SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT The Process of Presidential Impeachment

SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT The Process of Presidential Impeachment

One of these is not like the others. . .

One of these is not like the others. . .

One of these is not like the others…

One of these is not like the others: Andrew Franklin Richard Bill Johnson Pierce Nixon Clinton

Vocabulary 1 n Impeachment A method by which high government officials can be removed from office.

Vocabulary 2 n Presidential Impeachment The vote of the U. S. House of Representatives to hold a trial against the President in the U. S. Senate. A majority vote.

Vocabulary 3 n Removal from Office The vote of the U. S. Senate to remove the President from office. A two-thirds vote.

Vocabulary 4 n Treason Making war against the United States or giving “aid and comfort” to the enemies of the United States.

Vocabulary 5 n Bribery Offering money to a political official for special consideration or treatment.

Vocabulary 6 n High Crimes and Misdemeanors Charges not defined by treason or bribery, but serious enough to damage the integrity of the office of the President.

Vocabulary 7 n Majority Vote A vote won by half plus one of the total number of votes, or 51 out of 100.

Vocabulary 8 n Two-Thirds Vote A vote won by two-thirds of the total number of ballots cast, or 67 out of 100.

Impeachment of the President n Three Case Studies n 1. Andrew Johnson n 2. Richard Nixon n 3. William Clinton

Andrew Johnson n n A Senator from Tennessee, Johnson supported the Union during the Civil War Elected in 1860 as VP under Lincoln Became President in 1861 after Lincoln assassination Campaigned against Amendment 14 Angered both houses of Congress with vetoes and appointments

Charges against Johnson Serious Misconduct - Violation of the Tenure of Office Act The President has traditionally controlled the membership of his Cabinet. The Tenure of Office Act limited this power. President Johnson dismissed Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War without congressional approval, not once but twice.

Process against Johnson n February 24, 1868 The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Johnson on 11 articles. n March 30, 1868 The trial to remove President Johnson begins in the Senate. n May 16, 1868 The Senate votes - at least 36 must vote to convict President Johnson and remove him from office.

And the vote is: n n 35 to 19 (one short of the required number!) President Johnson is acquitted and serves the rest of his term When his term is over, he returns to Tennessee, and is elected to the U. S. Senate in 1874 Andrew Johnson died in 1875

Impeachment of the President n Three Case Studies n 1. Andrew Johnson n 2. Richard Nixon n 3. William Clinton

Richard Nixon n n A former Representative and then Senator from California Vice President under Dwight Eisenhower Elected President in 1968 Re-elected in 1972 Evidence surfaced that he was involved in a criminal action prior to his re-election - a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel

Chargers against Nixon n Obstruction of Justice – cover up of the Watergate break-in Abuse of Power – receiving information not necessary for his job Contempt of Congress – refusal to produce papers requested by Congress

Process against Nixon n n July 27, 1974 The House Judiciary Committee approves the first of three impeachment charges. July 28, 1974 The HJC approves the third of three charges. August 9, 1974 Richard Nixon resigns the office of President.

And Nixon said: I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as President, I must put the interest of America first. America needs a full-time President and a full-time Congress, particularly at this time with problems we face at home and abroad.

To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home. Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow. Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office.

Impeachment of the President n Three Case Studies n 1. Andrew Johnson n 2. Richard Nixon n 3. William Clinton

William (Bill) Clinton n n A former Governor of Alabama. Elected President in 1992. Re-elected in 1996. Evidence surfaced that he was involved in the abuse of the power of his office while Governor of Alabama in having an illicit sexual affair with Paula Jones.

Charges against Clinton n Perjury before the Independent Counsel, Kenneth Starr, relating to the Paula Jones case Perjury in the Paula Jones civil case Obstruction of justice by committing perjury before the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning the Jones case

Process against Clinton n December 19, 1998 The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Clinton on 2 articles (not on perjury in the Jones civil suit). n January 7, 1999 The trial to remove President Clinton begins in the Senate. n February 12, 1999 The Senate votes - at least 67 must vote to convict President Clinton and remove him from office.

And the vote is: n n n 45 to 55 (well short of a majority, much less the required two-thirds vote) on Article 1, and 50 to 50 (just short of a majority…) on Article 3. President Clinton is acquitted and serves the rest of his term Vice President Al Gore runs for President in 2000, and loses, some think, because of the Clinton Connection.

Internet Resources - Johnson http: //www. impeach-andrewjohnson. com/ http: //www. ibiscom. com/john. htm http: //www. crfusa. org/impeachment 1. html http: //teachpol. tcnj. edu/amer_pol_hist/thumbnai l 216. html

Internet Resources - Nixon http: //www. whitehouse. gov/history/presid ents/rn 37. html http: //www. gatorcorporation. com/help/hd _postyes 40/hd-post-yes 40 -p 1 f. html http: //www. colonize. com/p/a. php? a=n 001189

Internet Resources - Clinton http: //www. historyplace. com/unitedstates /impeachments/clinton. htm http: //www. nytimes. com/library/politics/cli ntonlewinsky-index. html http: //academic. brooklyn. cuny. edu/history /johnson/clintontimeline. htm