You will be given a trivia clue, and the category it belongs to. You should answer with the best answer that belongs in the category and is described by the clue. For simplicity, answers should be in all lower cased letters.

Q: Category: MILITARY MATTERS 
Clue: Major Esterhazy was probably the real spy for the Germans in this French "affair" that began in 1894

A: dreyfus affair
****
Q: Category: POLITICIANS 
Clue: This champion stock-car racer lost the 1996 race for North Carolina's Secretary of State

A: richard petty
****
Q: Category: EUROPEAN ARTISTS 
Clue: In 1891 he held an auction of his paintings to finance his move to Tahiti

A:
paul gauguin
****