Who Owned the Boat Monkey Business?

The boat named “Monkey Business” made headlines in the 1980s when it became embroiled in a political scandal. The boat was owned by Gary Hart, a politician who was running for president of the United States at the time.

The Hart Campaign

Gary Hart’s presidential campaign was gaining momentum when rumors began to circulate that he was having an extramarital affair. The rumors were fueled by reports of Hart spending time on a yacht called “Monkey Business” with a woman who was not his wife.

The Monkey Business

The Monkey Business was a yacht owned by Hugh Sloan Jr., who had bought it from John Kerry. Sloan had rented the yacht to Gary Hart for a weekend trip to Bimini, a small island in the Bahamas. It was during this trip that the scandal broke out.

The Scandal

Photographs taken by reporters showed Hart with Donna Rice, a model and actress, aboard the Monkey Business. The images sparked controversy as Hart was married at the time and had been vocal about his commitment to family values.

The scandal led to immense media scrutiny of Hart’s personal life and forced him to drop out of the presidential race. The incident also changed how politicians were viewed in public, as their private lives came under increasing scrutiny.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, although Gary Hart owned up to his mistakes, the damage had already been done. The Monkey Business became synonymous with political scandals and continues to be remembered as one of the most significant controversies in modern American politics.

References:

  • https://www.history.com/news/gary-hart-affair-scandal-donna-rice-monkey-business
  • https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/10/us/the-affairs-of-gary-hart.html
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-gary-hart-scandal-shaped-modern-politics/2017/10/27/a3f6a348-bb45-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html
Photo of author

Daniel Bennet