Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 - Representative Robert Kastenmeier (D - Wisconsin) Statement Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
Chairman Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). I recognize the gentlemen from Wisconsin, Mr. Kastenmeier for purposes of general debate only not to exceed fifteen minutes. Representative Robert Kastenmeier (D - Wisconsin). Thank you Mr. Chairman. For the last, virtually eight months been engaged in this quest for facts, evidence and for truth and up till now the American people now have been very patient. And Mr. Chairman I want to commend you for stating tonight that we will proceed inexorably to a conclusion of these deliberations. Notwithstanding the Supreme Court s decision for I do not believe the Supreme Court decision will have or should have any immediate effect on our committee s deliberations. It would have been helpful to have this evidence before but we do not; we are prepared to accept the moment of truth and hopefully Mr. Chairman perhaps we can conclude this very week.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
This being as far as the deliberation of the committee for many months is concerned a concluding episode. I would like to take this opportunity to pay my respects to our professional staff. I am proud to claim that John Doer and Richard Cates are from my home state of Wisconsin. And as well I would like to pay my respects to Mr. Jenner from the neighboring state of Illinois. These and others who have so ably counseled us these past months I m sure long after this matter has been put to rest that we are concluding in committee this week, can go to bed nights secure in the knowledge that they have been faithful to their conscience and to their country. Indeed if those legal advisors to the President in former times had such a view the President this proceeding and other proceedings might not have been necessary.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
I would also say that as the general debate progresses and as the articles of impeachment are offered and debated the specifics of the case against the President hopefully will emerge. But even then in the several days and under the procedural limitations we cannot hope to treat very much of the mass of evidence we have considered over these many months. However, the public is aware that these materials are now released publically. Television, radio, newspapers, and news magazines have attempted to communicate what this mass evidence means and while we here will have but a few hours of your attention in terms of the discussion of the implications of it, the public release of the materials should help the public even more.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
Mr. Chairman we have labored long and hard in effort for it to be fair to the President and to those among us who must sit in judgment but may not share common views. We now decide how to vote for or against impeachment. It is not our duty to attempt to assess whether Mr. Nixon committed common crimes. That is a determination which must ultimately rest elsewhere. In my own case, my decision has been made. I have concluded after careful consideration of all the evidence that President Nixon must be impeached and removed from office. I say this, whatever the record of the administration may be in other fields notwithstanding. This decision was not reached lightly nor was it made out of personal animosity towards the President. The process of impeachment is of drastic undertaking not only for the congress but for the country and cannot be taken causally. I would also have as I have thought many times Mr. Nixon were the leader of my party, if instead Mr. Nixon were instead Mr. Johnson or Mr. Kennedy and had been charged with same offenses could I freely and with as much certainty come to the same conclusion. I have to answer yes.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
I believe clear and compelling evidence does exist and leads inescapably to only one conclusion. President Nixon s conduct in office is a case history in the abuse of presidential power. The abuses documented by the evidence gathered by this committee are numerous. And will be discussed here and after as they have in part been discussed before. I hope too that some of the issues and charges which may not originally be in articles before us, whether they are on the bombing of Cambodia, or the presidential impoundment, be fully considered. And whether or not they constitute any final articles approved by this committee, they ought to be considered as a pattern of a whole in terms of presidential disregard for truth and for law.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
Mr. Chairman it is important to draw clear distinction between preserving the man and preserving the office. Mr. Nixon has consistently argued that this fight against the committee and the courts is designed to save the office. In fact I would argue this fight is designed to save one person, Mr. Nixon. Impeachment is the one way in which the American people can say to themselves that they care enough their institutions, their own freedom and their own claim to self government, their own national honor to purge from the Presidency anyone who s dishonored that office. This power of impeachment is not intended to obstruct or weaken the office of the Presidency. It is intended as a final remedy against executive excess, not to protect the Congress against the President, but the people against the abuse of power of a chief executive. And it is the obligation of the Congress to defend democratic society against a chief executive who might be corrupt.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
Justice Brandice warned Americans of dangers of official illegality. In the government of laws, he wrote, existence of the government will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously. Our government is the potent and omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If government because a law breaker it breeds contempt for the law. It invites every man to become a law unto himself. It invites anarchy.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
Mr. Chairman, in my view Richard Nixon has shown disrespect for the citizens of this nation and has violated their Constitution and their laws, engaging in official wrong doing. Society through its elected representatives condemns this conduct. Otherwise, we will cease to have a government of laws. I will therefore vote for impeachment of Richard M Nixon and I do this with the belief that the House of Representatives will agree in that his trial in the Senate will result in his conviction and removal from office. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Robert Kastenmeier Statement
Chairman Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). The Chair is going to be compelled to recess for a period of time. The Chair will state that the meeting will resume at the call of the Chair but it is necessary that we do recess for a period of time.