Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 Reading Article II
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). The committee will come to order. Before the Chair calls upon the clerk in pursuance of the procedural resolution to read Article II, the Chair would like to make several announcements. First, there has been distributed the substitute which is going to be offered by the gentleman from Missouri and I have been advised that there is a typographical error which appears on page 2 in paragraph 3. And the word "lawfully" should be "unlawfully." And would the members please correct their copies. William Hungate (D Missouri). There is a second correction. Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). If the members will correct their copies accordingly, but the clerk will, when the substitute is being read, please insure that that is noted. The Chair would also state that there are other technical changes which will be called to the attention of the committee. And as soon as the clerk has them before him and in typewritten form, they will be called to the attention of the members and properly distributed. I would like to state that there are going to be several roll call votes on the Floor of the House and it is the intention of the Chair that following the first quorum call or roll call vote that there will be a recess for a period of time which will be stated at the time that the recess will be declared. And it is the hope that we may proceed after that and in an effort to resolve this problem.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). I am going to call upon the clerk pursuant to the resolution to read Article II. And I would like to state too that the Chair will recognize following that perfecting amendments in order that we procedurally are able to allow members time for debate then on the substitute to be recognized for their 5 minutes in accordance therewith, if they so seek recognition. I would now call upon the clerk to read proposed Article II. The clerk will read. The Clerk. [reading] Article II. In his conduct of the office of the President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his oath faithfully to execute the office and to preserve, and protect and defend William Hungate (D Missouri). Mr. Chairman, I have a substitute. Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). Mr. Hungate. William Hungate (D Missouri). I have an amendment in the nature of a substitute to Article II of the Donohue resolution. And Mr. Chairman, if I may ask the forbearance of my colleagues once more before the clerk reads, there is a further typo on page 2, sub 3. If they would write that in. It s written in at the desk. "He has," then there, is an insertion, "acting personally and through his subordinates and agents." That is the insertion and then you resume. This is sub 3 on page 2 line 1. It would read, "He has," then you insert "acting personally and through his subordinates and agents," and then it proceeds. The clerk will read it in the proper form I apologize to the members.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). The clerk will read the substitute. The Clerk. [reading] Substitute offered by Mr. Hungate. Article II. Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his Constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his Constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purpose of these agencies. This conduct has included one or more of the following. (1) He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavored to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposes not authorized by law, and to cause in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be initiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
The Clerk. [reading] (2) He misused the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, and other executive personnel, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens by directing, or authorizing such agencies or personnel to conduct or continue electronic surveillance or other investigations for purposes unrelated national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office. He did direct, authorize, or permit the use of information obtained thereby for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office. And he did direct the concealment, of certain records made of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of electronic surveillance.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
The Clerk. [reading] (3) He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, authorized and permitted to be maintained a secret investigative unit within the office of the President financed in part with money derived from campaign contributions which unlawfully utilized the resources of the Central Intelligence Agency, engaged in covert and unlawful activities, and attempted to prejudice the Constitutional right of an accused to a fair trial.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
The Clerk. [reading] (4) He has failed to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or had reason to know that his close subordinates endeavored to impede and frustrate lawful inquiries by duly constituted executive, Judicial, and legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, and concerning other matters.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
The Clerk. [reading] (5) In disregard of the rule of law, he knowingly misused the Executive power by interfering with agencies of the executive branch, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Division, and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force of the Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
Charles Wiggins (R California). Mr. Chairman? Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). Mr. Wiggins. Charles Wiggins (R California). I make a point of order on the consideration of Article II. Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). The gentleman is recognized on the point of order and will state his point of order. George Danielson (D California). Mr. Chairman, point of order. He has not read it in its entirety as yet. Charles Wiggins (R California). I beg your pardon. I will withhold. Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). Will the gentleman withhold his point of order? Charles Wiggins (R California). Of course.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Reading Article II
Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). And the clerk will complete the reading of Article II. The Clerk. [reading] In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of Constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. Wherefore, Richard M Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.