The sexual scandal surrounding Gov. Mark Sanford is not the worst in the state’s history, says a veteran Winthrop University history professor.

“We’ve had worse,” according to history professor Dr. Eddie Lee. “Admitting to adultery or having one, two, three or more mistresses in 2009 can ruin a political career. And that has happened before.

“James Henry Hammond served a two-year term as governor from 1842-44. During that time he had what was described as ‘inappropriate contact’ with his five young adolescent nieces. These were the daughters of Wade Hampton II, and he became very angry about it.”

Lee said Hammond’s actions would probably today be described as sexual molestation. He says the episode played a major role in curtailing Hammond’s political career.

“After he left the governor’s office, Hammond went into political exile for ten years,” Lee said. “In his diary Hammond later acknowledged having inappropriate contact with the nieces, but he blamed them.”

Lee added prior to that incident, Hammond made a slave woman his mistress, only to later replace her with the woman’s daughter.

“Even after all that, he still served as a U.S. Senator,” Lee said. “It was Hammond that made the famous 1858 ‘Cotton is King’ speech in the Senate. Hammond School in Columbia is also named for him.”

Lee said another past South Carolina governor’s sexual indiscretion didn’t occur while he was in Columbia but came to light this decade. It was only after the late Sen. Strom Thurmond’s death in 2003 that his illegitimate daughter came to light.

Lee teaches a summer term South Carolina history course at Winthrop that involves an annual trip to the State House. During this year’s trip, the effect of Sanford’s affair on state employees and staff was tangible.

“We were there July 1 and the students and I talked about our impressions afterward,” Lee said. “The best way to describe the mood was somber. I’ve been to the State House since I was a toddler.

“Even though the employees were very professional, as we began the tour the underlying sense of a deathly quiet was perceptible.”

Lee has also been the mayor of York, S.C. for seven years. He offers another opinion on the Sanford situation from an elected official’s point of view.

He said, “The system periodically cleans itself when a scandal like Sanford’s occurs. It usually makes it better. That’s what I think will happen here. I would use the same phrase that (Lt. Gov. Andre) Bauer used: Let’s move forward.

“If I were a betting man I would say that Sanford will either resign or be driven from office.”

T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540.

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