There are, and have been, many alcoholic politicians. Today, some have reported themselves to be alcoholic and have sought treatment. For alcoholic politicians of the past, it was harder. So historians base their judgements on accounts of those who knew the politicians and their actions.
But it’s safe to assume that there are many politicians who are alcoholic who are not on this list.
Alcoholism cuts across societies. It’s among different genders, races, economic levels, religions, etc.
The Kennedy family is the only one to have had an alcoholic member in both the U.S. Senate and House.
Overview
I. U.S. Presidents
II. Members of U.S. Congress
III. Other Political Leaders
IV. Resources
I. U.S. Presidents
Martin van Buren, 8th president. Friends called him “Blue Whiskey Van.”
Franklin Pierce, 14th. Died from cirrhosis of the liver
James Buchanan, 15th
Ulysses S. Grant, 18th
Chester A. Arthur, 21st
Franklin Roosevelt, 32nd
Lyndon Johnson, 36th
Richard Nixon, 37th
II. Members of U.S. Congress
Senate
Harold Hughes (D-IA) Worked largely on legislation about drug and alcohol abuse.
Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Joseph McCarthy (R-WI)
Bob Packwood (R-OR)
Herman Talmadge (D-GA)
John Tower (R-TX)
House of Representatives
Robert Bauman (R-MD)
Phil Crane (R-IL)
John Boehner, Speaker of the House (R-OH)
Mark Foley (R-FL)
Thomas Garrett (R-VA)
Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)
Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ)
Karen McCarthy D-MO)
Wilbur Mills (D-AR)
Bob Ney (R-Ohio)
Tip O’Neil (Thomas Phillip O’Neill Jr. ), Speaker of the House (D-MA)
Trey Radel (R-FL)
Jim Ramstad (R-MN)
Zach Wamp (R-TN)
Charlie Wilson (D-TX)
III. Other Alcoholic Politicians and Leaders
Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of Turkey. Died from cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcohol abuse.
Béla I, King of Hungary and Croatia.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Václav Havel, a president of the Czech Republic.
Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission.
Charles Kennedy, leader of the British Liberal Democrats.
Reginald Maudling, held several British Cabinet posts.
Pōmare II, the second king of Tahiti.
Pōmare V, the last king of Tahiti.
Texas Governor Ann Richards (D-TX)
Selim II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Known as “Selim the Drunkard.”
Ranjit Singh, first leader of the Sikh Empire.
Josef Stalin, dictator of the Soviet Union
Emperor Tiberius of the Roman Empire.
Prince Vladimir of Kiev, Russia.
Daniel Webster, U.S. Secretary of State.
Boris Yeltsin, first president of Russia.
IV. Resources: Alcoholic Politicians
Web Pages
Books
- Hirsh, C. Politics, Death & Addiction.
- Wright, B. The Rise and Fall of Political Drinking.
- _______. Alcohol & the Political Process.
Notes
- Know of any alcoholic politicians who should be on this list? If so, contact hansondj[at sign]potsdam[period]edu/. Thanks for your help!
- This list of alcoholic politicians is based on sources that appear to be reliable. But there is no guarantee of its accuracy.