Stay updated with breaking news from Juliette george. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
K. Ward Cummings Guest Columnist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in emotional testimony delivered during a congressional hearing last month, bravely revealed that she was once the victim of a sexual assault. As a historian, her stunning admission reminded me instantly of former presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Woodrow Wilson. Not because they too were once sexually abused (or accused of abuse), but because of how often personal trauma seems to be a part of the histories of prominent politicians. Exploring the connection between personal trauma and political success has been an obsession of mine since I first entered politics 20 years ago. I began to wonder why so many of the politicians I encountered seemed so emotionally needy and, in frequent cases, emotionally damaged. ....