Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (1/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (1/2)
[00.58.09] The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman has expired. The gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Donohue. Mr. DONOHUE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, the debate on this article, and article I last evening, seems to have been developed into the proposition that unless the president personally or individually authorized the activities set forth in articles I and II, the charges set forth therein have not been sustained. Now, let us look at the Federalist Papers for a little guidance and the statement made by James Madison, one of the main architects and Framers of our Constitution. He went on to say: "I think- it absolutely necessary that the President should have the power of removing from office. It will make him in a peculiar manner responsible for their conduct, and if he suffers them to perpetrate -with impunity crimes and misdemeanors against the United States, he will be subject to impeachment." And he goes on to say, quote: "Or if he neglects to superintend their conduct so as to check their excesses he shall likewise be subject to impeachment And Madison went on to say: "On the constitutionality of that declaration I have no doubt." Now, the question is, did President Nixon, a recognized, sophisticated, astute public official, who has been described by his deputy assistant Mr. Butterfield, as a stickler for detail, and a person who made all decisions, know of these operations that -were being directed by "trusted and loyal members of his official White House family? This member believes that he did. You know, on the day in 1789 when the Constitution was adopted, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a lady: "What kind of government have you given us?" And Mr. Franklin replied: "A republic, madam, if you can keep it." I believe that we will keep our republic and that the process that we are engaged in during these proceedings -will help us. The CHAIRMAN. I recognize the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Hogan. [*this is a very good speech for establishing the socio/historical context of these proceedings*] Mr. HOGAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I would like to return to a thought which my esteemed ranking Minority member offered to us this morning. He reminded us that a few years ago the country was being torn apart by groups of people 'that were going around bombing college campuses, burglarizing draft boards and ROTC facilities and destroying the work of scholars and in engaging in all sorts of lawless activity because they disagreed with the Vietnam war, they disagreed -with the draft, they disagreed with the position of the Nixon administration, and they felt that because cause was just they could commit these crimes. They felt that -were above the law. Most of them had long hair and beards and dressed as nonconformists and desecrated the flag. Inside the White House at the same, time there was another group of men who wore well-tailored business suits, close-cropped hair, no beards, and wore flag pins in their lapels. They disagree with all of these other people, they thought that the cause was just, they believed that the Vietnam war was Justified, they supported this administration , but they felt that because their cause was just they too were above the law. And for several months -we have had a chronicle of all of the illegalities and crimes that they have committed under that assumption. Now, obviously both of those groups of people were wrong. Both should be held accountable for the violations of the law. Now, what -we are debating today------ [01.04.23--TAPE OUT]