EP 143: The Newport Sex Scandal

This week on Hashtag History, we will be discussing the Newport Sex Scandal. This scandal was revealed when the United States Navy conducted an investigation in 1919 in which they were looking into the gross and deceptive tactics ordered upon a group of Navy personnel to impersonate gay men in order to catch gay men…being gay men, something that was illegal at this time in history. Fifteen members of the Navy would end up being arrested in Newport, Rhode Island, as a result of their “scandalous conduct”. Of particular importance is the fact that the Assistant Secretary of the Navy during this scandal, who would resign during the course of this investigation so that he could – oh, I don’t know, accept the nomination for Vice President of the United States – was none other than Franklin D. Roosevelt. In fact, Roosevelt’s personal conduct in this matter was said by the committee to be deplorable, disgraceful, and reprehensible.

This is definitely some little known history but a very important piece of history to discuss.

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- Rachel and Leah