President Clinton is obviously not the first chief executive to be accused of misbehavior while in office. Long before Whitewater, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Travelgate, Filegate, and the controversy over campaign finances, there were numerous tales of abuse of power, corruption, and bribery linked to cabinet officials and to the White House itself.
Sexual affairs seem to have been almost commonplace in the history of the presidency.
Yet the more damaging, if not outright illegal, actions of presidents have fortunately been less frequent. The most frequently performed opera in the U.S. is Madama Butterfly .