2008 Woodie Awards
Foley's follies are not our concern
Rachel Carr, Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/17/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
François Mitterrand, president of France from 1981 to 1995, known for strengthening the European Union, faced many scandals that surfaced at the end of his time in office. Of particular significance were his numerous affairs, including that with Anne Pingeot who secretly lived in a government-funded apartment with their daughter, Mazarine, during his years of presidency. But when Mitterrand died in 1996, polls showed he was the most respected president since Charles de Gaulle who held the office from 1958 to 1969 (CNN).
In France, the media respected Mitterrand's privacy during his years in office, and only exposed his illegitimate daughter in 1994 when it was clear he was dying of cancer and would be leaving soon. Even after the fact, when the complete scandal was exposed and the public was informed of the extent of Mitterrand's extramarital affairs, the French did not let those facts affect their view of the former president.
Now that the United States is faced with the page and e-mail scandal surrounding Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), we must consider the appropriate actions to take. Foley has resigned, so his role in office is no longer an issue, but how will the public think of him now?
Suspicions and complaints about improper conduct between Foley and congressional pages have existed for years, including reports of sexually-explicit instant messages sent to male pages. Rep. Jim Kobe (R-Ariz.) mentioned a page who received an improper e-mail from Foley as early as 2000. But the controversy only surfaced when ABC News reported the e-mail exchange on Sept. 28.
Foley resigned the day after the story ran and, on Oct. 1, Democrats accused GOP leaders of an election year cover-up. The House Ethics Panel is now interviewing page supervisors, in cooperation with the Justice Department, about how Republican leaders handled the problem. Reports show that Foley's inappropriate exchanges with pages were brought to the attention of House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) in 2005.
In France, the media respected Mitterrand's privacy during his years in office, and only exposed his illegitimate daughter in 1994 when it was clear he was dying of cancer and would be leaving soon. Even after the fact, when the complete scandal was exposed and the public was informed of the extent of Mitterrand's extramarital affairs, the French did not let those facts affect their view of the former president.
Now that the United States is faced with the page and e-mail scandal surrounding Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), we must consider the appropriate actions to take. Foley has resigned, so his role in office is no longer an issue, but how will the public think of him now?
Suspicions and complaints about improper conduct between Foley and congressional pages have existed for years, including reports of sexually-explicit instant messages sent to male pages. Rep. Jim Kobe (R-Ariz.) mentioned a page who received an improper e-mail from Foley as early as 2000. But the controversy only surfaced when ABC News reported the e-mail exchange on Sept. 28.
Foley resigned the day after the story ran and, on Oct. 1, Democrats accused GOP leaders of an election year cover-up. The House Ethics Panel is now interviewing page supervisors, in cooperation with the Justice Department, about how Republican leaders handled the problem. Reports show that Foley's inappropriate exchanges with pages were brought to the attention of House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) in 2005.
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