Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Statement of Don Edward
Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Statement of Don Edward
Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 1974 Statement of Representative Don Edward (D California) Mr. CHAIRMAN. I recognize the gentleman from California, Mr. Edwards, for purposes of debate, only, and not to exceed 15 minutes. Mr. Edwards. Mr. EDWARDS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I always listen with keen interest to our eloquent colleague from New Jersey. I think the fact with regard to the leaks are, of course, unfortunate, but I don't think, it is really accurate to say that the leaks came all from this side. It has been made very clear by the press and Others that the faucet dripped from both taps, the hot and the cold. Insofar as the evidence that was released that my friend Mr. Sandman criticized, I voted against that too, but I think it should be pointed out that the President's counsel, Mr. St. Clair was here. He was a part of all of these proceedings, and be recommended very strongly To the committee that this evidence be released. Mr. Chairman, there's been Some mention by some of our colleagues tonight regarding the Supreme Court decision and I think that we should remember that the Supreme Court -was very explicit in the decision. The evidence that will be released to Mr. Jaworski has only deal with the criminal trials that will take place. It will take several months perhaps for the production and the examination and the deciphering of those tapes, and then only the portions relevant to the trials will be given to the Special Prosecutor. The remainder will be sealed and returned to the White House. Our needs with regard to this large impeachment inquiry are much wider. Our needs are much wider in scope than those of the Special Prosecutor and in the criminal case. And incidentally our subpenas still remain in effect, and we invite the White House) the President, to honor those subpoenas. And it certainly would make our job a great deal easier. And I think the President should be reminded that the Supreme rejected its claim of executive privilege. Mr. Chairman, this is one member who thinks that the welfare of the Country dictates that we proceed deliberately, but with due speed in this undertaking that has been assigned to us by the full House Of Representatives. And I would hope that the committee does not consider any delay because of the Supreme Court decision. Mr. Chairman, you and I and our 36 colleagues, and our splendid staff, have worked here in room 2141 Rayburn for many weeks. We have learned much about the President and all of the President's men and, indeed, quite a lot about each other. More importantly I think, we have learned the lesson, and we are indebted substantially to Mr. Doar, and and Mr. Jenner, and Mr. Cates and the fine members of the staff for this relearning process. This is a lesson we were all taught in school and by our parents, and which we in turn tried to pass on to our children, and it has to do with the value and the beauty of our Constitution and the understanding that representative government, if it is going to work, requires that we all respect and obey the Constitution. And that means all 220 million of us. It is the compact have with each other that enables us to live together, in peace, to pursue happiness in raising our children, and enjoying our friends. It requires that we treat one another with decency and respect when we are at work and when we are at school. It is the cement that holds us together as a decent and humane society. The President of the United States is also a citizen, just like rest of us, [01.04.02--TAPE OUT]