Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 26, 1974 (1/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 26, 1974 (1/2)
[00.51.20] *See information in RIGHTS field before using* [LEWIS with Rep. WALDIE] LEWIS asks WALDIE about the PRO-NIXON charge that the PRO-IMPEACHMENT side is denying NIXON due process by withholding the exact charges from him until his trial. WALDIE says it's not true, NIXON'S ATTORNEY has been present for all of the committee's proceedings, a report based on the allegaitons will go both to the President and the House, which will be highly specific. The argument is disingenuous. LEWIS says that many people wonder why Chairman RODINO would allow such tactics and behavior on his committee. WALDIE says that RODINO is a very fair man and doesn't want to seem partisan or heavyhanded. The minority is thus able to abuse the chair's tolerance. He supports the Chair's style of conducting the hearings. LEWIS asks whether this is going to turn into a war of attrition WALDIE says that reason wil sooner than later win out, and the debate should return to the evidence tomorrow [LEHRER in studio, screen shows members arriving at committee bench] LEHRER says they are waiting for the meeting to start, says that he is glad for DUKE to have convinced him to scale back his conviction that an ARTICLE would be drafted by the end of the night to :"may". Laughs all around. It looks like there will be a struggle. DUKE says that in his experience as a Capitol reporter, a bill took three months of debate in committee before it could be sent to the floor for a vote. Don't be sure that the resolution will be easy. DUKE asks the guests if they think the committee has proceeded in a proper way and done a good job, considering that no impeachment has been considered since 1936. VAN ALSTYNE says that it's academically chic to criticize Congress, but that the committee has been very professional, starting with the Chair's evenhandedness. Also, the character of counsel is shown to be fine. DIAMOND says that he is a fan of Congress, and that most criticisms of "do-nothing" stem from the Congress doing something contrary to the wishes of the observer. Says the proceedings are starting to reflect constituencies' wishes, etd. DUKE asks if it is true that 19th C. Congresses were more forceful and active, that many great laws once originated in Congress, but now Congress waits for the President's recommendations? DIAMOND says the problem is the great increase in government at all levels, which are actually a juncture of Congress and the Executive, giving Congress an interpenetration into Executive functions. LEHRER ASKS about the effect of TELEVISION on the committee. VAN ALSTYNE says there are some obvious effects, that some of the debate is grandstanding and repetitious, but a feedback is important, in terms of opinion, and that it is therefore proper, overall DUKE mentions that NIXON claimed not to have been watching, only out of force of habit. [01.03.53--TAPE OUT] p