The Monkey Business Affair: Unraveling Gary Hart's Boat Name

Gary Hart was a leading Democratic presidential candidate in 1988 until rumours surfaced of an affair with a woman named Donna Rice. The affair, along with a photo of the two of them on a yacht called Monkey Business, ended his candidacy. The yacht was an 83-foot (25-metre) Broward Marine motor yacht, custom-built for the Turnberry Isle Resort in southern Florida.

The name of Gary Hart's boat was Monkey Business

Hart, a former US senator, was the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 1988 election when rumours began to circulate about his supposed extramarital affairs. In an interview with the New York Times, published on May 3, 1987, Hart challenged the media, saying: "They should follow me around... They'll be very bored."

However, the media did not get bored. Just five days after issuing his challenge, Hart withdrew as a candidate after a cruise on the Monkey Business yacht became public knowledge. The 83-foot (25-metre) Broward Marine motor yacht was custom-built for the Turnberry Isle Resort in southern Florida. It had an aluminium hull, cabins with rosewood panelling, and amenities including a hot tub and a full bar.

In March 1987, the yacht was rented by William C. Broadhurst, a Louisiana lawyer and lobbyist, who, along with Hart, sailed it to Bimini for an overnight trip with two women, one of whom was Donna Rice. After Hart entered the presidential race, the issue of whether he was having an affair with Rice was raised in the press.

On May 3, 1987, the Miami Herald published a story with the headline, "Miami Woman Is Linked to Hart". This was followed by a photograph in the National Enquirer, which was then reprinted in newspapers worldwide, showing Rice sitting in Hart's lap with Hart wearing a Monkey Business T-shirt.

The scandal not only ended Hart's presidential bid but also changed the way the media covered politics. It demonstrated the increasing public interest in the private lives of politicians and the role of the media in holding them accountable.

The boat was an 83-foot yacht

The boat at the centre of the Gary Hart scandal was an 83-foot yacht. The vessel, named Monkey Business, was custom-built for the Turnberry Isle Resort Marina in southern Florida. It was constructed by Broward Marine and featured an aluminium hull, cabins with rosewood panelling, a hot tub, and a full bar.

The yacht was known for hosting celebrity guests, including Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Nicholson, and Julio Iglesias. In March 1987, it was rented by William C. Broadhurst, a Louisiana lawyer and lobbyist, who, along with former US senator and Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart, sailed to Bimini with two women, one of whom was Donna Rice.

The trip sparked rumours of an extramarital affair between Hart and Rice, which, along with a photograph of the pair on the yacht, led to Hart's withdrawal from the 1988 presidential race. The infamous Monkey Business played a pivotal role in the scandal, with its name adding a layer of intrigue to the incident.

The yacht's notoriety extended beyond the political scandal, even making an appearance in the 1983 film Smokey and the Bandit Part 3. The boat's involvement in the Gary Hart incident was later depicted in the 2018 film The Front Runner, which retold the story of Hart's rise and fall in the political arena.

The boat was owned by Donald Soffer and Eddie Lewis

The boat at the centre of Gary Hart's downfall was called Monkey Business. It was an 83-foot (25-metre) Broward Marine motor yacht, custom-built for the Turnberry Isle Resort Marina in southern Florida. The yacht had an aluminium hull, cabins with rosewood panelling, and amenities including a hot tub and a full bar.

In March 1987, Monkey Business was owned by developers Donald Soffer and Eddie Lewis. It was rented by William C. Broadhurst, a Louisiana lawyer and lobbyist, who, along with former US senator Gary Hart, sailed it to Bimini for an overnight trip with two women, one of whom was Donna Rice.

At the time, Hart was the leading candidate for the 1988 Democratic nomination for President of the United States. The issue of whether he was having an affair with Rice was soon raised in the press, and rumours began to circulate about Hart's supposed extramarital affairs. This ultimately led to Hart's withdrawal from the race.

The boat's name, Monkey Business, did not help matters. As talk show host Johnny Carson commented: "You're running for the highest office in the land, you're gonna take a little trip to Bimini with a couple of ladies and you're gonna go down and charter a boat. Now, of all the boat names there are – like Mother or Mother Teresa – you hire a boat called Monkey Business? That’s not good thinking."

Gary Hart sailed with Donna Rice

In March 1987, Gary Hart, the leading Democratic presidential candidate for the 1988 election, joined an overnight cruise to the island of Bimini, along with a friend, William C. Broadhurst, a Louisiana lawyer and lobbyist. On this trip, Hart was introduced to 29-year-old model and pharmaceutical rep, Donna Rice.

What happened on the yacht remains unknown, but the fallout from the trip was significant. Acting on an anonymous tip-off, a journalist for the Miami Herald travelled to Washington, D.C., where he witnessed Rice visiting Hart's house late on a Friday night. Within a week, Hart had suspended his campaign amid a torrent of innuendo and media scrutiny.

The name of the boat, Monkey Business, only added fuel to the fire. A photo soon emerged of Rice sitting on Hart's lap, with Hart wearing a "Monkey Business Crew" T-shirt. This, along with the rumours of an affair, led to Hart withdrawing his nomination.

The media coverage of the alleged affair was widespread and intense. Hart's political career never recovered, and he withdrew from the race a second time after winning only 4% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary in February 1988.

The scandal ended Hart's presidential campaign

The scandal that ended Gary Hart's presidential campaign began with rumours of his infidelity. In May 1987, the former senator and then-candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 1988 US presidential election was accused of having an affair with a young woman named Donna Rice.

Rice was spotted leaving Hart's Washington, D.C. townhouse, and the pair were photographed together, with Rice sitting on Hart's lap as he wore a t-shirt bearing the name of a yacht, 'Monkey Business'. The yacht was also the setting for an overnight trip the pair had taken to Bimini, along with two other people, a few months prior.

Hart had previously challenged the media to "follow [him] around", claiming that they would be "very bored". However, the media did follow him, and their stakeout of his townhouse led to the publication of a major story in the Miami Herald on May 3, 1987, with the headline "Miami Woman Is Linked to Hart".

Five days after issuing his challenge to the media, on May 8, 1987, Hart withdrew as a candidate. He re-entered the race in December 1987 but withdrew for a second and final time after winning just 4% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary in February 1988.

The scandal centred on Hart's extramarital affair, but it also raised questions about his fundamental character and whether he was fit to be president. The scandal prompted a debate about the role of the media in politics and the importance of evaluating the character of presidential candidates.

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