1983: SEX, DRUGS AND CENSURE ON THE HILL

In the early 1980s, lawmakers, aides and other employees on Capitol Hill
were accused of engaging in illegal drug activity, with 1983 marking a
surge in Roll Call headlines about drug use, censures and sex scandals.

In July, Roll Call reported that then-Reps. Daniel Crane (R-Ill.) and Gerry
Studds (D-Mass.) were censured following the discovery of their sexual
relationships with underage pages.

Crane apologized for his sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl in
1980, while Studds did not apologize and said his relationship with a
17-year-old boy in 1973 was consensual.

Other Members came to their aid.

"Crane would have preferred losing an arm or having a heart attack to
telling his wife and family about his relationship with a 17-year-old
female page," said Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.).

Despite many Members' calls for their resignation, neither Crane nor Studds
quit his post.

Also in the news that year was the drug scandal involving then-Reps. John
Burton (D-Calif.), Ron Dellums (D-Calif.), Fred Richmond (D-N.Y.) and
Charlie Wilson (D-Texas), and former Rep. Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-Calif.).

The investigation into the Members began in the summer of 1982 and
officially ended in December 1983 with mixed results.

Late that year, a House ethics committee report was released declaring that
the evidence of drug use was insufficient against Dellums, Goldwater and
Wilson, and all charges were dropped. Burton and Richmond admitted to using
marijuana and cocaine.