From Jefferson to Jeffrey Epstein: Sex Scandal, Character and Politics in US History

This set of four lectures will examine in a serious way how sex scandals have impacted the lives and political careers of many of America’s most famous presidents. We will also use the course to examine changing social and political values over time, focusing on the extent that public perception impacts politics but can also signal broader cultural changes as well. We will examine eight specific scandals involving Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Grover Cleveland, Warren Harding, FDR, JFK, Bill Clinton and (to the extent we can historically) Donald Trump with special emphasis in the last case of understanding the history and background of the current Jeffrey Epstein scandal.