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Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
There’s this powerful American politician who’s at the top of his game. Then you’ve got a notorious sex worker with a love of performing. They have a scandalous affair that rocks Washington. And a media storm sweeps the nation. It’s on the nightly news, and all over the newspapers. People just can’t get enough of it.
That’s right – I’m talking about Wilbur Mills and Fanne Foxe. Who did you think I was talking about?
He grew up in the U.S. House of Representatives and had stood for president – and was considered for a seat on the Supreme Court. She came from a small town in Argentina, and was already the mother of three by the time she started dancing on the burlesque circuit in America.
They met in 1973, and even though he was married and almost thirty years older than her, they seemingly fell in love. Then on a fateful night in October 1974, they were involved in a strange incident and their secret relationship risked being exposed to the scandal-hungry public.
Details slowly emerged and it soon became a sensation as the public started asking questions: Like how did a woman from a small town in south America become involved with one of the most powerful men in the U.S.? How could such an influential politician come to be exposed in such a public way? How did adult film actors, Harry Reems and Jamie Gillis, get involved in trying to persuade Fanne Foxe to make an adult film at the height of her fame? And what happened to Fanne, the Argentine Firecracker behind one of the most public political scandals of the 20th century?
Isn’t it strange how in the world of politics, often everything that was old is somehow new again?
This podcast episode is 55 minutes long.
The musical playlist for this episode can be found on Spotify.
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Fanne Foxe – A Chronological Media History
August 1965: Early mention of Fanne Foxe in Baltimore
October 11, 1974: First mention of the Tidal Basin incident
October 11, 1974: First mention of the Tidal Basin incident
October 11, 1974: First mention of the Tidal Basin incident
October 11, 1974: The media investigate Fanne
October 12, 1974: The media investigate Fanne
November 8th 1974: A month after the Tidal Basin incident, Fanne appears on a chat show – with Richard Pryor
November 19 1974: In the wake of the Tidal Basin scandal, Fanne returns to the stage
December 2 1974: Much to everyone’s amazement, Wilbur appears on stage with Fanne
December 2 1974: Wilbur Mills announces his surprising plans for Fanne
December 2 1974: Wilbur Mills announces his surprising plans for Fanne
December 3 1974: Fanne stands by Wilbur but denies they are lovers
December 3 1974: The political fall-out following Wilbur’s on stage appearance with Fanne
December 4 1974: Political problems continue for Wilbur
December 4 1974: Wilbur’s political power is weakened by the scandal
December 4 1974: The effect of the scandal takes it toll on Wilbur
December 5 1974: The media focus their attention on Fanne
December 5 1974: The media reports a backlash against Fanne
December 5 1974: In the midst of media uproar, Fanne cancels a show
December 7 1974: The fascination with Fanne Foxe grows
December 7 1974: Fanne reveals her affair with Wilbur
December 7 1974: Fanne becomes ubiquitous in the newspapers
December 7 1974: Fanne’s notoriety results in higher appearance fees (Hello, Stormy Daniels…)
December 7 1974: Fanne’s notoriety results in higher appearance fees
December 10 1974: Wilbur loses the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee
December 10 1974: Wlibur continues to lose support
December 11 1974: Fanne’s press coverage is mixed
December 12 1974: When Fanne resumes her stripping, she is arrested for indecent exposure
December 12 1974: The reason for the arrest is an alleged ‘bottomless’ dance
December 13 1974: Coverage of Fanne’s arrest re-ignites the scandal
December 14 1974: Fanne announces that she will no longer dance nude
December 14 1974: Wilbur considers his political options while hospitalized
December 16 1974: Everyone has an opinion on Fanne Foxe
August 15 1975: Nine months after the scandal broke, Fanne reveals her affair with Wilbur
August 15 1975: Fanne says her marriage broke down because of her affair with Wilbur
August 15 1975: Fanne’s revelations mean the scandal remains center stage
September 3 1975: A few weeks later, in her tell-all autobiography, Fanne claims she had become pregnant with Wilbur’s child
September 3 1975: Her autobiography recounts how Fanne aborted Wilbur’s child
September 24 1975: The revelations enure that Fanne’s autobiography sells well
October 5 1975: Fanne embarks on a publicity campaign to promote her biography
October 5 1975: Fanne opens her family to the media for the first time
October 5 1975: In the midst of the publicity surrounding her book, Fanne appears in a film, ‘Posse From Heaven’
November 10 1975: A year after the scandal, Fanne declares her continued love for Wilbur
February 9 1976: Fanne’s feelings for Wilbur get in the way of his proposed comeback
January 6 1976: Fanne re-launches her career with a new night club act
February 12 1976: Despite her new act, Fanne runs into trouble when she turns up in Wilbur’s home state of Arkansas
1976: Fanne Foxe in Playboy
July 9 1976: An adult film, starring Fanne Foxe, is announced
February 3 1977: When the previously announced adult film comes to nothing, Fanne appears in a soft-core film called ‘Round The Naked Round’
March 8 1977: Fanne signs on as a columnist with Cheri magazine
March 10 1977: Fanne’s job with Cheri magazine involves reporting from the sex scene across the country
1977: Fanne Fox in Cheri magazine
August 21 1977: Wilbur continues to be rehabilitated
December 3 1977: The scandal continues to dog Wilbur
May 16 1978: Wilbur becomes involved in treatment for alcoholics
May 27 1979: By 1979, Fanne was in the “Whatever Happened To?” file
January 11 1982: One of Fanne’s last public appearances followed the birth of her daughter
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Looking forward to listening to this………. I remember Time magazine listing it as the one of the top three political scandals of the 20th Century a few years ago………. so the fact that Jamie and Harry Reems were involved somehow has got me super curious……………
I remember seeing la Foxe in men’s mags in the late 70s and not knowing quite who or why she was featured quite so prominently. When I found out her backstory, I was blown away. Should be a good listen!!
Should be an interesting listen. And Casselberry is right in my backyard. Hedy Lamarr supposedly settled here too at one point in her later life.
If you have never read it, Hedy Lamarr also has an amazing story that goes way beyond her show biz days and still impacts each of us today. https://www.forbes.com/sites/shivaunefield/2018/02/28/hedy-lamarr-the-incredible-mind-behind-secure-wi-fi-gps-bluetooth/
Living in DC, I drive pass the tidal basin all the time and frequently think of this story, even if I was barely an infant when it happened.
Fanne and I went on the road together several times for Cheri Magazine. She was the writer and I was the photographer. She was always the sweetest easy to work with lady and was always patient at airports when reporters always met us to interview her. But one weekend we flew to Canada to cover a Miss nude world pagent and the officials at the airport started to give her a hard time about all the reporters that were crowded around trying to get any statement they could from her. For the first time in the several years I knew her I saw the Argentine Firecracker explode. I couldn’t understand a single word that was being thrown like spears but I and everyone else in the airport sure as hell knew what she was saying. At that moment I pitied poor Wilbur Mills. The firestorm Congress laid on him could never have compared to what Fanne Put him through in that car before she jumped into the Tidal Basin.
What a great story Carter – thank you so much for sharing it!
So Fanne Foxe AND Stormy Daniels were each arrested while performing in a club after their respective scandals broke out! The more things change…
The years may go by, the names will change, but you dig around and there is always some salacious dirt on the power brokers in DC…as Henry Kissenger put it “power is the great aphrodisiac.” Heck, I have been at swingers parties with people knee deep in the current Russian scandal…and under investigation by Muller as I type…sex has no party especially at a party. 😉
“Power is the great aphrodisiac…..” — Henry Kissinger
“….Just look at the carpet bombing of Cambodia to see what it took for *him* to get it up.” — Lily Tomlin.
Well-remembered tale from my adolesence…Remember: Trump may have fucked a porn star. Unlike a Kennedy, he didn’t drown a woman.
Ms. Hall, I loved listening to this for many reasons.
QUOTE – “In today’s world of ‘me too’ and ‘pussy grabbing’, the story of Fanne and Wilbur seems almost quaint”…. I agree. If events can be compared to movies, what happened with Annabelle and Wilbur would be the equivalent of a Barry Mahon SEXPLOITATION film. But, what our country and world are living through now, is the equivalent of KITTY-PORN.
Fascism is now considered patriotism, and far too many shameless individuals wear their bigotry like a badge of honor.
Our country has truly reached a new low, and we – and the rest of the world – continue to sink even lower.
This episode is short, detailed, and has a very satisfying ending.
I’ve mentioned this before and I’m going to write it again,… you, Mr. West, and the rest of the gang, are gifted documentarians.
Thank you so much P.I. – we really appreciate it!
When Mills wants to go on stage, reminds me of the scheming Brian Wilson shrink who wanted
to be part of the music show. What the hell was he thinking/drinking?
Very informative! Thanks for another great episode!
Back then I always wondered what a hot woman like her was doing with a DWIB-BA-DA-GOTZ like Wilber Mills.
The years may go by, the names will change, but you dig around and there is always some salacious dirt on the power brokers in DC