10 US Presidents who allegedly cheated on their wives: From John F Kennedy to Bill Clinton

10 US Presidents who allegedly cheated on their First Ladies: From Ronald Reagan to Franklin D Roosevelt

The United States has seen 45 Presidents hold office through 46 presidencies, and a significant number of these leaders have faced accusations of infidelity. Presidential scandals have been a recurring theme in the White House, encompassing impeachments, corruption, and personal indiscretions. These scandals are not limited to the Presidents alone; even First Ladies have been embroiled in controversies, from unusual business activities to alleged affairs. However, it is the Presidents' extramarital affairs that have garnered considerable attention over the years. While Bill Clinton's infidelity is well-known, other Presidents such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan have also been accused of having affairs. Some of these relationships were consensual, while others reportedly were not. Here we delve into the lives of several US Presidents who allegedly cheated on their wives, revealing a side of their personal lives that is often overshadowed by their public personas.

1. John F Kennedy

John F Kennedy's presidency is marked by numerous accusations of infidelity, with his affair with Marilyn Monroe being the most infamous. However, multiple women have come forward over the years, claiming to have had affairs with Kennedy during his marriage to Jackie Kennedy. One such mistress was Judith Exner, who, in a 1988 interview with People and in her memoir 'My Story', claimed she had an abortion after becoming pregnant with Kennedy's child. Another woman, Mary Pinchot Meyer, was involved in a brief affair with Kennedy that came to light only after her unsolved murder in 1964. Letters between the two were discovered, and in the book 'Mary’s Mosaic', it was alleged that Kennedy was "smitten" with her and often invited her to his parties. Mimi Alford, an intern at the time, detailed her 18-month relationship with Kennedy in her memoir 'Once Upon a Secret: My Affair With John F Kennedy and Its Aftermath'. Additionally, Kennedy allegedly had affairs with stars like Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, and Audrey Hepburn.

2. George HW Bush

George HW Bush faced allegations of infidelity and misconduct during his time in office. According to History Collection, a bombshell expose by The Washington Times in 1989 suggested that both male and female prostitutes frequented the White House, although the extent of Bush's involvement remains unclear. There were also allegations of a 12-year affair with his assistant, Jennifer Fitzgerald, which she denied. According to the book 'The Matriarch Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty', Bush's wife Barbara fell into a depression due to these rumors. Fitzgerald was described as "protective" of Bush, having met him during the Watergate scandal. A close source told the Times via Heavy, “It wasn’t just another woman. It was a woman who came to exert enormous influence over George for many, many years...She became, in essence, his other wife...his office wife.”

3. Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton's presidency was marred by accusations of assault, harassment, alongside a few confirmed affairs. His most notorious affair was with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, who claimed they had nine sexual encounters from 1995 to 1997. Additionally, Clinton was rumored to have had an affair with Gennifer Flowers, who alleged that their relationship lasted over a decade, although Clinton admitted to only one encounter in 1977, according to Law and Crime.

4. Dwight Eisenhower

Dwight Eisenhower is believed to have had an affair with his personal driver, Kay Summersby, who later wrote a tell-all book 'Past Forgetting: My Love Affair with Dwight D Eisenhower'. While the nature of their relationship has been questioned, many historians believe they were in love. Summersby, a model-turned-aide, allegedly began her affair with Eisenhower in 1942, with the relationship ending in 1945.

5. Ronald Reagan

Before becoming President of the United States, Ronald Reagan was the President of the Screen Actors Guild. In Kitty Kelley's unauthorized biography 'Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography', Selene Walters claimed Reagan forced her to have sex when he visited her home at 3 am. Walters alleged that Reagan showed up at her home, and despite her resistance, he got initimate with her. Walters recounted to People, “I opened the door. Then it was the battle of the couch. I was fighting him. I didn’t want him to make love to me. He’s a very big man, and he just had his way.”

6. Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, was known for his misconduct, including allegations of infidelity. According to History Collection, a woman named Maria Halpin claimed Cleveland assaulted her in December 1873 and threatened her if she reported the incident. Per the Tribute via Smithsonian, “Halpin said that Cleveland had pursued her relentlessly, and that she finally consented to join him for a meal at the Ocean Dining Hall & Oyster House. After dinner, Cleveland escorted her back to her boarding house. In an 1874 affidavit, Halpin strongly implied that Cleveland’s entry into her room and the incident that transpired there was not consensual—he was forceful and violent, she alleged, and later promised to ruin her if she went to the authorities.” Halpin reportedly gave birth to Cleveland's child, but she was placed in a mental asylum, and the child was adopted by another family. While Cleveland did not refute the claims of an affair, he denied any wrongdoing besides that.

7. Franklin D Roosevelt

Franklin D Roosevelt's presidency was also marked by rumors of infidelity, including allegations about Eleanor Roosevelt. Roosevelt had a long-time mistress named Lucy Mercer, who was Eleanor's secretary. According to Doris Kearns Goodwin's book 'No Ordinary Time', Eleanor confronted Roosevelt about the affair, leading to an agreement to have an open marriage. Roosevelt's relationship with Mercer began in 1916 and continued until his death. Another alleged affair was with his private secretary, Marguerite LeHand. Although historians debate the nature of their relationship, Roosevelt's son Elliott claimed in his book 'An Untold Story: The Roosevelts of Hyde Park' that their romance was sexual.

8. Warren G Harding

Warren G Harding's infidelity became public knowledge after his death when one of his mistresses, Nan Britton, published a tell-all book titled 'The President’s Daughter'. Britton detailed their frequent sexual encounters in a White House closet and claimed she gave birth to his daughter, Elizabeth Ann. Their affair reportedly began when Britton became one of his secretaries. Harding was also involved in a years-long affair with Carrie Fulton Phillips, a friend of his wife, Florence Harding. According to CNN, Phillips blackmailed Harding, receiving a stipend, vacations, and other perks. Politico reported that this was not the first time Harding had an affair with one of his wife's friends.

9. Lyndon B Johnson

Lyndon B Johnson reportedly had multiple affairs, including a long-term relationship with Alice Glass. His wife, Lady Bird Johnson, was aware of these affairs, including one with a colleague named Helen Gahagan Douglas. Johnson and Glass met in 1939. According to the book 'The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power', when they met, Glass admired Johnson because she “believed that he was unlike the other politicians who came to Longlea, and whose conversation revealed, before a weekend was over, that their only interest was personal advancement". Their relationship continued for years, ending over differing views on the Vietnam War. From 1945 to 1951, Johnson allegedly had an affair with congresswoman Gahagan Douglas, who claimed he was the father of her child and supported the child financially, per the Oklahoman. Additionally, Johnson had an affair with Madeleine Duncan Brown, who claimed he provided her with a house, a maid, cars, and financial support, per History Collection. She also alleged that he fathered her son, Steven, in 1950.

10. Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, allegedly had an affair with Mary Allen Hulbert, also known as Mary Peck. They met in Bermuda in 1907, and Wilson reportedly sent her around $7,500 for a business deal. During their affair, Wilson wrote over 200 intimate letters to Peck, many of which are preserved at The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Virginia. Wilson also sent Peck books and jewelry, and his wife Ellen was reportedly aware of their relationship. After Ellen's death, Wilson married Edith Bolling Galt, ending his correspondence with Peck. According to She Knows, Peck later sold the letters and reflected on their relationship in her autobiography 'The Story of Mrs Peck'.