Hart, Gary (1936—)

Gary W. Hart is a former two-term senator from Colorado and was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 1984 and 1988. Although he was the frontrunner going into the 1988 Democratic primaries, he may be best remembered for an act of hubris. Responding to rumors that he was having an extramarital affair, he dared the press to follow him around. Reporters for the Miami Herald took up his challenge and caught his mistress, Donna Rice, leaving Hart's residence one evening. Hart initially fought back. But a photo eventually surfaced showing Rice sitting on Hart's lap on a yacht aptly named Monkey Business. The photo story broke in early May 1987, causing Hart to drop out of the race. He briefly returned to ...