Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974 (2/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974 (2/2)
[01.03.49] Chairman RODINO gavels--LEHRER [v.o.] describes RODINO'S manner of gavelling. LEHRER and DUKE make small talk about the different tasks of a Judiciary Committee and RODINO'S tenure as Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. The committee -will come to order. I recognize the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Mezvinsky. Mr. MEZVINSKY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an article at the desk. The CHAIRMAN. The clerk will read the article. The CLERK. [reading] Immediately after article III of the additional article IV. In his conduct of the Office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the Office of the President of the United States, and, to the best of his ability, preserve. protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take car(-, that the laws be faithfully executed, did receive emoluments from the United States in excess of the compensation provided by law pursuant to article II, section I of the Constitution, and did willfully attempt to evade the payment of a portion of Federal income taxes due and owing by him for the years 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972, in that : (1) He, during the period for which he has been elected President, unlawfully received compensation in the form of Government expenditures, at and on his privately owned properties located in or near San Clemente, Calif., and Key Biscayne, Fla. (2) He knowingly failed to report certain income and claimed deductions in the years 1969, 1970, 1971. and 1972 on his Federal income tax returns which were not authorized by law, including deductions for a gift. of papers to the United States valued at approximately $576,000. Mr. MEZVINSKY. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on this article, including the consideration of any amendments thereto, be limited. The CHAIRMAN. If the gentleman would defer, the clerk has not read. Or otherwise the gentleman can ask unanimous consent that further reading be dispensed -with. The Clerk will proceed to read the article. 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 11. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office, The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Iowa. Mr. MEZVINSKY. Thank' you, Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous Consent that all debate on this article including the consideration of any amendments thereto, be limited to a period not to exceed 2 hours to be divided equally to proponents and opponents of the article, and debate on any amendment shall not exceed 20 minutes, divided equally between proponents and opponents of the amendment. Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Latta* Mr. LATTA. I note that, we are 35) minutes, late in getting started, and I wonder if the gentleman would consider reducing his time to 1 1/2 hours. Mr. McCLORY. Mr. Chairman, further reserving the right to object, Mr. Chairman, further reserving the right to object I would like, to make this inquiry. You made reference to the fact of 20 minutes on amendments, but the 2-hour limitation that you suggested would include the 20 minutes, would include all amendments and all debate on the original article on all amendments? [01.09.35]