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| Infamous Historical Grifters: Ferdinand Marcos "reigned" as President of the Philippines for 21 years |
As someone who has spent years observing and writing about ethical choices, community health, and honest living, I’ve long been fascinated—sometimes dismayed—by the ways people bend trust for personal gain. Readers who enjoyed my earlier pieces such as “Why Integrity Still Matters in Public Life” and “How Good Leadership Protects Vulnerable Communities,” will find today’s topic especially important.
This article briefly explores what grifting means, what it looks like in leadership and government, why it’s unethical or illegal, and notable historical examples that help us understand how it works.
1. What Does “Grifting” Mean?
At its simplest, grifting refers to obtaining money, influence, or benefits through deception, manipulation, or exploitation of trust. The word has old roots in street-level con artistry, but today it’s used for much bigger arenas—politics, business, even large institutions.
A grifter may use charm, authority, false promises, emotional appeal, or outright lies to extract something of value from others. While once associated with individual con artists, the idea now applies to large-scale abuse of trust.
For readers interested in related concepts, see also my article “How Propaganda Shapes Public Thinking”.
2. What Grifting Looks Like in a Leadership or Government Context
When leaders grift, the consequences reach far beyond one victim or one scam. In government, grifting means the misuse of public trust or public resources for personal enrichment—whether for the leader themselves, their family, or their close associates.
This can include:
🧧Diverting public funds
🧧Steering contracts to friends or relatives
🧧Using government power to benefit private businesses
🧧Collecting “gifts,” bribes, or luxury perks
🧧Selling access or influence
Even when technically legal, these behaviors erode confidence in democracy and often cross directly into corruption.
3. Examples of Grifting by Historical or Contemporary Leaders
These examples are documented, historically established cases, not speculation. They illustrate the many forms grifting can take.
1. Boss Tweed (19th-century New York)
Tammany Hall’s William “Boss” Tweed funneled millions of public dollars into fraudulent construction contracts—one of the most famous political grifts in U.S. history.
2. Teapot Dome Scandal (1920s, U.S.)
Interior Secretary Albert Fall accepted massive bribes to lease public oil reserves to private companies. He was later imprisoned.
3. Ferdinand Marcos & Imelda Marcos (Philippines)
The Marcos regime siphoned billions from state funds, investing in private real estate, art, and luxury goods—an internationally recognized case of kleptocratic grifting.
4. Silvio Berlusconi (Italy)
While prime minister, Berlusconi faced numerous trials and convictions concerning tax fraud and abuse of office related to his private media empire.
5. Richard Nixon Administration (Watergate, U.S.)
Beyond the break-ins, Watergate exposed misuse of presidential power, illegal campaign funding operations, and political “dirty tricks.”
6. Paul Manafort (U.S.)
The former political consultant and campaign chairman was convicted of tax fraud, money laundering, and hiding foreign lobbying income.
7. Jacob Zuma (South Africa)
Zuma’s presidency was plagued by “state capture” scandals in which private business interests influenced government appointments and contracts for personal gain.
8. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
Convicted of attempting to sell or trade a U.S. Senate seat appointment for personal benefit.
9. Hosni Mubarak (Egypt)
After his resignation, Mubarak and his sons were convicted in relation to the misappropriation of public funds.
10. South Korean Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak
Both were convicted in separate corruption cases involving influence-peddling, bribery, or misuse of public funds.
11. Alberto Fujimori (Peru)
Convicted of corruption and human rights abuses, including misuse of public money for propaganda and bribery.
12. Nicolas Sarkozy (France)
Convicted for corruption and influence-peddling involving attempts to obtain classified information in exchange for political favors.
13. Brazilian Petrobras Scandal (“Operation Car Wash”)
Multiple leaders and business executives, including former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (initially convicted but later annulled for procedural issues), were implicated in widespread bribery networks involving the state oil company.
14. Antonio López de Santa Anna (Mexico)
Known for selling national territory and using public funds for personal luxury—one of the earliest well-documented examples of political grifting in the Americas.
15. Sani Abacha (Nigeria)
The Abacha family siphoned billions in public funds during his military rule; international recovery efforts are ongoing.
Each case shows a common theme: the betrayal of trust for personal gain.
4. Why Is Grifting Unethical or Illegal?
• It violates public trust
Leaders hold power on behalf of the people. Using it for self-enrichment breaks the fundamental covenant between government and citizen.
• It diverts resources meant for the public good
Funds meant for hospitals, education, infrastructure, or social support are often redirected into private pockets.
• It undermines democratic fairness
When powerful people can buy or sell influence, ordinary people lose their rightful voice in civic life.
• It destabilizes societies
Countries plagued by corruption often experience worse public services, higher poverty levels, and greater political polarization.
• It is frequently illegal
Bribery, fraud, tax evasion, and misuse of public funds are criminal offenses in most countries.
5. A Call for Ethical, Community-Rooted Leadership
Grifting isn’t just a historical footnote—it remains a clear and present threat to healthy societies. When leaders misuse their positions, they weaken the very foundations that allow communities to thrive. Ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability aren’t luxuries; they are necessary for true public wellbeing, just as integrity is essential in our personal lives.
As I often say here on Organic Granny: clean food, clean water, clean hands—and clean leadership. The health of a nation begins with the honesty of those who guide it.
6. Further Reading and References
You may wish to explore:
Sarah Chayes — Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security
Anne Applebaum — Twilight of Democracy
Transparency International Annual Corruption Reports
“How Democracies Die” by Levitsky & Ziblatt (discussion of institutional decay and corruption)
🥤 Article and photos © 2025 Cynthia Zirkwitz | Organic GrannyPlease share the link, not the full recipe — thanks for supporting independent writers!
Nourishing life with integrity, simplicity, and compassion at Organic Granny.
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