The Stripper and the Congressman: Fanne Foxe’s Story – Podcast 82
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Show Notes
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
There’s this powerful American politician who’s at the top of his game. Then you’ve got a notorious sex worker with a love of performing. They have a scandalous affair that rocks Washington. And a media storm sweeps the nation. It’s on the nightly news, and all over the newspapers. People just can’t get enough of it.
That’s right – I’m talking about Wilbur Mills and Fanne Foxe. Who did you think I was talking about?
He grew up in the U.S. House of Representatives and had stood for president – and was considered for a seat on the Supreme Court. She came from a small town in Argentina, and was already the mother of three by the time she started dancing on the burlesque circuit in America.
They met in 1973, and even though he was married and almost thirty years older than her, they seemingly fell in love. Then on a fateful night in October 1974, they were involved in a strange incident and their secret relationship risked being exposed to the scandal-hungry public.
Details slowly emerged and it soon became a sensation as the public started asking questions: Like how did a woman from a small town in south America become involved with one of the most powerful men in the U.S.? How could such an influential politician come to be exposed in such a public way? How did adult film actors, Harry Reems and Jamie Gillis, get involved in trying to persuade Fanne Foxe to make an adult film at the height of her fame? And what happened to Fanne, the Argentine Firecracker behind one of the most public political scandals of the 20th century?
Isn’t it strange how in the world of politics, often everything that was old is somehow new again?
This podcast episode is 55 minutes long.
The musical playlist for this episode can be found on Spotify.
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Fanne Foxe – A Chronological Media History
August 1965: Early mention of Fanne Foxe in Baltimore
October 11, 1974: First mention of the Tidal Basin incident
October 11, 1974: First mention of the Tidal Basin incident
October 11, 1974: First mention of the Tidal Basin incident
October 11, 1974: The media investigate Fanne
October 12, 1974: The media investigate Fanne
November 8th 1974: A month after the Tidal Basin incident, Fanne appears on a chat show – with Richard Pryor
November 19 1974: In the wake of the Tidal Basin scandal, Fanne returns to the stage
December 2 1974: Much to everyone’s amazement, Wilbur appears on stage with Fanne
December 2 1974: Wilbur Mills announces his surprising plans for Fanne
December 2 1974: Wilbur Mills announces his surprising plans for Fanne
December 3 1974: Fanne stands by Wilbur but denies they are lovers
December 3 1974: The political fall-out following Wilbur’s on stage appearance with Fanne
December 4 1974: Political problems continue for Wilbur
December 4 1974: Wilbur’s political power is weakened by the scandal
December 4 1974: The effect of the scandal takes it toll on Wilbur
December 5 1974: The media focus their attention on Fanne
December 5 1974: The media reports a backlash against Fanne
December 5 1974: In the midst of media uproar, Fanne cancels a show
December 7 1974: The fascination with Fanne Foxe grows
December 7 1974: Fanne reveals her affair with Wilbur
December 7 1974: Fanne becomes ubiquitous in the newspapers
December 7 1974: Fanne’s notoriety results in higher appearance fees (Hello, Stormy Daniels…)
December 7 1974: Fanne’s notoriety results in higher appearance fees
December 10 1974: Wilbur loses the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee
December 10 1974: Wlibur continues to lose support
December 11 1974: Fanne’s press coverage is mixed
December 12 1974: When Fanne resumes her stripping, she is arrested for indecent exposure
December 12 1974: The reason for the arrest is an alleged ‘bottomless’ dance
December 13 1974: Coverage of Fanne’s arrest re-ignites the scandal
December 14 1974: Fanne announces that she will no longer dance nude
December 14 1974: Wilbur considers his political options while hospitalized
December 16 1974: Everyone has an opinion on Fanne Foxe
August 15 1975: Nine months after the scandal broke, Fanne reveals her affair with Wilbur
August 15 1975: Fanne says her marriage broke down because of her affair with Wilbur
August 15 1975: Fanne’s revelations mean the scandal remains center stage
September 3 1975: A few weeks later, in her tell-all autobiography, Fanne claims she had become pregnant with Wilbur’s child
September 3 1975: Her autobiography recounts how Fanne aborted Wilbur’s child
September 24 1975: The revelations enure that Fanne’s autobiography sells well
October 5 1975: Fanne embarks on a publicity campaign to promote her biography
October 5 1975: Fanne opens her family to the media for the first time
October 5 1975: In the midst of the publicity surrounding her book, Fanne appears in a film, ‘Posse From Heaven’
November 10 1975: A year after the scandal, Fanne declares her continued love for Wilbur
February 9 1976: Fanne’s feelings for Wilbur get in the way of his proposed comeback
January 6 1976: Fanne re-launches her career with a new night club act
February 12 1976: Despite her new act, Fanne runs into trouble when she turns up in Wilbur’s home state of Arkansas
1976: Fanne Foxe in Playboy
July 9 1976: An adult film, starring Fanne Foxe, is announced
February 3 1977: When the previously announced adult film comes to nothing, Fanne appears in a soft-core film called ‘Round The Naked Round’
March 8 1977: Fanne signs on as a columnist with Cheri magazine
March 10 1977: Fanne’s job with Cheri magazine involves reporting from the sex scene across the country
1977: Fanne Fox in Cheri magazine
August 21 1977: Wilbur continues to be rehabilitated
December 3 1977: The scandal continues to dog Wilbur
May 16 1978: Wilbur becomes involved in treatment for alcoholics
May 27 1979: By 1979, Fanne was in the “Whatever Happened To?” file
January 11 1982: One of Fanne’s last public appearances followed the birth of her daughter
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