Who was president during the Whiskey Ring scandal?
1 Answer
President U.S. Grant
Explanation:
A group of whiskey distillers conspired to defraud the federal government of taxes. The ring operated mainly in St. Louis, Milwaukee and Chicago and bribed Internal Revenue officials and accomplices in Washington to keep liquor taxes for themselves.
The secretary of the Treasury, Benjamin Bristow, organized a secret investigation that exposed the ring and resulted in 238 indictments and 110 convictions. There were also allegations that the withheld tax money was to be used to help the Republican Party's campaign to reelect President U.S. Grant that became public knowledge.
While Grant had no role in the scandal, his private secretary, Orville Babcock was charged in the conspiracy and was only cleared after President Grant testified to his innocence.
