Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 26, 1974 (2/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 26, 1974 (2/2)
[01.03.37] *See information in RIGHTS field before using* [DUKE AND LEHRER in studio, discussing the impact of TV on hearings] DIAMOND states that there is proof that televising does affect the process, he can't say for good or ill, but the chance to watch the proceedings makes him feel good about the television coverage. As for the public, he wonders whether the result is info overload for the public, grandstanding by the members, or public education. VAN ALSTYNE says he favors televising the next proceedings, that TV tends more to induce thoughtfulness in the members. LEHRER asks about the need for the hearing to be seen as fair to be legitimate. DIAMOND says that this dynamic is an important check on the committee LEHRER asks DUKE for a comparison of televised/nontelevised hearings. Says that the Senate has always favored and welcomed television, the House has been less so, possibly for fear of grandstanding. [screen shows LEWIS with Rep. WIGGINS at Capitol] LEWIS asks WIGGINS about his plans for the night, to which he says "endure". Seriously, he will seek to introduce a motion to strike, for the purpose of forcing the Pro-Impeachment side to deliver some specifics on the charges LEWIS says that surely after all this time WIGGINS already knows the facts. Isn't it really a delay effort? WIGGINS denies this, claims there are serious legal questions, i.e. there must be a "policy" of the President that can be documented before the acts of others can be used against the President. LEWIS asks whether all of this won't be in the report? WIGGINS says that they don't want to vote on concepts and delegate the task of providing facts to staff. LEWIS says he doesn't have the votes, what does he expect to gain? WIGGINS says he wants to make some of the knee-jerk impeachment DEMOCRATS reflect on the charges. [LEHRER in studio] LEHRER reminds that the issue at hand is the substitute ARTICLE charging OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE written by Rep. PAUL SARBANES [clip of SARBANES defending his article against the charge of nonspecificity, saying that NIXON'S counsel has been there all along, the report will supplement the charges in detail, and that NIXON is not on trial until the matter reaches the Senate.] [LEHRER in studio] [cut RODINO at chair, speaking with Rep. RAILSBACK, conferring--shot of REPUBLICAN MEMBERS] [01.16.00] h