Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (1/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (1/2)
[00.12.23] The CHAIRMAN. Both perfecting amendments Can be pending at the same time. This is a perfecting amendment, and therefore, would take precedent over any other amendments, and the vote would occur first on the McClory perfecting amendment. Mr. DENNIS. But if the Chair please--- Mr. McCLORY. Mr. Chairman? Mr. DENNIS. If the Chair would hear me further. I suppose the Chair must know the parliamentary law better than I do, but while I have heard of perfecting amendments, this is the first time I have ever seen a pending amendment taken off the floor- in this manner. I think you have to address something to the pending amendment, either a substitute or something to perfect it or change It. Mr. SIEBERLING. Would the gentleman yield'? Mr. DENNIS. Well. I have made my point. The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman has stated a parliamentary inquiry, and the Chair has stated that the perfecting amendments can both occur. The perfecting amendment of the gentleman from Illinois is only offered as such and therefore, the Chair will state that what will occur now will be that the gentleman from Illinois will be recognized. for his perfecting amendment and the question would take place on that. Mr. McCLORY. Mr. Chairman, all that this perfecting amendment does is to delete the word "matters" and substitute the words "unlawful activities." What we are talking about here really are unlawful activities of those who were employed in the White House, and who operated during this period prior to and subsequent to the Democratic National Headquarters break-in, and who were involved in all of these other unlawful activities to which we have made reference--the burglary of Dr. Fielding's office, the Perjury with respect to Mr. Kleindienst confirmation and a number of other matters that which we are aware of. It would certainly be inadequate on our part to recommend to the House of Representatives that they consider only the breaking in of the Democratic National Headquarters when so many other more serious matters which we have investigated are involved. I would like to call attention to the, fact that this article IT is in the nature of a civil charge, a civil charge or complaint, and it is something of which the respondent, of course, is -well aware. This is stated with definiteness. There is no doubt or uncertainty as to what we are talking about. There should not be any question as to the President being apprised of what is involved in this paragraph. And if we merely include the words "unlawful activities" it will include these other matters, We do not have to delineate a long string or a long line, of matters which are involved in the criminal conduct of some 20 different people who were so engaged. What we are talking about is a pattern of misconduct, and we included, of course, the initial break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters, plus these other things that are also involved, and on which we will be sending Our articles on to the--- Mr. DENNIS. Will the gentleman yield ? Mr. McCLORY. [continuing]. To the House for their consideration and their judgment. Mr. DENNIS. Will the gentleman yield? Mr. McCLORY. I yield for a question. If the gentleman wants to make a question I think he can take it. Mr. DENNIS. I am asking for a question . Mr. McCLORY. Sure, re. I am happy to yield to the gentleman, Mr. DENNIS. I was just wondering whether 'the gentleman from Illinois felt that to make it read "concerning other unlawful activities " instead of "concerning other matters" really advanced us very far as far as specificity is concerned which I had understood the gentleman was concerned with a moment ago. Mr. McCLORY. Yes. I will say it does because, we are not talking about other matters other kinds of conduct that are not unlawful or anything that isn't in the nature of a criminal act or some serious wrongdoing and so if we say it is unlawful activity which we are concerned with I think it apprises the President of what is involved. Mr. HUNGATE. Will the gentleman yield to me, please? The CHAIRMAN. Will you yield to the gentleman from Missouri ? Mr. McCLORY. Yes. I am happy to yield to the gentleman from Missouri. Mr. HUNGATE. I am happy to indicate on my part I am pleased to accept the perfecting amendment of the gentleman from Illinois. Mr. McCLORY. I thank the gentleman. Mr. BROOKS. Question. The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the--the question occurs on the perfecting amendment by Mr. McClory. Mr. WIGGINS. Parliamentary inquiry. The, CHAIRMAN. The, gentleman will state it. Mr. WIGGINS. What happened to my amendment? The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman's amendment------ Mr. WIGGINS. Do we expect to vote on it shortly? The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman's amendment will BE voted on after the McClory question had been put to the committee. The question is on the amendment of the--- [00.17.38]