CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE
CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE
12.29.54-shots of House Judiciary Committee panel, C/U Chairman Rodino. Newman-the Judiciary Committee met in closed session to hear evidence and publicly to debate articles of Impeachment. Discusses the issues inherent in the impeachment. Clip of PBS broadcast of the IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS, anchor JIM LEHERER comments, July 24 will be a vote against NIXON. Shots of the media and members crammed into the committee room. Shot of RODINO gavelling, shot of the committee counsels and Nixon's counsel in the chamber. RODINO speaks about the historic nature of the proceedings and their impact on the course of the system of government. Rep. LARRY HOGAN (R-MD) speaks about the magnitude of the proceedings and the need to be careful and fair. Rep. WALTER FLOWERS (D-Ala.) says he can't believe that it's happening, but it is duty to proceed. V.O.-description of the Constitutional scholarship involved in the Committee's work. Rep. PAUL SARBANES (D-MD) discusses the need to apply the principles of the Constitution to this situation. 12.32.56-Rep. JOHN SEIBERLING (D-OH) says that the Constitution is vague as to what an Impeachable Offense is, but it is clear that it must be serious against the system of Government. Rep. CHARLES SANDMAN (R-NJ) defends NIXON, arguing that the Congress can't overrule the People's vote for President unless the offense is very serious, a dangerous precedent would be set for majority parties to impeach Presidents on a whim [see Ken Starr, Henry Hyde, etc.]. V.O.-Democrats on committee said that Nixon's crimes did violate the Constitution. Rep. DON EDWARDS (D-CA) describes Nixon's willful ordering of violations of the rights of his enemies through surveillance and wiretapping. Rep. BARBARA JORDAN (D-TX) says that NIXON has attempted to subvert the Constitution, lists the offenses against the processes of Constitutional Government committed by NIXON, says he is impeachable. 12.35.00-Rep. ED HUTCHINSON (R-MI) defends Nixon, says that the charges against Nixon aren't adequate for impeachment. Shot of Rep. RODINO, announcing that he will reluctantly vote to impeach NIXON because he has grossly violated his Constitutional obligations. Newman-discusses the lengthy debate leading up to approval of the first Article of Impeachment against Nixon, Obstruction of Justice. Discusses the need for bipartisan support for the articles to have any weight [ref. KEN STARR, HENRY HYDE, other Republicans in 1998]. Norman Ornstein discusses procedural issues-how specific Articles of Impeachment needed to be, Democrats favoring broad articles, Republicans insisting on specificity to make the case easier for Nixon to defend. 12.36.56-Rep. SANDMAN and Rep. SARBANES debate the issue of specificity, Sarbanes says that there is a pattern of conduct that is composed of multiple acts over a long period, not single isolated incidents. SANDMAN says that the articles have to name specific actions according to the law on charges. RODINO says that the debate was serious over specificity, but he believes that it was enough to allege a pattern of conduct rather than itemized acts. Rep. WIGGINS argues that NIXON has the right to have specific allegations in order to prepare his defense. WIGGINS recalls the process, says that impeachment is intrinsically partisan. V.O.-some uncommitted members were the focus of extreme pressure. Rep. TOM RAILSBACK (R-IL) says he's agonized over the decision, discusses his personal fondness for NIXON. Rep. WALTER FLOWERS says that his constituents will be mad that he's voting for impeachment, but he's got to do it. Rep. JACK BROOKS (D-TX) says that no one can argue that Nixon's conduct is the same as all other Presidents. Shot of RODINO voting first article, clerk recording vote, titles show the final tally, 27-11 in favor of impeaching NIXON over Watergate Coverup. 12.42.15