Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, May 9, 1974
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, May 9, 1974
[00.34.23] McCLORY states that continued noncompliance would be "Very Prejudicial" to the President, DUKE thanks both Representatives, returns to LEHRER. LEHRER [seated at desk, Capitol Projection over shoulder] says that the "Premiere" of the commitee was not the only news on the Watergate front of the day, other incidents, mostly from the REPUBLICAN Side, were felt as the controversy over NIXON'S transcripts grew more intense. First, VP Gerald FORD [projected image of Ford headshot] in a speech in Illinois said that "A grave situation had been created...." etc. by revelations of corruption and malfeasance, resulting in reduced public confidence in the government. Second, in Washington, the 3rd ranking REPUBLICAN in the House, said that the transcripts showed NIXON to be deeply involved, leaving only two options: [cut to grainy shot of Anderson speaking to a interviewer's microphone] Anderson says "The President is confronted with two alternatives today, one is resignation and the other is the conclusion of the impeachment proceedings" Anderson says he doesn't "demand" that NIXON resign, but that he suggests that the release of the transcripts has produced such a shock as to create a "Moral Crisis", that people have no confidence in the Presidency. At the moment, resignation seems most prudent. LEHRER continues, says that #1 REPUBLICAN in house, John RHODES of Arizona, told reporters that at that point, he would "accept" NIXON's resignation. Emphasis that he did not "recommend" that course. Also, Inerior Secretary Rogers MORTON spoke on issue of resignation and crisis, saying it was "deplorable" LEHRER notes that the country's most Pro-NIXON paper, the Chicago TRIBUNE, reversed itself to call for NIXON'S resignation. [projection of glum-looking b/w headshot of NIXON] LEHRER introduces columnist Robert NOVAK for an overview of the NIXON situation with DUKE. DUKE says two things are clear: 1st, the release of the NIXON TRANSCRIPTS has not helped but hurt the Pres. 2nd, over past ten days, REPUBLICANS are moving away from PRESIDENT. DUKE asks NOVAK if the withdrawal of party support is going to accelerate now. NOVAK says yes, last 48 hours have been terrible for NIXON, and that once REPUBLICAN congressmen realized that the TRANSCRIPTS were even worse than predicted, a stampede mentality set in, triggered by Senator SCOTT'S assertion of BETRAYAL by the White House. NOVAK says that this desertion has increased the likelihood of impeachment and has caused White House strategy to change substantially. NOVAK gave credit to NIXON's defensive TV speech, saying the President was trying to go "over the heads" of CONGRESS to reach people, but now that the details are known, the trust is gone, and that James St.CLAIR's ability as a lawyer is a key variable in how NIXON will fare. DUKE asks if the release of the transcripts is hurting NIXON by virtue of constituents being outraged by the content and pressuring their representatives to distance themselves from the President. NOVAK says he thought the White House made a critical error in thinking that the general public would not read the details of the published transcripts, which turned out to be hot sellers at bookstores and everyone seems to be reading it in some form. LEHRER asks what the possibilities are with the big REPUBLICAN defections, that party leadership might ask NIXON to resign for the good of the party NOVAK says that would be a drastic scenario, and that in his opinion, "NIXON has no intention of resigning today, whether he will tomorrow, I don't know", it is likely that NIXON will stick around until a full vote of the House is made, and make a decision based on the results of such a vote. DUKE asks if NIXON has fallen into a state of unreality or fantasy. NOVAK says "Absolutely", and that he had always considered Nixon a bad politician in the sense of broad strategy with a bad sense of public sentiment. NOVAK cites the statements of NIXON, THROUGH WHITE HOUSE STAFF that the released tapes would be "exculpatory" and have many critics "eating crow". Now, it is more a question of whether NIXON's opponents can present a winning case. DUKE says that it is obvous to him that the chances of impeacment are greater without REPUBLICAN support in congress for NIXON. NOVAK concurs. LEHRER thanks guests, signs off [full screen of capitol dome image--NPACT letters on black screen--PBS network ID.] [00.45.47--tape out]