Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Harold Donohue Statement
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Harold Donohue Statement
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 - Representative Harold Donohue (D - Massachusetts) Statement Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Harold Donohue Statement
Chairman Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey), I recognize the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Donohue. Representative Harold Donohue (D - Massachusetts). Thank you Mr. Chairman. Pursuant to the procedural resolutions which this committee adopted yesterday, I move that the committee report to the House a resolution; together with Articles of Impeachment, impeaching Richard M Nixon, President of the United States. Now copy of this resolution is at the clerk s desk. And I understand a copy is also before each member.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Harold Donohue Statement
Chairman Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey), I recognize the gentlemen from Massachusetts for the purpose of general debate on his resolution where not to exceed fifteen minutes and every other member of the committee will be recognized for purposes of debate not to exceed fifteen minutes following Mr. Donohue s presentation. Mr. Donohue. Representative Harold Donohue (D - Massachusetts). Thank you again Mr. Chairman. This historic debate and the motion I have just offered to this Committee have their roots in the most fundamental precept of free men that no individual is above the law. On July 20, 1787, the Constitutional convention had before it the great question, Shall the executive be removable on impeachment? Mr. Governor Morris, a delegate to that convention, spoke out forcibly in opposition. He wanted no impeachment clause in the draft of our Constitution, but he listened intently. At first, Benjamin Franklin and then James Madison argued on behalf of such a clause. And finally, just before the question was voted, Mr. Governor Morris announced that his opinion had been changed by the arguments presented in debate. The impeachment clause was adopted by the convention and became Section Four of Article Two of the Constitution of the United States. And the solo power of impeachment was vested in the House of Representatives under Article One Section Two of the Constitution.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Harold Donohue Statement
Now pursuant to that Constitutional power, House resolution 803 as stated by our distinguished Chairman was adopted by the House of Representatives on February 6 by a vote of 410 to 4. That that resolution directed this Committee to investigate fully and completely whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional authority to impeach the President of the United States. For the past several months as it has also been stated this Committee has been continuously engaged in the careful conduct of this presidential impeachment inquiry. Under the absolute neutral leadership, I believe that our Chairman has well established its overriding motivation of honesty, decency, thoroughness and objectivity to the satisfaction of the great majority of the American citizens.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Harold Donohue Statement
Now in truth there were and there are no positive material instruments available to us such as those by which we can measure a precise distance or pronounce the exact time of day to guarantee the errorless performance of this duty. The human means through which we must try to make the right measurement of conduct that is required in this historical task exists only in the individual minds and consciences of each of the committee members. These are the basic resources by which each determines the substance and culpability of and in the evidence related to the several allegations that in the course of the conduct of his official office President Richard M Nixon engaged in certain activities designed to obstruct justice, to unlawfully invade the Constitutional rights of private citizens, to refuse compliance with the dually authorized and properly served subpoenas of a committee of the Congress, to misuse executive agencies for personal and political benefit, and that President Richard M Nixon, in other and diverse ways failed to fulfill his constitutional obligations to insure the faithful execution of our laws.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Harold Donohue Statement
Now the awesome constitutional duty of each member of this committee is to make an impartial determination as to whether or not the evidence before us warrants a reasonable judgment that Richard M Nixon, as President, has seriously, gravely, purposefully and persistently abused and misused the power entrusted in him by the People of these United States.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Harold Donohue Statement
Mr. Chairman, in my conviction, the hour for this decision has arrived. To this end, I believe the time has come to report to the House such resolutions, articles of impeachment or other recommendations as we deem proper on these enormous matters. I have carefully observed the witnesses appeared before this committee, heard their testimony, listen to the summations of council on both sides and I have fully studied all of the evidence. Mr. Chairman, I am most willing to listen to any further debate that may develop on the impeachment articles. I am prepared to vote on this momentous question before us and I can but simply say this. My vote will be consciously cast in what I most sincerely believe is in the best interest of our country. I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Chairman.