Kessler, Ronald. Inside Congress: The Shocking Scandals, Corruption, and
Abuse of Power Behind the Scenes on Capitol Hill. New York: Pocket Books,
1998. 301 pages.
If you sample the international community about which countries are
corrupt, from least to most, the U.S. comes in at 17th place, behind most
European countries plus Canada, Singapore, and New Zealand. Naturally, this
depends on who you ask. Ronald Kessler had the novel idea to ask present
and former members of the Capitol Police. This force of 1,076 officers is
the property of Congress, and they return the favor for members by running
errands, fixing parking tickets, driving them to the airport with sirens
blaring, and "unarresting" them if they get nailed for drunk driving.
In addition to stories about drunk Congressmen, sex with secretaries,
check-bouncing at the House Bank, money laundering though the House Post
Office, and silk-covered office chairs that cost $20,000, Kessler also looks
into campaign finance. In the 1960s and 1970s, Capitol Police would search
the briefcases of visitors and sometimes find them stuffed with cash.
"Let's just say it's campaign funds," they'd agree, and wave them through.
Now it's all done legally through PACs, so cash is not required. "We call
it the Land of Oz," a high-ranking Capitol Police officer told Kessler.
"It's unlike any other place in the world. Congress is just a cesspool.
The biggest chunks rise to the top."
ISBN 0-671-00386-0
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