CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE
CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE
WETA "CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE" IN 12.22.18-WETA credit/funding credit/title sequence 12.23.02-Shots of the NIXON INAUGURATION, Tricky Dick takes oath of office. Interspersed with shots of House Judiciary Committee Counsel reading the preamble of an ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT which accuses NIXON of violating his oath of office to uphold the laws. Host Ed Newman-IMPEACHMENT is the ultimate check that the Congress has against the Executive Branch, initiated only twice [as of 1984, thanks, Ken Starr!] against a President. Newman identifies the desk he's sitting on as Nixon's Oval Office Desk, now in the President's room near the Senate chamber, points out that Nixon sealed his fate by rigging the desk with recording microphones. Impeachment proceedings against NIXON exemplify the system of separation of powers in the Constitution. 12.24.38-Titles show the procedures of impeachment: House majority vote to impeach any official, 2/3 vote by Senate to convict and remove from office. Political Scientist says that Impeachment is rare and difficult to achieve. Illustration of the Congress during Andrew Johnson impeachment debates. Portrait, early photo, of Johnson. Illustration of JOHN WILKES BOOTH assassinating LINCOLN. Cartoons depicting JOHNSON'S conflict with Radical Republicans over Reconstruction policy. Shot of the Article of Impeachment delivered against Andrew Johnson. Illustration of the Senate Impeachment trial. V.O.-seven Republicans voted to acquit Johnson, who escaped removal by one vote. 12.26.01-Shot of NIXON addressing Congress. Former Rep. CHARLES WIGGINS (R-CA), member of the Judiciary Committee who voted against impeaching Nixon, describes the conflict between the two branches, as a longstanding feeling that the President was taking too much power from Congress. Still of NIXON making a pretty goofy face. Still of NIXON supporters as Dick and Pat ride in a convertible limo in inaugural parade. Stills of NIXON in meetings with Congressmen. V.O.-NIXON'S clashes with Congress were powerful. Shots of Washington Post headlines about WATERGATE. Political scientist says that Watergate might not have led to Impeachment if NIXON hadn't already antagonized Congress by impounding funds appropriated by the Congress. 12.27.21-Rep. PETER RODINO, chair of Judiciary Committee that impeached Nixon, discusses NIXON'S transgressions against Congress' power, Congress generally letting him get away with it. Rep. WIGGINS says arguments made after the fact disguise Congress' complicity through previous administrations. Host Newman-WATERGATE drove Congress to challenge NIXON, leading to the appointment of the ERVIN COMMITTEE. Shot of SAM ERVIN chairing the Senate Committee. Shot of head White House goon JOHN EHRLICHMAN testifying. Shot of White House aide Alexander Butterfield testifying to reveal the existence of the TAPE RECORDING SYSTEM in the White House, which was the nail in NIXON'S coffin. Headline from Washington Post about Nixon's refusal to turn over tapes, firing of the Special Prosecutor. V.O.-These abuses led Congress to call for impeachment. RODINO says the "Saturday Night Massacre" made it clear that NIXON was going to use his power to evade the law. 12.29.54