The Nixon Standard: A Guide to Impeachment Proceedings Against the President

As the nation hovers on the edge of impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton, it's time to revisit the precedent set by Richard Nixon in the summer of 1974. The charges against Nixon, though largely focused on the Watergate break-in, revealed a far more sinister web of activities that warrant a closer examination. By comparing the articles of impeachment issued against Nixon, we can better understand the extent of Clinton's alleged wrongdoing and the gravity of the situation.

The House Judiciary Committee's articles of impeachment against Nixon, released on July 27, 1974, painted a picture of a president who had engaged in a "course of conduct" aimed at covering up a theft and "other covert activities." This included nine specific counts, including making false or misleading statements to law officers, interfering with the FBI and the Department of Justice, and approving the surreptitious payment of substantial sums of money for the purpose of obtaining the silence of witnesses. Nixon's lawyer, John Dean, recalled the president saying, "I think you could get that in cash," referring to a million-dollar payment to silence the Watergate burglars.

Article II of the House committee's article of impeachment took a different direction, charging Nixon with "repeatedly engaging in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens." This article contained five counts, including using the power of the Internal Revenue Service to harass individuals, ordering the FBI and the Secret Service to conduct illegal surveillance of private individuals, and creating a "secret investigative unit within the office of the President" that engaged in covert and unlawful activities.

Key Takeaways:

• The Nixon administration's activities, detailed in the articles of impeachment, reveal a president who engaged in a "course of conduct" aimed at covering up a theft and "other covert activities."
• Nixon's wrongdoing was not limited to the Watergate break-in, but rather included widescale abuses of power, including break-ins, wiretaps, and IRS harassment.
• The impeachment proceedings against Nixon were sparked by a complex web of activities, including Nixon's attempts to cover up the Watergate break-in and his repeated violations of citizens' constitutional rights.
• Nixon's administration used the power of the FBI, IRS, and CIA to harass and intimidate individuals, including news reporters and government officials.
• The Nixon White House engaged in a wide range of unethical and potentially illegal activities, including the creation of a "plumbers" unit, wiretapping, and IRS harassment.

Statistics:

• The House Judiciary Committee's articles of impeachment against Nixon contained a total of 14 specific counts of wrongdoing.
• Nine of those counts dealt with the Watergate break-in and cover-up, while five counts dealt with Nixon's repeated violations of citizens' constitutional rights.
• The Nixon administration spent an estimated $1 million to silence the Watergate burglars.
• The FBI conducted 13 wiretaps on government officials and news reporters at the behest of the Nixon White House.
• The IRS was asked to review the tax returns of at least four individuals, including Lawrence O'Brien, the head of the Democratic National Committee.

Sources:

• The House Judiciary Committee's articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon (July 27, 1974)
• The Lexington Herald-Leader (Bill Bishop, "The Nixon Standard: A Guide to Impeachment Proceedings Against the President," 1998)