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Show THE SIGNPOST Wednesday, September 27, 1989 Frank "affair "may cause new morality for congress 20 WASHINGTON Barney Frank is far from the first congressman caught in a compromising position, but his case may mark a watershed in the new morality evolving for the private lives of public officials. The phenomenon has reached critical mass," says Suzanne Garment of the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in Washington. Four lawmakers are under scrutiny for sexual conduct by the House ethics committee: Frank (D-Mass.) paid a male prostitute for sex, then employed him for three years to run errands, he says. The prostitute says he ran his sex-for-hire service in Frank's home. The congressman got the prostitute's parking tickets excused and wrote letters on his behalf to a parole officer. Rep. Donald "Buzz" Lukens (R-Ohio) was convicted of having sex with a 16-year-old girl. Rep. Gus Savage (D-Ill.) is accused of fondling a woman Peace Corps worker during an official visit to Africa. Frank was one of three lawmakers who asked the ethics panel to investigate the incident. Rep. Jim Bates (D-Calif.) is accused of sexual harassment by women on his congressional staff. The abundance of scandals has spawned seminars, TV talk shows, even a tour of scandalous landmarks the townhouse where Gary Hart spent the night with a Miami model, the Iwo Jima memorial where gay congressmen made contact with anonymous partners, the Capitol steps where Rita Jenrette and her congressman mate made love during a late session. But sexual indiscretion has never been scarce on Capitol Hill. "Sex, scandal and corruption in the political system are as American as apple pie," says Shelley Ross, whose book "Fall From Grace" catalogs political scandal since 1702. Her research reveals that colonial leader Deward Hyde, governor of New York, was a transvestite who presided over the Legislature dressed in drag. Ross writes about a 19th century-era Kentucky congressman and married father of five who kept a teen-age mistress, all the while lecturing on the evils of adultery. And she cites evidence that President James Buchanan was a homosexual whose lover was a senator from Alabama whom he considered for his running mate in 1844. "Though we have always had scandal, there's a different attitude toward it now. No one wanted to cast the first stone" against a fellow politician, Garment says, and so personal conduct usually remained private no matter how flagrant. Garment dates the shift in attitudes to the Watergate era, when the duplicity of Richard Nixon and his operatives made the public far more cynical about the morality of elected officials. This was when the voters learned the antics of two powerful committee chairmen, Reps. Wayne Hays (D-Ohio) and Wilbur Mills (D-Ark.). Fair Better Quality at a Farr Better Price " ."V " ""Sri Guarantee: if your diamond does not appraise in writing (within 30 days of purchase) for AT LEAST 40 more than your purchase price, your money will be refunded. f 2434 Washington Blvd. Idaho Falls, Ogden, Salt Lake, Denver, and Aurora Hays had on the payroll his mistress, Elizabeth Ray, who couldn't even type. The alcoholic Mills hit the hot spots with stripper Fanne Fox, who leaped into the Tidal Basin beside the Jefferson Memorial when their car was stopped by police one night. Although tales of sexual conduct began reaching the voters in the 1970s, Harvard political scientist Allen Private lives of public officials The sexual conduct of members ol Congress has increasingly become public knowledge. Here are some instances: Rep. Wayne Hays D-Ohio Rep. Wilbur Mills D-Ark Rep. Allen Howe D-Utah Rep. John Young D-Texas Kept mistress Rep. Fred Richmond Solicited sex with teen-age boy 1978; re-elected D-NY twice before being defeated. Rep. Robert Bauman Solicited sex with teen-age boy; defeated 1980. R-Md Rep. Jon Hlnson Re-elected 1 980 after announcing homosexuality; R-Miss resigned 1981 after being caught by police while attempting sex in men's room. Rep. Gerry Studds Censured 1983 by Congress for sex with D-Mass 1 6-year-old male page; re-elected ever since. Rep. Dan Crane Censured 1983 by Congress for sex with17-R-lll year-old female page; defeated 1984. Rep. Buzz Lukens Misdemeanor conviction for sex with 1 6-year- old R-Ohio girl; under ethics committee investigation. Rep. Gus Savage Accused of fondling Peace Corps worker against D-lll her will on congressional visit; under ethics committee investigation. Rep. Jim Bates Accused of sexual harrassment by two women on D-Calif his staff; under ethics committee investigation. Rep. Barney Frank Paid for sex with male prostitute who claims Frank D-Mass knew he ran his business out of Frank's home; under ethics committee investigation. Source: Senate Library Wertheimer contends it was not until Hart had to withdraw from the 1988 presidential race after denying rumors of womanizing, daring reporters to follow him and spending the night with Donna Rice that a new standard emerged. Until then, Wertheimer argues, public officials and the press believed that what went on in politicians' private lives was irrelevant as long as it did not affect performance of public duties. The tolerance of voters was evident when Frank was reelected with 70 percent of the vote in 1987, after revealing his A mmm mm on public payroll; resigned 1976. Escorted stripper, underwent alcoholism treatment; re-elected once but resigned 1 976. Arrested 1976 tor soliciting policewomen posing as prostitutes; didn't run tor re-election. Accused by female staffer of coercing her into sex to keep her job; defoated 1 978. Matthew Copeland. Gannert News Service homosexuality. Other lawmakers re-elected following reports of sexual misconduct include Reps. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.), who had sex with a 16-year-old boy employed 11 ; 1 1V1 t ' K Buy a DIAMOND by Appointment Save $S-Don't pay Retail! 500 REMOUNTS, EARRINGS, PENDANTS, & CHAINS IN STOCK 12 ct. Diamond $325 13 ct. Diamond $225 14 ct. Diamond $75 14 kt. Diamond Earrings... $75 Guarantee If your diamond does not appraise in writing (within 30 days of purchase) for at least 66 more than your purchase price, your money will be refunded. Diamond 3 t In Incorporated 533 25th Street Suite 100 627-3773 Rebert Kolar i r by the House; Jon Hinson, (R-Miss.), caught having sex with a young man in a congressional bathroom; Fred Richmond (D-N.Y.), who conceded in 1978 that he solicited sex from a teen-age boy; and Mills. (Some of these men subsequently resigned or were defeated.) The only members Congress officially censured for sexual misconduct were former Rep. Daniel Crane (R-Ill.) for sex with a 17-year-old female page; and Studds, both in 1983. In fact, Congress did not have ethics committees to examine such charges until 1964 in the House and 1967 in the Senate. In the past, lawmakers held to a standard that it was not for them to judge their colleagues, but rather the opinion of constituents that counted. Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.) made this point when Frank's seamy love life came to light. "It's a question of whether it is a matter for his district or a matter for the House," Hamilton said. Political scientist Joseph Cooper of Rich University in Houston says it is not just self-preservation that prompted members of Congress to keep a code of silence about each other's private lives unless affecting their official duties. In a body where members must cooperate to get anything accomplished, personal attacks would wreak havoc on the political process. Cooper, who helped draft the ethics code adopted by the House in 1978, says those reforms did not concern matters like drinking and sexuality because lawmakers were leery of "making partisan footballs out of people's private lives." He says that is why members of Congress are "so worried about the implications of Barney Frank. It's a very tough case that's not directly related to (official) performance. The members are asking themselves, are they opening up the door to a new standard by taking up this case" in the ethics committee. By PAULA SCHWED Copyright 1989, USA TODAY Apple College Information Network The Signost welcomes letters to the editor. They must be typed and should not exceed 300 words in length. For subjects requiring greater exposition, arrangements may be made with the editor in chief. Letters MUST include name, address, phone number, relationship to WSC (student, staff, Ogden resident, etc.) and the signature of the writer. 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