Presidential Payola: The True Stories of Monetary Scandals in the Oval Office That Robbed Taxpayers to Grease Palms, Stuff Pockets, and Pay for Undue Influence From Teapot Dome to Halliburton [2011]

Presidents with little oversight short of checks and balances have abused funding, misdirected money, misused personal funds, and misappropriated tax payer contributions for personal gain. This history of presidential monetary abuse details the biggest, often blatant, abuses of power where political influence was bought and sold, lucrative contract handed out to friends and political support is up for purchase. The tales are shocking examples of the oval office politicking gone wild and the damage it has done to the credibility of presidents. It also reveals, with more than 40 archival images, the sheer volume of tax payer money that goes awry for politicians’ personal gain with the presidential stamp on it or simply a purposeful presidential oversight. Abraham Lincoln : Mary Todd on the take -- Ulysses S. Grant : the Whiskey Ring -- Ulysses S. Grant and the Gold Ring, 1869 -- Warren G. Harding, 1921 : a teapot full of oil -- John F. Kennedy, 1960 : "Don't buy a single vote more than necessary"--Richard Nixon, 1972 : Robert Vesco and $200,000 under the table -- Ronald Reagan, 1980s : the HUD scandals -- Ronald Reagan, 1986 : Iran-Contra Affair -- Bill Clinton, 1995-2000 : the selling of the White House -- Bill Clinton and the pardoning of Marc Rich -- George Bush, 2000 : Dick Cheney and Halliburton Abraham Lincoln : Mary Todd on the take Ulysses S. Grant : the Whiskey Ring Ulysses S. Grant and the Gold Ring, 1869 Warren G. Harding, 1921 : a teapot full of oil John F. Kennedy, 1960 : "Don't buy a single vote more than necessary" Richard Nixon, 1972 : Robert Vesco and $200,000 under the table Ronald Reagan, 1980s : the HUD scandals Ronald Reagan, 1986 : Iran-Contra Affair Bill Clinton, 1995-2000 : the selling of the White House Bill Clinton and the pardoning of Marc Rich George Bush, 2000 : Dick Cheney and Halliburton.