Top 10 Political Sex Scandals

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has gotten off easy compared to his philandering political predecessors. TIME looks back at the tawdry affairs that brought down the high and mighty

Gary Hart

National Enquirer / Getty
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Scandal: Alleged extramarital affair
How Outed: Still photos

It was in April of 1987 that former Senator Gary Hart announced the beginning of his second presidential campaign. Less than a month later, the Miami Herald published a photo of a young woman leaving Hart's residence. The candidate expressed outrage at the paper, but within a week the Herald received tips that Hart had visited Bimini with a woman who was not his wife, then published photos showing a 29-year-old model, Donna Rice, sitting on Hart's lap. Less than a week later, Hart announced he was dropping out of the race (he would later re-enter, unsuccessfully).

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