"S-s-h-h, This is Just Between Us, OK?"

"I think he should step down. It would be the hon0rable thing to do and save what's left of his reputation."

That statement was made after the revelation of the affair between President Bill Clinton and a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. That comment was made on the radio in Houston, Texas. And it was made by me.

And of course, my advice was not heeded. But as we now look at the swirling scandal of sexual impropriety that has ended the political career of Representative Eric Swalwell of California, and the history of these things, you have to ask, "What were they thinking?"

From the John Profumo affair in the UK back in the 60's, President Kennedy's extracurricular activities, Ted Kennedy at Chappaquiddick, Senator John Edwards, Senator Gary Hart, Matt Schlapp, founder of the CPAC gathering every year and Newt Gingrich, powerful men take outrageous chances while in the brightest spotlight imaginable.

I interviewed David Maraniss years ago about his Clinton biography, "First in His Class"...

When we got to the subject of the affair, we both had theories. Maraniss thought it might be the thrill of forbidden fruit, combined with simple horniness. I pointed to a photo of Bill back in the high school band...

That chubby dweeb later in life suddenly became attractive to women. It was like being a broke musician in Liverpool, and suddenly you're a Beatle and women are throwing underwear up on stage. Who among us would be strong enough to resist? We were probably both right, but when you have made it to the top, why risk it all for what seems like a bit of harmless fun that turns out to be career-ending?

On one of my reporting trips to Israel, I was set to interview Bibi Netanyahu when suddenly he cancelled all press availability. Yes, it was a rumored Lewinsky-type scandal for him as well, and he was lying low.

I know, I'm leaving out the morality of it all, and I promise, I don't mean to. When John Edwards and Newt Gingrich were dallying with other women, their wives were both battling cancer. Ted Kennedy's wife took to drink, Matt Schlapp's wife had to be outraged at his clumsy passes at various men, and now, this is what Eric Swalwell was risking along with a shot at being the next Governor of California...

Now, I know, both men and women have been cheating since the beginning of time. Gary Larson pointed out it isn't just our species...

But when the stakes are this high, you have to wonder why so many look at the history of scandals and still feel invulnerable. Swalwell was a popular guest on various TV talk fests and was leading in the Democratic Primary race for Governor. Now, he is resigning from the House and may have to represent himself in divorce court. When it comes to this kind of thing, there are folks you might never guess.

Long-standing, unproven rumors suggested that George H.W. Bush had an extramarital affair with his aide, Jennifer Fitzgerald, starting in the 1970s and continuing through his vice presidency. While the allegations were widely discussed in media circles and denied by Bush, they reportedly caused significant strain, including depression for Barbara Bush. 

I asked famous Washington Post reporter Jack Germond why no one ever reported it. While he told me it was understood to be true, he said it was because reporters simply liked the Bushes too much to delve into it. Obviously not every politician is so lucky. Just ask Kristi Noem. I'm glad Cricket the dog isn't alive to see all this.

And frankly, lust isn't the only inner impulse politicians are vulnerable to, but think they are bulletproof. Leon Jaworski told me years ago that when he was leading the Watergate investigation, he ran into Richard Nixon one Sunday at the National Cathedral. Jaworski said he kept wondering why Nixon did it, first of all, and secondly, didn't trust the American people to forgive him.

Incidentally, George McGovern couldn't figure out why he took the chance either. He told me, "Nixon was beating the hell out of me. He didn't need to run that risk."

And we now also have lust, greed, and ego wrapped up in one orange package. The wealth of President Trump's businesses has increased by $3 billion in the first year of his second term. And it's set to make more as we see business and government impossibly intertwined these days. But for the MAGA faithful, he can do no wrong. And for the rest, if gas prices weren't skyrocketing, would anyone care? He can even blasphemously portray himself as Jesus, and that kerfuffle will last only a few days, even among "ardent" Christians.

But then again, maybe he'll walk across the Strait of Hormuz. We'll see whose laughing then, eh?