A certain Mandy Rice-Davies is alleged to have coined the oft-quoted question during the infamous (but juicy) Profumo trial 50 years ago; and the man himself had already averred in Parliament that there had been ‘no impropriety whatsoever’. But the papers relating to the Denning Report which wound it all up are still not available for us to slaver over, presumably because there are still some Great and Good chaps around whose reputations might fade in the glare of exposure. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/18/simon-hoggart-sketch-profumo-scandal-lords .
It’s all very nostalgic for me too.
Y’see, John Profumo had been an alumnus of Brasenose College (which also boasts such luminaries as William Golding, Robert Runcie, John Mortimer, Jeffrey Archer, Michael Palin and David Cameron) and his rooms were on Staircase V, situated first left from the brown door in the corner. And in 1963, at the height of the scandal I was also lodged there, on the top floor. So droves of tourists and others were moved to seek out Profumo’s rooms and stare. One such American lady enquired how she could acquire ‘a lawn like that’, to be told she should start 500 years ealier.
Boadicea's Chariot 
The great, good, powerful, and inept seem almost universally to have their reputations tarnished with time.
My father was at school with Profumo. When the scandal broke, he wrote to him inviting him to come and stay in Rhodesia to escape the hullabaloo. Profumo politely declined.
Jack Profumo’s affair lasted only a couple of weeks. He was guilty of two errors, adultery, for which his wife forgave him (Oops, did I mention forgiveness. So sorry!) and for lying to the House for which he was forced to resign. He spent the rest of his life performing charitable works in the East End.
“Shortly after his resignation Profumo began to work as a volunteer cleaning toilets at Toynbee Hall, a charity based in the East End of London, and continued to work there for the rest of his life.[1] Peter Hitchens has written that Profumo “vanished into London’s East End for 40 years, doing quiet good works”.[15] Profumo “had to be persuaded to lay down his mop and lend a hand running the place”, eventually becoming Toynbee Hall’s chief fundraiser, and used his political skills and contacts to raise large sums of money. All this work was done as a volunteer, since Profumo was able to live on his inherited wealth. His wife, the actress Valerie Hobson, also devoted herself to charity until her death in 1998. In the eyes of most commentators, Profumo’s charity work redeemed his reputation. The social reform campaigner Lord Longford said he “felt more admiration [for Profumo] than [for] all the men I’ve known in my lifetime”.[citation needed]
Profumo was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1975, and received the honour at a Buckingham Palace ceremony from Queen Elizabeth II, signalling his return to respectability. In 1995, former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher invited him to her 70th birthday dinner, where he sat next to the Queen. He appeared only occasionally in public, particularly in his last years when he used a wheelchair. His last appearance was at the memorial service for Sir Edward Heath on 8 November 2005.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Profumo
I would not mind having a reputation as tarnished as his.
That’s all right then! 🙂
But seriously though, the fact that he was known to your family, was of ‘independent means’ and decided he could do good works instead of being gainfully employed does not excuse his public disgrace. I don’t consider that his re-entry into Society’s good books reflects well on Society.
I very much doubt those papers will ever be published if rumour has it correctly as to exactly who was involved but never cited.
Being of a suspicious nature I always assumed Profumo fell on his sword quite deliberately with the approbation of all concerned. Hence his somewhat curious and swift rehabilitation into a level of society for whom he had performed such a large favour.
Well, C Keeler obviously did the business very well and Profumo’s mates were obviously the recipients. It is great to be good, innit?
Rather ‘good to be great’ in this case??
‘Profumo’s mates’ were very well protected.
And always will be!
I’d have serious money on a bet that this will never see the light of day, ever!
Yes, Christina. When the old boys close ranks they’re tighter than a clam with lockjaw.