J.Michael Martinez

As I discuss in my forthcoming book Scoundrels: Political Scandals in American History, Charles Sumner was an arrogant, aloof, erudite...

I am pleased to announce that my 15th book, Congressional Pathfinders: “First” Members of Congress and How They Shaped American History,...

Aaron Burr was a member of the revered founding generation of political leaders, but he suffered an ignominious fall from grace and faced...

My forthcoming book, Scoundrels: Political Scandals in American History, covers political as well as sexual scandals. One of the worst of...

Anthony Weiner’s case is the strangest, most appalling episode discussed in my forthcoming book, Scoundrels: Political Scandals in...

As I discuss in my forthcoming book, Scoundrels: Political Scandals in American History, Congressman Gary Condit was a conservative “Blue...

It was the most infamous sex scandal in American history, and it nearly toppled an American president from power. Bill Clinton, 42nd...

Robert William “Bob” Packwood was a long-time Republican United States senator from Oregon when multiple women alleged that he had...

It was yet another scandalous story, almost a cliché, of a powerful man who throws away his political career (apparently) in pursuit of...

In the wee morning hours of Monday, October 7, 1974, a black 1973 Lincoln Continental automobile barreled down a street near the...

Warren G. Harding has the dubious distinction of being known as “America’s horniest president,” and with good reason, as I discuss in my...

I discuss one of the most famous (or infamous) presidential scandals in nineteenth century American history in my forthcoming book,...

Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent nineteenth century preacher and social activist, one of the most famous men in America, when the wife...

Each summer I provide a summary report card on my recent writing projects. This summer is no exception. I am working on three book...

The Sickles-Key scandal became one of the most salacious episodes of the nineteenth century, one of the few court cases of the era that...

As I discuss in my forthcoming book, Scoundrels: Political Scandals in American History, Andrew Jackson entered the American presidency...

The Sage of Monticello—Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia,...

My latest book project, tentatively titled Scoundrels: Political Scandals in American History, is a retrospective examination of infamous...

I am pleased to announce that my 14th book, Congressional Giants: Influential Leaders of Congress and How They Shaped American History,...

I am taking a break from reporting on my current research efforts to explore a slightly different topic in this posting. Because I have...