If you thought political scandals were a thing of the past, think again. Let’s jump back a couple of decades to a time when 900 confidential FBI background files stemming from the Reagan and Bush administration were found in the Clinton’s White House. Interested? Let’s get into the nuts and bolts of this story.
Back in 1996, it made the news that the Clinton administration had confidential information about Billy Dale, who used to be the head of the White House travel office. Dale had been let go seven months prior and speculation was rife that the Clintons were gunning for Dale to cover up their intention to give the travel office business to their pals. Interestingly enough, it was later determined that Hillary Clinton had actually given false testimony about her role in axing the travel office staff.
Shortly after, the White House added fuel to the fire: it revealed it had possession of 338 confidential files of Reagan and Bush administration officials. The excuse? An innocent mistake. Senator Bob Dole, Clinton’s Republican opponent, was not convinced and compared the situation to Watergate, labeling it an “enemies list”. The unfolding saga saw several liberal panelists bolstering the Clinton White House’s defense of it all being an innocent error.
The story took another twist when FBI Director Louis Freeh published a report scolding the Clinton administration for their “egregious violations of privacy” related to the hoarding of FBI files about Republicans. This report, which came roughly a week after the story broke, briefly grabbed media attention but was soon overshadowed by other news. This lack of coverage drove some media figures like Mike Wallace of CBS News to express their disbelief, stating it was “palpably dishonest”.
Despite the brewing storm, the Clinton administration kept claiming it was an innocent blunder – an argument some media sources agreed with. Even so, it reflected poorly on their competence. To say the least, it wasn’t a shining moment for the Clintons. The scandal quickly faded from public memory, thanks in large part to the efforts of media figures who leaned heavily on the side of the Clintons.
So there you have it: a blast from the past that serves as a timely reminder of the wheels of the political machinery. It’s clear that this is a divisive issue, and one that underscores the need for transparency and accountability in politics. Things are not always as black-and-white as they seem and as we delve deeper into these old tales, it’s important to remember: those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
