Advanced Search
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974 (1/2)
[00.47.26] [LEHRER/DUKE in studio] DUKE comments that to him, it seems that the debate was of exceptional caliber, with only a few scattered low moments. He was struck by speeches on many occasions, but he was perhaps hardest hit by Rep. MANN's speech that the rule of law and justice must apply to the President regardless of party, and that MANN will deliver justice fairly according to his own Oath of Office. Introduces guest analysts Jack MURPHY (Georgetown Law School) and George WILL (Columnist). Asks how damaging to NIXON the hearings have been, and what lies ahead. MURPHY says from a legal perspective, it's very damaging, that a bipartisan majority voted heavily in favor of two articles of impeachment, and perhaps from a political perspective, it's even worse, deferring to WILL'S analysis. Adds that the hearings have been a celebration of high-minded and principled debate, with very few exceptions to civility. Says that it was a mistake for the majority to allow debate on the TAX FRAUD and CAMBODIA articles to last so long because those articles are susceptible to the interpretation of being vehicles for political grandstanding. The debate around those was more acrimonious. States that as a general rule, though, the interview just seen with Reps WIGGINS and WALDIE shows the high level of the debate and the classiness of the proceedings, that can't help but bolster the confidence of the public in the Congress. WILL says that legally, this is just another step on the road, but concurs with MURPHY that what DIDN'T happen was significant--on the more serious issues, the debate was serious, and, while the debate did fall to triviality on the more trivial articles, it will be remembered as a lofty debate of serious mattes. Says it was a good civics lesson for the TV audience. What the results mean is that "a broad, bipartisan majority voted two powerful articles of impeachment", and Pro-NIXON members in the full HOUSE VOTE will have a very difficult time claiming that the recommendations of the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE were PARTISAN or based on inadequate evidence. LEHRER asks if, given the impending HOUSE VOTE and possible SENATE TRIAL, the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE will just be a fleeting moment in history or if it wil be remembered more strongly. WILL quips that "fleet" is not a very appropriate word for the way the proceedings went, but notes that if there were 35 hours of debate for the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, there will probably be more than 100 for the HOUSE VOTE, and if it's televised, he doesn't know if the AMERICAN PEOPLE can stand it. LEHRER calls on LEWIS for further comment. [LEWIS in Rayburn Building hallway] LEWIS says the debate ended with a whimper, as the last hours of debate were neither enlightening nor productive, but the total impact is to give an insight to the public into the workings of the Constitutional system and the Congress. this will be a positive for the public. [LEHRER/DUKE in studio] LEHRER says that now it is possible to project a timetable for the rest of the Impeachment Process, noting the nine months of the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE's work, speculating that the HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE will require a week to set the rules of debate, including AMENDMENT protocol, television coverage, and limits on debate. Notes August 12, 1974 as the ideal start for the HOUSE FLOOR debate, although this may not be met due to delays with the earlier committees. Likewise for the projected deadline of August 23, 1974 for the final vote on the HOUSE FLOOR. Speculates that should a SENATE TRIAL be reached, it would start in mid-September and last approximately six weeks. LEHRER states that Majority leader SENATOR MANSFIELD has not committed to getting the trial done before the ELECTIONS, but is on the record with his desire to finish the trial before the end of the year. DUKE wishes viewers good night, introduces the beginning of videotaped coverage from the daytime session. [the rollcall of the committee on the TAX FRAUD vote is heard as the credits roll over a shot of the studio correspondents] [NPACT ID--PBS Network ID--promos for PBS programming] [00.59.45-- end of live coverage]
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974 (1/2)
[00.59.45-- NPACT logo, start of videotaped coverage of July 30--daytime session] [split screen--photo of JUDICIARY COMMITTEE at bench and very ugly photo of NIXON looking dour] [LEHRER v.o.] LEHRER states that the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE began its final vote on ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT just after 10 o'clock that night. [cut committee room, pan to each member in turn as the roll is called] [title sequence with 3-D rotating Capitol Dome image--LEHRER in studio] LEHRER introduces the videotaped replay of the early session of the committee, states that the committee has reached its final recommendation that three ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT be sent to the HOUSE FLOOR for a vote on IMPEACHMENT. [screen behind LEHRER shows the same photo of NIXON as before] LEHRER summarizes the thrust of the charges against NIXON--OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, ABUSE OF POWER, and CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS by dishonoring subpoenas. [01.04.02--TAPE OUT]
Lebanon - Baalbek ruins
ON PREVIEW CASSETTE 214449 Lebanon - Baalbek?? ruins
festival - dancing
Preview Cassette 221047 Lebanon - Baalbek?? festival - dancing
Misc. Lebanon
Baalbek?? festival - night
Baalbek ruins
ON PREVIEW CASSETTE 214449 Baalbek ruins
Misc. Lebanon
Jean Bartell in Lebanon
Belly dancer in night club with and without audience
Lebanon - swimming pool at resort
Lebanon - int. of restaurant
ON PREVIEW CASSETTE # 98964 Lebanon - scenic
Lebanon - Beirut - airport
Lebanon - aerial of Beirut, buildings
dancing college students
Preview Cassette 221047 Lebanon - dancing college students. playing backgammon in the park, smoking a hookah.
Lady picking cherries
Lebanon - sheep and goats
Lebanon - Muslim funeral
Lebanon - farming
Lebanon - farming
Highway & tunnel under const.
Protest: Congo Mob Sacks Belgium Embassy
Protest: Congo Mob Sacks Belgium Embassy Kinshasa, Congo (Zaire, Democratic Republic of Congo) "The Belgian Embassy is sacked by an angry Congolese mob. It's a reprisal for the earlier capture of a Congo town by white mercenaries, led by a Belgian Colonel. A strong protest note and a Cabinet meeting further weaken Belgian-Congo relations." WS large crowd of Congolese demonstrating outside the Belgian Embassy in Kinshasa. MS mob overturning car. MS Men on second floor balconcy of the embassy. They smash windows and throw furniture and files into the street. MS car on fire. LS rioters. MS President Joseph Mobutu (Mobutu Sese Seko) speaking with demonstrators. WS demonstrators. LS sacked Belgian Embassy building. MS Congolese soldiers walking through aftermath of riot damage. MS burnt out, destroyed car.
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974 (2/2)
[01.03.50] [Jim LEHRER in studio, seated at desk with large headshot of NIXON shown on screen behind him] LEHRER introduces the videotaped broadcast of the daytime session by summarizing the charges ultimately approved and rejected by the JUDICIARY COMMITEE against President NIXON. Paul DUKE summarizes the first hour's debate, in which Rep. McCLORY proposes the ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT charging NIXON with illegally refusing to honor the Committee's SUBPOENAS, "STONEWALLING" the investigation, and Rep. FROEHLICH says that the committee should have asked the Supreme Court to intervene rather than raising an ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT over the subpoenas. LEHRER summarizes the second hour of debate, in which Rep. EDWARDS says that the power of the CONGRESS to issue SUBPOENAS is an essential part of the IMPEACHMENT POWER, and cannot be defied by a President, and Rep. RAILSBACK calls the ARTICLE "POLITICAL OVERKILL". DUKE summarizes the third hour of debate, on the subject of the BOMBING OF CAMBODIA, in which Rep. LATTA argues that NIXON cannot be impeached for an action taken to save American lives, and Rep. COHEN charges that the abuse of War Powers by recent Presidents is in great part the result of the "sloth and default of Congress". LEHRER summarizes the fourth hour of debate on the CAMBODIA BOMBING in which Rep. WALDIE says NIXON should be impeached for abusing the War Power that belongs rightly to Congress, and Rep. FLOWERS calls the fourth ARTICLE of IMPEACHMENT a "bad rap" for NIXON. [01.05.58--Chairman RODINO gavels the meeting to order] The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come. to order. I recognize the gentleman from Illinois. Mr. McClory. Mr. McCLORY, Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment in the form of article III at, the, clerk's desk. CHAIRMAN. The clerk will read the article. CLERK. [reading]: Immediately after article II, add the following additional article. Article III. In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability,. to Preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has failed without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on April 11, 1974, May 15, 1974, May 30, 1974, and June, 24, 1974, and -willfully disobeyed such subpenas. The subpenaed papers and things were deemed necessary by the committee to its inquiry, authorized and directed by resolution of the House of Representatives to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to impeach Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States, In refusing to provide these papers and things, he has acted in derogation of the power of Impeachment vested solely in the House of Representatives by the Constitution of the United States. 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. The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Illinois. Mr. McCLORY. Mr. Chairman, preliminary to presenting a discussion in support of my-of the proposed article III, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on article III, including the consideration of any amendments thereto, be limited to a period not to exceed 3 hours Debate on. any amendment shall not exceed 30 minutes, divided equally between the proponents and opponents of the amendment, The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection? Mr. LATTA. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Reserving the right to object--- The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Ohio. Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I think every member on this committee is fully familiar with this article of impeachment and made up his mind and I think 3 hours* debate time is much too long. I would hope that the gentleman would consider this and reduce that amount of time. The, CHAIRMAN. All right, I advise the gentleman from Ohio that the unanimous consent request is to the effect that debate not exceed 3 hours. It is not necessary that we consume 3 hours. Mr. LATTA. By the same token, Mr. Chairman, I could consume 3 hours. The CHAIRMAN. But any member of the committee may move the question after consideration of any amendments and that period could come prior to the 3-hour limitation. At any time prior to that at, The gentleman from Illinois. If there is no objection [01.10.08]