only know about the infamous Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton one), "Conspiracy, Bribes & Fraud" and "Sex and Other Vices". Each section contains short chapters that describe scandals we most likely don't know about. Some are funny, ridiculous or just plain incredible.
While I remember some of these stories- Earl Butz' vile racist comments, Vice-President Spiro Agnew's bribery charge that led to his resignation that paved the way for Gerald Ford to become Vice-President and eventually President when Nixon resigned, Senator Bob Packwood's sexual harassment scandal that led to his resignation, most were new to me.
The one that shocked me the most was the story of Rita Crundwell, who was the comptroller and treasurer of the small town of Dixon, Illinois, best known as the hometown of Ronald Reagan. Over the course of her 30 year employment, Crundwell stole an astonishing amount of 53 million dollars from the town. How is that even possible? No one questioned her or oversaw her and no one wondered how she could afford a horse farm, fancy cars, clothes and jewelry on a town employee salary.
If you are a political junkie, Political Suicide is a must-read. Turn off Fox News or MSNBC for awhile and read about the nuttiness of political scandals of the past, and wait for McHugh's inevitable sequel that is sure to follow once this presidential season has ended, one way or another.
McHugh's book is divided into eleven chapters, with titles like "The Many Faces of Death", (which shows us that duels were the thing back in the day even if most of us only know about the infamous Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton one), "Conspiracy, Bribes & Fraud" and "Sex and Other Vices". Each section contains short chapters that describe scandals we most likely don't know about. Some are funny, ridiculous or just plain incredible.
While I remember some of these stories- Earl Butz' vile racist comments, Vice-President Spiro Agnew's bribery charge that led to his resignation that paved the way for Gerald Ford to become Vice-President and eventually President when Nixon resigned, Senator Bob Packwood's sexual harassment scandal that led to his resignation, most were new to me.
The one that shocked me the most was the story of Rita Crundwell, who was the comptroller and treasurer of the small town of Dixon, Illinois, best known as the hometown of Ronald Reagan. Over the course of her 30 year employment, Crundwell stole an astonishing amount of 53 million dollars from the town. How is that even possible? No one questioned her or oversaw her and no one wondered how she could afford a horse farm, fancy cars, clothes and jewelry on a town employee salary.
If you are a political junkie, Political Suicide is a must-read. Turn off Fox News or MSNBC for awhile and read about the nuttiness of political scandals of the past, and wait for McHugh's inevitable sequel that is sure to follow once this presidential season has ended, one way or another.
January 27, 2016
Goodreads win. Will review once received.
This was an interesting read. It was something I would not typically read on my own. It was a quick read and I learned some things I never knew about. It was written well and paced nicely. A good read that I can see many people to find interesting. A good read.
This was an interesting read. It was something I would not typically read on my own. It was a quick read and I learned some things I never knew about. It was written well and paced nicely. A good read that I can see many people to find interesting. A good read.
March 22, 2023
McHugh has a talk radio / infomercial cadence which flattens all the stories into the same hokey well-whaddya-know Final Thought mash.
The most interesting stories: Budd Dwyer, Marion Zioncheck, Rita Crundwell, James Hammond, Coya Gjesdahl, Ma and Pa Ferguson, James Curley, Robert Potter
The most interesting stories: Budd Dwyer, Marion Zioncheck, Rita Crundwell, James Hammond, Coya Gjesdahl, Ma and Pa Ferguson, James Curley, Robert Potter
August 25, 2017
When it comes to politicians making crazy, outrageous statements, this book shows that President Trump is an amateur. Take Earl Butz. PLEASE. He was Secretary of Agriculture under President Nixon. While he was campaigning for Nixon in 1976, he made this unfortunate statement: “I’ll tell you what the coloreds want. It’s three things: first, a tight _____; second, loose shoes; and third, a warm place to ____.”
September 12, 2019
Quick easy read with interesting information on characters throughout the political history of America.
June 27, 2016
American politics has had its share of scandals, dirty tricks, and backroom deals since the beginning. The weapons were canes, firearms, and words. In 1805, the Senate attempted to impeach Judge John Pickering for being drunk and insane. Those were not grounds for dismissal. In 1800, Congressman Matthew Lyon was reelected by a landslide while he was in jail. Vice President Aaron Burr killed Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804.
Erin McHugh has gathered the stories of 67 public servants whose actions often meant the ends of their political careers. The reasons included violence, embezzlement, being the victims of dirty tricks by their rivals, fraud, conspiracy, sex, and bribery among many others. Many of the actions would be looked at differently now because of both different coverage of political personalities, the use of hidden cameras and other technology, and different public attitudes. Before he was shot, Harvey Milk said,“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” California State Senator John Briggs was stridently anti-gay: In 2008, he commented on his past: “With the passage of over thirty years, America has changed-including me....Like President Reagan, and most of the country, I think differently now, and have put aside the ‘70s and ‘80s, and respectfully request others to do as well and move on to the civil side of life.”
POLITICAL SUICIDE suggests that President William Henry Harrison did not die because he stood in the cold without a coat or hat when he gave his nearly two-hour inaugural address.
It reveals how and why Lyndon Johnson persuaded Arthur Goldberg to resign from the U.S. Supreme Court and what happened afterwards.
It tells how the military chief of ordnance was forced to resign in 1863. His actions “added up to two additional horrific, deadly years of warfare” to the Civil War.
Peggy O’Neale Timberlake Eaton caused President Jackson to demand the resignation of all but one of his cabinet members.
Several chapters focus on people being elected to office despite their know illegal activities. James Michael Curley was a Boston Mayor and Governor of Massachusetts committed fraud. The voters re-elected him because “He did it for a friend.” It tell how he defeated incumbent Boston mayor, John F. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald, John F. Kennedy’s grandfather.
John Mitchell was deeply involved in the illegal actions done during the Nixon administration. His colorful wife, Martha, also played a part and the “Martha Mitchell effect” is noted in the psychiatric community: “Mental health experts misdiagnose a patient because they perceive the patient’s perception real events to be delusional, when they are, in fact, entirely true.
McHugg wrote about Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for U.S. President in 1872, long before women had the right to vote. She also reveals that the US has already had a gay President.
POLITICAL SUICIDE is a well-written, juicy, humorous and quick-reading, skim-the-surface book. Most chapters are no more than three or four pages. Many of the information has already been revealed in longer, single issue books. I hope she writes a future book that examines the dirty tricks actions.
Erin McHugh has gathered the stories of 67 public servants whose actions often meant the ends of their political careers. The reasons included violence, embezzlement, being the victims of dirty tricks by their rivals, fraud, conspiracy, sex, and bribery among many others. Many of the actions would be looked at differently now because of both different coverage of political personalities, the use of hidden cameras and other technology, and different public attitudes. Before he was shot, Harvey Milk said,“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” California State Senator John Briggs was stridently anti-gay: In 2008, he commented on his past: “With the passage of over thirty years, America has changed-including me....Like President Reagan, and most of the country, I think differently now, and have put aside the ‘70s and ‘80s, and respectfully request others to do as well and move on to the civil side of life.”
POLITICAL SUICIDE suggests that President William Henry Harrison did not die because he stood in the cold without a coat or hat when he gave his nearly two-hour inaugural address.
It reveals how and why Lyndon Johnson persuaded Arthur Goldberg to resign from the U.S. Supreme Court and what happened afterwards.
It tells how the military chief of ordnance was forced to resign in 1863. His actions “added up to two additional horrific, deadly years of warfare” to the Civil War.
Peggy O’Neale Timberlake Eaton caused President Jackson to demand the resignation of all but one of his cabinet members.
Several chapters focus on people being elected to office despite their know illegal activities. James Michael Curley was a Boston Mayor and Governor of Massachusetts committed fraud. The voters re-elected him because “He did it for a friend.” It tell how he defeated incumbent Boston mayor, John F. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald, John F. Kennedy’s grandfather.
John Mitchell was deeply involved in the illegal actions done during the Nixon administration. His colorful wife, Martha, also played a part and the “Martha Mitchell effect” is noted in the psychiatric community: “Mental health experts misdiagnose a patient because they perceive the patient’s perception real events to be delusional, when they are, in fact, entirely true.
McHugg wrote about Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for U.S. President in 1872, long before women had the right to vote. She also reveals that the US has already had a gay President.
POLITICAL SUICIDE is a well-written, juicy, humorous and quick-reading, skim-the-surface book. Most chapters are no more than three or four pages. Many of the information has already been revealed in longer, single issue books. I hope she writes a future book that examines the dirty tricks actions.
May 9, 2016
Hilarious schadenfreude. Especially enjoyable in 2016, this year of bad tidings.
October 11, 2017
Small vignettes of each political person's peccadillos tell the bigger story. For example, Bud Dwyer was someone that I heard of. I knew that he killed himself on television, but this book gave me all the conditions that lead to that end.
The book gave aftermath of the scandals.
The names famous or not, Bess Myerson, Aaron Burr, Geraldine Ferraro, David Duke, James Michael Curley, Jimmy Walker, Edward Muskie, PrestoN Brooks. The stories were complete in small chunks.
Perhaps not for the hardcore political junkie or wonk, but good light reading for someone interested especially in political years.
The book gave aftermath of the scandals.
The names famous or not, Bess Myerson, Aaron Burr, Geraldine Ferraro, David Duke, James Michael Curley, Jimmy Walker, Edward Muskie, PrestoN Brooks. The stories were complete in small chunks.
Perhaps not for the hardcore political junkie or wonk, but good light reading for someone interested especially in political years.
February 19, 2023
This was a hoot! With short chapters (literally most are 2-5 pages) and a light, hilarious writing style, McHugh has you hooked. This was objectively one of the easiest to read nonfiction books I’ve ever picked up — everyone needs to take a lesson on how to write like this!
Usually, I’m a big fan of reading history but it’s always really difficult to find reputable authors who aren’t a bore to read and my god, on that account this book blew me away. Write another Erin McHugh!!
Usually, I’m a big fan of reading history but it’s always really difficult to find reputable authors who aren’t a bore to read and my god, on that account this book blew me away. Write another Erin McHugh!!
June 21, 2024
I bought this book during the most recent Audible sale. It was only about five hours to listen to, and I completed it before the end of my shift. The physical copy is less than 300 pages if you are interested in that format. The book was pretty interesting and featured plenty of stories about nonsense and shenanigans that people in the political sphere got up to. Decent book.
March 22, 2020
It was a laugh filled book that shows we always get the leadership we pay for. This journey through American political scandals will warm the heart of any cynic, who has an doubt about our system of government.
October 11, 2017
A light read about political misdeeds over the years.
April 4, 2019
Fascinating and fun! Some things were common know but there was a lot I had never heard of!
April 12, 2019
some of the people in here were pretty bad that its a shock why they ran for office, glad I read this.
March 29, 2021
This was just funny to read. And super quick to get through. Not a lot of bias, just straight-up whacky stories of American politics.
September 7, 2021
A mile wide and an inch deep.
August 11, 2023
This Book Is So Funny. That is about right for the Democrats to be into shady dealings and corruption.
May 7, 2016
“I shall not change my course because those who assume to be better than I desire it.” Victoria Woodhull
What a fun book! This timely tome of political missteps and other stupid actions in American politics reminds us that nothing really changes. We thought we had it bad this election year of 2016, but every election has its zany antics and loco politicos.
I call a book like this a perfect bathroom book; you can read a chapter while doing your business. There is a lot of humor in here and many things that will make you shake your head, “What were they thinking?”
I learned many new items and relived some of the silly things that happened in my lifetime. Remember Martha Mitchell? How about Wilbur Mills and Fanny Foxe? Marion Berry is in here also as well as some historical figures I hadn’t heard about.
This book makes very interesting reading and I know you will learn something without even realizing it.
I highly recommend this book to everyone that needs a break from this year’s election.
I was gifted this book from the publisher for an honest review.
What a fun book! This timely tome of political missteps and other stupid actions in American politics reminds us that nothing really changes. We thought we had it bad this election year of 2016, but every election has its zany antics and loco politicos.
I call a book like this a perfect bathroom book; you can read a chapter while doing your business. There is a lot of humor in here and many things that will make you shake your head, “What were they thinking?”
I learned many new items and relived some of the silly things that happened in my lifetime. Remember Martha Mitchell? How about Wilbur Mills and Fanny Foxe? Marion Berry is in here also as well as some historical figures I hadn’t heard about.
This book makes very interesting reading and I know you will learn something without even realizing it.
I highly recommend this book to everyone that needs a break from this year’s election.
I was gifted this book from the publisher for an honest review.
April 7, 2016
This book is a great read that fits a lot of political intrigue into a readable size. Erin McHugh does a great job of condensing issues such as Abscam, the teapot dome scandal, and Rob Blagoevich into fun and accessible chapters. It's not at all dull and there are enough crazy but true stories about some of the most interesting figures of our country's past.
I recieved this book as part of a goodreads giveaway and recommend it to understanding wanting to understand a great deal of political references and the context behind a lot of the lowest moments in US history.
I recieved this book as part of a goodreads giveaway and recommend it to understanding wanting to understand a great deal of political references and the context behind a lot of the lowest moments in US history.
June 6, 2016
Easy, fun read about some of the scoundrels, cheats, crooks, and just plain stupid people in American politics.
February 7, 2017
This title is one step up from cotton candy for the brain. There is little attempt to find any unifying narrative or moral; the tales are a scattershot gathering of unfortunate lapses. The profiles are about the ideal length for reading on public transit, while waiting for a pot of water to boil, or while grabbing a quick cup of coffee. The level of complexity doesn't require too much attention, and sometimes the 'punchline' or anecdotal amusement is thin.
August 7, 2016
While there are plenty of interesting stories, there are sections where it feels that the author, feeling that the book would turn out too short, added tales not so much about political suicide, but, instead, of people being persecuted for who they were (female, gay, non-white, etc.) or who simply lost an election, and continued successfully. Not bad, but not anything special, either.
April 28, 2016
Very entertaining. I had read some of the incidents that are in this book, and the author does a great job of explaining the context of them. Some of the incidents happened in my lifetime, and it was interesting to remember them again. E
May 26, 2016
A quick read of interesting stories from the "movers and shakers" of political history. Nice comparison with today's political climate such that if we can have survived these scandals and crazy politicians of the past, we might just be able to do it again!
September 2, 2016
This is a collection of very brief essays that discuss various scandals and downfalls of politicians of the past. I was intrigued by some, confused by some and just really bored by others. It is a quick and interesting read that taught me that most things change but politics will always be weird.
October 9, 2016
A quite light book to read, but interesting nonetheless, to see that even in a such worshipped political system such as America's, these scoundrels, liars and worse, politicians could still live and thrive.
April 20, 2016
Lots of interesting stories contained in this book. Lots of typos though which made it jarring to read.
August 30, 2016
Fun read of the craziness behind the scenes in politics. Refreshing to know the nuttiness is not a new phenomenon!
July 16, 2016
Tempted to give it 3 stars due to the numerous grammatical mistakes. I think the copy editor quit reading halfway through the book.
June 9, 2016
Light and quick
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews