Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 25, 1974
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 25, 1974
[00.25.33] LEHRER calls on Caroline LEWIS at the Rayburn Office Building [LEWIS shown on projection in studio beside LEHRER] LEWIS remarks that the intensity of feeling has increased, and a great degree of respect for the Constitution was expressed, and that no Representative seemed to really want to be in the position of making a decision. Points to a highlight of the day as Rep BUTLER, R-VA, giving an impassioned speech in favor of impeachment, even though conceding that it might hurt his re-election efforts. [cut to DUKE and LEHRER in studio] LEHRER introduces guest lega analysts VAN ALSTYNE and KRAMER KRAMER comments that most side issues and allegatins have fallen away to leave as the core of the ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT the charges of OBSTRUCTIN OF JUSTICE and ABUSE OF POWER, with the emphasis on the Constitution being so strong among almost all speakers. VAN ALSTYNE remarks that there was more agreement on the committee than he thought about the issues of burden of proof, and standards of evidence, and that a majority seemed to feel that impeachment required at least a taint of criminality, if not provable statutory criminal offenses. Agrees on a professional basis with those conclusions. Says that the side issues of Tax Fraud, the ITT affair, Dairy Price Bribery, and the bombing of Cambodia, have fallen aside. DUKE thanks guests, and invites viewers to view the next days proceedings. signs off. [title screen--voiceover credits sponsoring organizations--NPACT ID--PBS network ID] [00.30.57--TAPE OUT]