Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (2/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (2/2)
[01.15.35] [members stand to leave for HOUSE vote, LEHRER v.o.] LEHRER describes the upcoming debate on the ABUSE OF POWER article as an issue of NARROWING the charge. [dissolve-- committee room after the recess] The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. At the time the committee recessed, the opponents of the, amendment of the gentleman from California had consumed 18 minutes, and had 2 minutes left and the proponents of the gentleman's amendment had consumed 15 minutes and have 5 minutes left. I will recognize now the gentleman from--Mr. Mayne. Mr. MAYNE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I must speak in opposition to the amendment of my friend from California because I certainly do not want to do anything to dilute or limit in any way whatever responsibility the President may have for the very outrageous attempts to use the Internal Revenue Service for political purposes. I consider the evidence shows that the approaches that were made by Mr. Dean and Mr. Ehrlichman to Commissioner Randolph Thrower and Commissioner Johnnie Walters to be absolutely indefensible. Our tax collection system in this country is based on a voluntary contributions basis, with contribution assessed and paid by people on a voluntary basis and it will certainly be destroyed if people cannot have confidence that it is not used to reward political friends and to harass political opponents. I think that not only does the President have a responsibility not to directly approve such indefensible action but he has ,I responsibility not to ratify it after it has occurred and has a responsibility over and above that to have enough idea of what is going on in his administration to be very sure that this kind of political prostitution of Internal Revenue Service does not occur. There is nothing in this record which to me Is more disappointing or more cause for concern of the continuation of free government than in the way in which this Internal Revenue Service was attempted to be used for this base purpose. The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman has expired. All time for those in opposition has expired. I recognize-is there anyone seeking recognition in support of the amendment? Mr. SMITH. Mr. Chairman? The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Smith. Mr. SMITH. I would like to yield my time to the gentleman from California if he wishes some more. Mr. WIGGINS. I appreciate that courtesy, Mr. Smith, but it is not my intention to use any more time. I think the case has been made. Mr. SMITH. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. The question occurs now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California. All those in favor of the amendment please signify by saying aye. [Chorus of "ayes."] The CHAIRMAN. All those opposed? [Chorus of "noes."] The CHAIRMAN. The, noes appear to have it. Mr. SANDMAN. On that I demand the yeas and nays. The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from New Jersey demands the yeas and nays. The, clerk will call the roll. All those in favor of the amendment of the gentleman from California please signify by saying aye. All those opposed, no. The clerk will call the roll. The CLERK. Mr. Donohue. Mr. DONOHUE. -No. The CLERK. -Mr. Brooks. Mr. BROOKS. NO, The CLERK. -Mr. Kastenmeier. -Mr. KASTENEMEIER. No. The CLERK. Mr. Edwards. Mr. EDWARDS. NO. The CLERK. Mr. Hungate. Mr. HUNGATE. NO.. The CLERK. Mr. Conyers. Mr. CONYERS. NO. The CLERK. Mr. Eilberg. Mr. EILBERG. No. The CLERK. Mr. Waldie. Mr. WALDIE. No. The CLERK. Mr. Flowers. Mr. FLOWERS. No. The CLERK. Mr. Mann. Mr. MANN. NO. The CLERK. Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. SARBANES. NO. The CLERK. Mr. Seiberling. Mr. SEIBERLING. NO. The, CLERK. Mr. Danielson. Mr. DANIELSON. NO. The CLERK, Mr. Drinan. Mr. DRINAN. NO. The CLERK. Mr. Rangel. Mr. RANGEL. No. The CLERK. Ms. Jordan. Ms. JORDAN. NO. The CLERK. Mr. Thornton. Mr. THORNTON. NO. The CLERK. Ms. Holtzman. MS. HOLTZMAN. NO. The CLERK. Mr. Owens. Mr. OWENS. No. The CLERK. Mr. Mezvinsky . Mr. MEZVINSKY. -No. The CLERK. Mr. Hutchinson. Mr. HUTCHINSON. Aye. The CLERK. Mr. McClory. Mr. McCLORY. No. The CLERK. Mr. Smith. Mr. SMITH. Ave. The CLERK. Mr. Sandman. Mr. SANDMAN. Aye. The CLERK. Mr. Railsback. Mr. RAILSBACK. No. The CLERK. Mr. Wiggins. Mr. WIGGINS. Aye. The CLERK. Mr. Dennis. Mr. DENNIS. Aye. The CLERK. Mr. Fish. Mr. FISH. No. The CLERK. Mr. Mayne. Mr. MAYNE. No. The, CLERK. Mr. Hogan. Mr. HOGAN. No. The CLERK. Mr. Butler. Mr. BUTLER. No. The CLERK. Mr. Cohen. Mr. COHEN. No. The CLERK. Mr. Lott. [ No response.] The CLERK. Mr. Froehlich. Mr. FROEHLICH. Aye. The CLERK. 'Mr. Moorhead. Mr. MOORHEAD. Aye. The CLERK. Mr. Maraziti. Mr. MARAZITI. Aye. The CLERK. Mr. Latta. Mr. LATTA. Aye, The CLERK. Mr. Rodino. The CHAIRMAN. NO. The CLERK. Mr. Chairman? The CHAIRMAN. The clerk will report. The CLERK. Nine members have voted aye, 28 members have voted no.