Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Joseph Maraziti (R - New Jersey).
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Joseph Maraziti (R - New Jersey).
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Joseph Maraziti (R - New Jersey).
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Joseph Maraziti (R - New Jersey).
Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). The gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Maraziti is recognized. Joseph Maraziti (R New Jersey). Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We see here the sharp differences in the interpretation of the facts and the law in this matter. Mr. Chairman, I submit that we have these sharp differences because the case and the evidence is not clear and convincing against the President. Specific allegations are not set forth and the proponents of the resolution to impeach continue to refuse to set up these specific allegations in the articles.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Joseph Maraziti (R - New Jersey).
Joseph Maraziti (R New Jersey). We have theories propounded that the President should be held accountable for the acts of his subordinates even though he had no knowledge and did not authorize certain acts. A great deal has been said and in fact, proven, that this staff member did this and that staff member did that, and these staff members in concert did this and did that. But Chairman I submit to you that the proof fails and fails in a very vital respect when it fails to draw the line to the President of the United States.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Joseph Maraziti (R - New Jersey).
Joseph Maraziti (R New Jersey). Now on the question of wiretapping that we have heard so much about. And without going into details because it has been thoroughly discussed, what do we really have here? We have heard the urgent pleas by Mr. Henry Kissinger to stop the leaks from the National Security Council. Mr. Chairman, these pleadings were, made not, just by an ordinary individual that might not have had the knowledge or information necessary to appreciate the seriousness of the situation, but no less a man than Henry Kissinger who in my opinion would be the highest authority in the land as to whether or not leaks would affect the security of the United States. And what do we have here in response to that plea? The President in pursuance of his Constitutional duty, his Constitutional duty to protect the United States, ordered the wiretaps and stopped the leaks. And as I said in my previous remarks today, I for one, Mr. Chairman, would on the basis of Henry Kissinger making a request, if Mr. Nixon refused to take this action to protect the United States by ordering these wiretaps, I for or one would vote to impeach him for that refusal of his Constitutional duty and responsibility.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Joseph Maraziti (R - New Jersey).
Joseph Maraziti (R New Jersey). In closing, Mr. Chairman, let me say that I think that I ought to give some serious consideration to exactly what we are doing here. Mr. Richard Nixon was elected by 47 million people of these United States to be the President of the United States and from what I have heard and what I have heard today I cannot and will not bring myself to remove, to vote to remove that choice of 47 million people and impeach Richard Nixon, the President of the United States. Mr. Chairman, if I have any time left I yield the balance of my time to Mr. Latta. Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). The gentleman has 30 seconds remaining.