Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 27, 1974
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 27, 1974
[00.46.41] The CLERK. Mr. Chairman? The CHAIRMAN. The clerk will report. The CLERK. Twenty-four members have voted aye, 14 have voted no. The CHAIRMAN. the amendment is agreed to. I recognize the gentleman from Illinois, _LNIr. Railsback. Mr. RAILSBACK. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk which I would like read. The CHAIRMAN. The clerk will read the amendment. The CLERK [reading]: Amendment by Mr. Railsback. On page 1, beginning at. line 11, after the word "intelligence" strike, all that follows through line 17 and insert in lieu thereof the following new language: "subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, engaged, personally and through his subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or plan designed to delay, Impede, and obstruct the investigation of such unlawful entry; to cover up, conceal, and protect those responsible; and to conceal existence and scope of other unlawful covert activities." Mr. RAILSBACK. Chairman? The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. RAILSBACK. This language. replaces the following language: "Subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, made it his policy, and in furtherance of such policy did act directly and personally and through his close subordinates and agents, to delay, impede, and obstruct the investigation of such illegal entry; to cover up, conceal and protect those responsible; and to conceal the existence and scope of other unlawful Covert activities." Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I have a great deal of difficulty believing that Richard M. Nixon, at a particular point in time, Contrived any kind of a policy, or at least any kind of a policy that would continue to follow through, and I think the word "policy" gives the impression of an affirmative, orchestrated, declarative decision that occurred at a given point in time. I thought that Some of Mr. Wiggins' objections yesterday were very Well made. I think what the record reflects, however, is a course of conduct or, in the alternative, a plan of action over many months which was responsive to and developed as a consequence of events that occurred, and that is the reason for my amendment. It seems to me that we are going to be asked to prove the char charges that -we make and it seems to me that we would have a great deal of difficulty proving that the President had any kind of a, policy that could pinpoint as of June 23 or July 6 or August 29, but rather, that many of the things that he did -were in response to certain events that occurred. That's the reason for the amendment. [00.50.48]