Here's hoping that replacing Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate won't bring quite the scandal that occurred the only other time a Colorado senator was picked for interior secretary.

In April 1882, President Chester Arthur named Henry Teller, Colorado's first senator, to head the Interior Department.

The legislature, which in those days made all U.S. Senate appointments, wrangled over which tycoon to name. Flamboyant silver king Horace Tabor of Leadvillle wanted it, but so did Pueblo mining magnate Thomas Bowen.

Lawmakers instead named Pueblo attorney George Chilcott to the seat as a compromise placeholder until the term's end in March.

In the midst of the ensuing campaign, Tabor's secret affair with the lovely Elizabeth "Baby Doe" McCourt made its way into the public eye, complete with news of his bogus divorce from his long-suffering wife Augusta.

The fallout from the scandal ruined Tabor's chance to be selected over Bowen for the upcoming full Senate term. But as a consolation prize, the legislature leaned on Chilcott to resign on Jan. 27, 1883. That permitted lawmakers to put Tabor in the Senate until the term ended March 3.

The next day, Bowen took the oath for a full six-year term.

But Tabor used his brief month in office to maximum advantage. He arranged a new wedding to Baby Doe in Washington's Willard Hotel, attended by President Arthur and other dignitaries. Teller himself was said to be disgusted by the scandal and his wife refused to attend.