Elizabeth Ray

Elizabeth Ray (born Betty Lou Ray on May 14, 1943, in Marshall, North Carolina [1]) was the central figure in a much-publicized sex scandal in 1976 that ended the career of U.S. Rep. Wayne Hays (D-Ohio).

Elizabeth Ray
Born
Betty Lou Ray

(1943-05-14) May 14, 1943
Marshall, North Carolina
For the officer in the United States Army, see Elizabeth Ann Ray.

The Washington Post reported that Ray had been on the payroll of a committee run by Hays for two years as a clerk-secretary. During that time, she admitted, her actual job duties were providing Congressman Hays sexual favors: "I can't type, I can't file, I can't even answer the phone."[2] Ray, who had won the title of Miss Virginia 1975 in a beauty contest, says she worked briefly as a stewardess, waitress and car rental clerk before beginning work on the Hill in the summer of 1972. Ray also admitted having sex with married Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska) at his houseboat in August 1972. According to Ray, the meeting was arranged by her then-boss Rep. Kenneth J. Gray (D-Illinois) in exchange for Gravel's support of a bill Gray was pushing.[3][4][5] Both Gravel and Gray denied the accusations and a federal investigation ended with no charges being filed. Decades later, Gravel admitted having sex with Ray, but continued to maintain that it was not in exchange for his vote.[6]

After the Hays scandal broke, a book appeared in her name, titled The Washington Fringe Benefit. She later posed for Playboy several times and tried acting and stand-up comedy. However, these efforts did not develop into a career and she faded back into obscurity.[7]

See also

References
  1. Brainy History
  2. Clark, Marion; Maxa, Rudy (May 23, 1976). "Closed Session Romance on the Hill". Washington Post. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  3. Crewdson, John M. (June 12, 1976). "U.S. Studies Charge of Sex‐for‐Vote Bid". The New York Times. pp. 1, 19. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  4. "Miss Ray Said to Link Tryst to Building Project". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 13, 1976. p. 26, § 1. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  5. Oelsner, Lesley (June 14, 1976). "Rep. Howe Held on Sex Charge in Utah; Gravel Denies Sex on Boat With Miss Ray". The New York Times. pp. 1, 23. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  6. Gravel, Mike; Lauria, Joe (2008). A Political Odyssey: The Rise of American Militarism and One Man's Fight to Stop It. New York: Seven Stories Press. p. 196. ISBN 9781583228265. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  7. IMDB
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