Congressional Alchemy

A 1979 amendment to federal election laws allowed members of Congress who were elected before 1980 and left office before 1994 to convert unused campaign donations to personal use. All told, retiring lawmakers have received a $10.5 million windfall. A partial accounting:

Ex-Congressman

Representative Silvio Conte (R-Mass.)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

A $40,000 tombstone (Conte died in office in 1991)

Ex-Congressman

Representative John J. Rhodes (D-Ariz.; left office 1983)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

Club memberships; a portrait of himself in oils

Ex-Congressman

Senator Dan Quayle (R-Ind.; left office 1989)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

A $50,000 donation to the Dan Quayle Commemorative Foundation

Ex-Congressman

Representative David Stockman (R-Mich.; left office 1981)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

Catering; limousines; clown rental

Ex-Congressman

Representative Joseph M. Gaydos (D-Pa.; left office 1993)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

$949 worth of hams for "political distribution"

Ex-Congressman

Representative L.H. Fountain (D-N.C.; left office 1983)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

A new Cadillac

Ex-Congressman

Representative William Lehman (D-Fla.; left office 1993)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

Personal trainer and pool-service fees

Ex-Congressman

Representative Mike Espy (D-Miss.; left office 1993)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

$1,325 worth of formal wear for the Clinton Inauguration

Ex-Congressman

Senator Al Gore (D-Tenn.; left office 1993)

What His Campaign Donations Bought

$8,926 for catering and receptions; $3,540 for computer services