Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (1/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (1/2)
[00.55.03] [DUKE/LEHRER in studio] DUKE says this assures that the ABUSE OF POWER article of IMPEACHMENT will be sent to the House Floor in an IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION. LEHRER adds that one extra REPUBLICAN, as he had stated, Rep. McCLORY, voted for impeachment. Says that possibly three other ARTICLES of IMPEACHMENT may have to be resolved by the committee. Charges about the BOMBING OF CAMBODIA, TAX FRAUD, Calls on Caroline LEWIS on Capitol Hill. [LEWIS on screen, zooms in ] LEWIS comments that it was indeed easier on the second time. Notes that the session was more businesslike in comparison to the contentious proceedings on the first article. Notes that everyone in the press is exhausted [return to DUKE/LEHRER] DUKE says it may be appropriate to review article, since it's certain to be included in the IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION. Says that it is directed at the President's ABUSE OF POWER. LEHRER continues, to say that the Article charges NIXON with an impeachable violation of his OATH OF OFFICE to execute the laws [cut photo of CONSTITUTION with title quoting the ARTICLE "...in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.."] [v.o. reads the charges which are shown in titles laid over the image of the CONSTITUTION--abuse of the IRS in violation of citizens rights, both by seeking to gain information and by attempting to initiate discriminatory audits.--misusing FBI, Secret Service, and other Executive personnel to conduct illegal wiretaps unrelated to NATIONAL SECURITY--Creating a secret police unit in the White HOuse which abused the CIA and engaged in unlawful activities--Failing to act when he knew subordinates were trying to impede investigations--interfering with agencies of Executive Branch] [DUKE/LEHRER in studio] LEHRER calls again on LEWIS with two committee members [LEWIS with Reps. FLOWERS and LOTT] Asks FLOWERS about a shift to a more businesslike attitude by the committee. FLOWERS replies that the Constitutional issues have been already stated, asks LOTT if he agrees, and that the committee will really "get down to business" tomorrow. Again asks LOTT if he agrees. LOTT says that although some "lawyer-type" arguments came out, for the most part it was very businesslike. perhaps the introduction of new Articles will bring the rhetorical tendencies back out. FLOWERS explains that he meant the committee will try to move even more rapidly tomorrow, that today was fast by the previous days' standards. FLOWERS says that he's inclined to vote against all of the other proposals, that are not to his standard of IMPEACHABLE ACT, mentions that he knows LOTT did not consider any of the articles to be IMPEACHABLE. LOTT laughs. FLOWERS says that it's hard for him to disagree with LOTT publicly because his in-laws live in LOTT'S district of Mississippi. LOTT adds that they are good constituents, too. FLOWERS says he considers LOTT a good friend and he has the highest personal regard for him LEWIS says that NIXON is "pinning his hopes" on Southerners, especially in the Senate. Notes that the men, both Southerners, are divided. Asks LOTT if NIXON will hold the SOUTH in the HOUSE voting. LOTT says its obvious that NIXON won't be able to get every southern vote, but that that is where his support is the strongest, in both parties. In the Senate, LOTT says he can't predict, but would guess that Southerners will be the strongest NIXON supporters. LEWIS asks LOTT if he's gotten feedback from his constituents on the debate. LOTT says it's interesting that every member has claimed 3-1 or 4-1 support for their positions from constituents. Says that most in MISSISSIPPI have said his stand against impeachment is right. FLOWERS says that he wouldn't say his own mail has been so broadly supportive, but in the HOUSE and the SENATE, he thinks that SOUTHERNERS will come in on all sides of the issue, voting from their convictions. LOTT says that SOUTHERNERS will have to "rassle" with the issue very dramatically, [01.03.01-LEHRER/DUKE in studio] LEHRER introduces guest commentators Steven HESS and Jack MURPHY Asks about the relative severity of the two separate ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. HESS says that he can't speak as a lawyer, but he would guess that legally speaking the two articles are like "comparing poison and bullets". [01.04.05--TAPE OUT]