This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
Presidential infidelity has been a recurring theme in history, with several high-profile leaders caught cheating on their spouses.
From Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky to Nelson Mandela's divorce from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the list of presidents embroiled in cheating scandals is long and varied.
Here are five notable examples:
1. Bill Clinton ¶
Hillary Clinton has spoken publicly about her husband's infidelity, crediting her faith and resilience for helping her navigate the situation.
"I really had to dig down deep and think hard about what was right for me, what was right for my family."
She advised other spouses in similar situations to do what is right for themselves, even if it doesn't align with others' expectations.
2. Nelson Mandela ¶
Two years after his release from Victor Verster Prison in 1990, Mandela announced his intention to divorce Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, citing her affair with a younger colleague, Dali Mpofu.
The couple's problems ran deeper, with Mandela stating that they had barely spoken in months and that he had been feeling lonely since his release from prison.
3. Silvio Berlusconi ¶
The former Italian Prime Minister was at the center of a media storm in 2009 over his relationship with 18-year-old Noemi Letizia.
Letizia's mother, Veronica Lario, defended her daughter's relationship with Berlusconi, stating that she had always loved him and built her life around their marriage and family.
4. Nicholas Sarkozy ¶
The former French President and his wife, Carla Bruni, were embroiled in a cheating scandal in 2010, with rumors circulating that they were both having affairs.
Bruni was alleged to have fallen for a younger singer, Benjamin Biolay, while Sarkozy was accused of dating his ecology minister, Chantal Jouanno.
5. John F. Kennedy ¶
Writer Seymour Hersh alleged in his book, The Dark Side of Camelot, that Kennedy had a history of womanizing and using the Secret Service to smuggle women into the White House for trysts.
