William Breckinridge Breach of Promise Trial: 1894

The congressman went back to Kentucky to run for reelection, but he was in trouble. In his home state and across the nation, newspapers, civic organizations, and religious groups denounced him. Breckinridge was called a "rapist," a "lust fiend," and a "wild beast in search of prey." But most importantly, the trial galvanized the suffrage movement in Kentucky. As one local paper reported, "Women who never took the slightest interest in politics in their lives have become active politicians." Thousands of ladies attended protest meetings, and resolutions were adopted calling for the congressman's defeat. Businesses that supported Breckinridge were boycotted and parents sent letters to newspapers warning the congressman's young supporters that they could no longer date their daughters.

Breckinridge pleaded for forgiveness. "I have sinned and I repent in sackcloth and ashes." And he still had many friends and supporters. Pollard predicted that the congressman would be reelected and she was nearly right; when the ballots were counted, he lost by only 255 votes out of 19,000 cast. Breckinridge never held public office again.