Should We Interfere with Politicians Private Lives

Camryn Haynes Aelvoet

Ms. Andermatt

English ll

03 November 2017

Politician’s Private Lives

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the definition of affair is a commercial, professional, public, or personal business. Should we not know what these affairs are? What if it is something bad? U.S. citizens should be informed about the private affairs of a politician due to the fact that the invasion of privacy comes with the job, it can affect our public safety, and it creates a sense of trust.

Americans have the right to know what a public official does when nobody's watching because the invasion of privacy comes with the job. When a president is inaugurated into office, he should know that some of his secrets are going to be leaked to the media, and therefore, the public. He or she should not have a problem telling this information because that is what they signed up for. For example, take the Watergate scandal of 1972. President Nixon was forced to tell confidential information about his closest employees, even if it ruined their lives. Politicians must expect to tell private information about themselves, or others, to destroy rumours and clear the air about any false information.

Equally important, an official’s private affairs can tamper with our public safety. When a president lies about what actions he is going to take, that affects citizens around the entire country and possibly those in other countries. Having a shady background does not look good for his or her chances of being elected, but having the media find out and displaying the information in newspapers and on television looks even worse. Not to mention, politicians have been known to hide or lie about their medical records, questioning their ability to lead a group of people safely.