1983 Congressional Page Scandal

The 1983 Congressional Page Scandal was a sex scandal involving two members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Background
On July 14, 1983, the House Ethics Committee concluded that Reps. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) and Daniel Crane (R-Ill.) had each engaged in sexual relationships with seventeen-year-old congressional pages.

Both members immediately admitted to the allegations. Studds’ affair had taken place a decade prior (1973), in the year following his initial election to the House. While he refused to apologize for engaging in the relationship (which was both consensual and legal), he did note that he made, “a very serious error in judgment.” Crane had engaged in an affair in 1980 (also consensual and legal). Following his admission, he remarked, "I’m sorry that I made a mistake. I’m human, and in no way did I violate my oath of office." 

House action
Originally, the Ethics Committee recommended with an 11-1 vote that each member be reprimanded for their behavior. A Washington Post article on July 15, 1983 noted that this was considered to be the mildest form of punishment available. Many in the House, however, felt as though stronger action was necessary. House Minority Leader Robert Michel (R-Ill.) introduced censure motions for both Studds and Crane, arguing that while the reprimand recommendations were “good and sound,” there was a desire amongst the chamber to go a step further. Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who later became Speaker of the House in 1995, was quoted in Time magazine as stating, "My personal view is that they should be expelled.” Crane's press secretary, William Mencarow, suggested that this was too harsh, and replied, "If we required the resignation of all Congressmen who slept with young ladies...we wouldn't have a Congress." He later apologized for the remark.

Ultimately, the House chose to consider censoring Studds and Crane, rather than expulsion. On July 20, 1983, the House first voted 289-136 to censure rather than reprimand Crane, and subsequently approved the censure resolution 421-3. Crane voted present on the first vote and “yea” on the second. The motion to censure rather than reprimand Studds passed 338-87. The Studds censure resolution was then approved 420-3. Studds voted “present” on each motion

House votes
The following charts show the partisan breakdown of each vote concerning the censure of Studds and Crane.

Source: 1983 Congressional Quarterly Almanac

Aftermath
Following the censures, the congressional page program was overhauled and a board was created to monitor it. In addition, a dormitory for pages was created near the Capitol building. 

Both Studds and Crane remained in the House following their censure. Studds was reelected six more times and served until his retirement in 1997. He died on October 14, 2006 after collapsing from a blood clot in his lung. 

Crane was defeated in his bid for reelection in 1984. 

(See Congresspedia page on U.S. congressional pages)

Resources

 * House Ethics Committee
 * Official Senate definition of “censure”
 * Mark Foley congressional page scandal
 * Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
 * 1983 Congressional Quarterly Almanac

Articles

 * Al Manning, "Crane beats Bruce in 22nd District," The State Journal-Register, January 14, 1979.
 * Eric Pianin, "Committee Recommends House Reprimand Two For Sexual Misconduct," Washington Post, July 15, 1983.
 * Sandra Evans Teeley, "House Censures Crane and Studds," Washington Post, July 21, 1983.
 * "Housecleaning," Time, July 25, 1983.
 * "What can the House Ethics Committee do by way of punishment now that Speaker Gingrich has admitted wrongdoing?" C-Span, May 3, 2000.
 * Liz Marlantes, "Page Program Has Seen Scandal Before," ABC News, September 29, 2006.
 * Jay Lindsay, "Studds, First Openly Gay Person Elected to Congress, Dead at 69," Washington Post, October 14, 2006.