As Donald Trump stands trial, we look back at other presidential scandals
Though not the first U.S. president to grapple with legal and ethical controversies, Donald Trump stands alone as the first to face criminal charges.
Like Trump, two other former presidents endured impeachment proceedings. Members of the House of Representatives formally charged Bill Clinton with lying about his relationship with a White House intern. Before him, Andrew Johnson faced formal allegations of misconduct from the House for challenging the boundaries of executive power after the Civil War.
Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace over his involvement in the infamous Watergate scandal. Meanwhile, Ronald Reagan, Ulysses S. Grant and Warren Harding were all tied to scandals involving aides or cabinet members. None of them faced formal charges.
Since the first impeachment in 1797, members of the House of Representatives have initiated the proceedings more than 60 times, according to Library of Congress records. Trump was impeached by the House twice, but he was acquitted by the Senate both times. In more than 225 years, only eight U.S. officials have been convicted and removed from office by the Senate. All eight were federal judges.
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton's presidency was marked by prolonged investigations, including one over his involvement in the Whitewater real estate venture, a failed effort to develop vacation properties in Arkansas.
No evidence of wrongdoing by the Clintons emerged. However, several associates, including Jim and Susan McDougal and then-Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker, were convicted of fraud charges related to Whitewater.
Clinton's initial denial of an affair with Monica Lewinsky during a sexual harassment lawsuit led to his impeachment by the House in 1998. He was acquitted by the Senate and remained president until his second term ended in 2001.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan faced scrutiny during his second term over the Iran-Contra affair. The scandal involved secret arms sales facilitated by the Reagan administration to Iran meant to secure the release of hostages in Lebanon. Beyond selling weapons to Iran and paying ransom for hostages, the scandal diverted the margins from the high-profit sales to support the Reagan-favored "contra" rebels fighting in Nicaragua in violation of Congressional limits.
Reagan wasn't charged. However, some of his aides, including John Poindexter and Oliver North, were convicted for deceiving Congress. Reagan maintained ignorance of the diversion of funds to the rebels and was able to carry out his second term
Richard Nixon
Nixon resigned from office amid the Watergate scandal, which involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent attempts to cover up his administration's involvement.
Nixon was less than two years removed from a landslide reelection bid when he was hit with three articles of impeachment in the summer of 1974. The House Judiciary Committee charged him with obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress. He resigned before the full House could vote on the three articles following the release of incriminating audio recordings. He was later pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford.
Warren Harding
Warren Harding served just 29 months in office, but his term was marred by scandal. He made payments to conceal extramarital affairs, had friends involved in criminal activity and had a child born out of wedlock.
Perhaps most prominently, Harding's interior secretary, Albert Fall, became the first former Cabinet member to be incarcerated. Fall had the rights to the Teapot Dome oil fields in Wyoming transferred to the Department of the Interior and then went about awarding exclusive contracts to private oil companies. After a small oil company raised concerns about the lack of competitive bidding, a Senate investigation revealed that Fall had accepted bribes, no-interest loans and other favors in exchange for the drilling rights.
More: Corruption charges against Sen. Bob Menendez add to NJ's colorful political history
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant's administration uncovered the Whiskey Ring scandal, an 1870s scheme to divert liquor taxes through off-the-books sales of illicit whiskey that involved officials from the U.S. Treasury Department. Among the key players was Grant's personal secretary, Gen. Orville E. Babcock. Babcock was charged as a conspirator but acquitted following a staunch defense and court testimony from Grant.
Grant faced criticism for his handling of the scandal and was later accused of having full involvement in the scheme by its lynchpin Gen. John McDonald. Named the Missouri District's revenue collector by Grant in 1869, McDonald was fined and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Grant was never charged.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson's presidency was marred by conflict with Congress over Reconstruction policies after the Civil War.
Thrust into the role following President Abraham Lincoln's assassination, Johnson clashed with Radical Republicans for wanting to pardon Confederate leaders and prevent Blacks from voting. He ultimately faced impeachment for violating the Tenure of Office Act through his effort to dismiss Lincoln-appointed Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without Senate approval.
Johnson's impeachment trial narrowly fell short. Johnson avoided removal from office by one vote. Still, his presidency was deeply affected, and he failed to secure his party's nomination for reelection.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: As Trump stands trial, we look back at other presidential scandals