During the 1972 United States presidential election, content republished by William Loeb III in the Manchester Union Leader "depicted her smoking, drinking, cussing, and generally behaving in a way conservative New Hampshire voters might not think becoming".

Inspired by her time in Washington, D.C., Muskie co-wrote a novel, with Abigail McCarthy, in 1986 about corruption and back-door politics titled One Woman Lost.

[4][3][2] When she was eighteen years old, after graduating from high school, she was hired as a bookkeeper and saleswoman at an exclusive haute couture boutique in Waterville.

While modelling a dress in the boutique window, a local lawyer and military officer, Lieutenant Edmund Muskie, came into the shop and invited her to attend a gala event with him.

[3] In 1986, inspired by their time in Washington, Muskie and Abigail McCarthy co-wrote a novel about behind-the-scenes power struggles in American politics titled One Woman Lost.

Loeb also called into the question the character of Jane Muskie,[1] accusing her of telling dirty jokes and smoking cigarettes,[1] and using colorful language during his campaign, per an interview reprinted from the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek.

[5] During the interview, she had referred to liquor as "booze", called her husband "Big Daddy", and suggested telling "dirty jokes" to pass the time.

"[10][3] The incident derailed Muskie's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, due to a supposed display of emotion which was seen unfit for a president at the time.