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Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974 (2/2)
Committee Chairman U.S. Representative Peter Rodino (D-NJ) at House Judiciary Committee Impeachment Hearings for U.S. President Richard Nixon, says, “The gentleman has consumed 3 minutes and 10 seconds; 2 minutes and 40 seconds.” Rep. Rodino recognizes Rep. William Cohen (R-ME), who proclaims his adherence to the claims in Articles One and Two of Impeachment, despite the fragile coalition. Cohen cites statement from Rep. Charles Wiggins (R-CA) that “Article Three is largely inconsistent with the votes for Articles One and Two”; Cohen does not agree, says the fact that one can reach a conclusion on clear and convincing evidence does not mean one needs to review all of the relevant evidence. Cohen argues that although evidence provided to Committee was sufficient to reach a conclusion, it does not mean the Committee was not entitled to all of the relevant evidence that President Nixon was not required to furnish all evidence, or that the Senate is not entitled to the evidence if they insist on a standard of beyond a reasonable doubt. Cohen cites former Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.: “One page of history is worth a volume of logic.” Cohen believes the evidence necessary to the Committee’s inquiry was withheld, that the doctrines of Executive Privilege and National Security have degraded; believes they have been invoked for illegitimate purposes. Cohen believes withholding evidence was a Presidential action calculated to impede the administration of justice. Cohen proposes an amendment to Article Three to set a precedent for the use of Executive Privilege, citing the spirit of the President Andrew Johnson impeachment trial was neither binding nor influential on this body. Cohen says he does not believe it should be set into law that no future president should be prohibited from invoking Executive Privilege or National Security as restraints on the power of the Legislative Branch. Cohen believes this case can be decided as a matter of fact rather than law.
Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Cambodia Bombing Article of Impeachment. William S. Cohen
Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Cambodia Bombing Article of Impeachment. William S. Cohen (R - Maine).
Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Statement of Representative Ray Thorton (D - Arkansas).
Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Statement of Representative Ray Thorton (D - Arkansas). Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). The gentleman from Arkansas, Mr. Thornton, is recognized for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Ray Thorton (D Arkansas). Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to say that many of the views which have been expressed in opposition to the adoption of this article are similar to views which I ve expressed in urging that it should more properly be considered for inclusion in one of the general articles previously adopted. I would like in the short time that I have to refer specifically to some questions that have been asked during the debate. The gentleman from New Jersey referred to the words "direct evidence used in my perfecting amendment. For the purpose of the record, by those words I intended to refer to that evidence within the President's custody and control which is most direct, the original documents and tapes to which our subpoenas were addressed. Next, when I use the phrase that these papers and things were deemed necessary to resolve questions, I certainly did not intend to suggest that the committee lacked clear and convincing evidence upon which to base its decision, but rather that in resolving the question before us, our committee was seeking to obtain all of the evidence relating to the Presidential direction, knowledge, or approval of, actions demonstrated by other evidence to be substantial grounds for impeachment of the President. By its votes, this committee has already determined that there is clear and convincing evidence which has compelled a large majority, of our committee to reach its conclusion with respect to Articles I and II. But we are not charged with the simple duty of proceeding until we find sufficient evidence upon which to base our conclusions. We were charged with the duty of investigating fully and completely all necessary evidence and drawing our conclusions from that material. And our committee was impeded in its inquiry by the refusal to comply with our subpoenas. Now, we ve already dealt with the question as to whether the courts should be called upon to determine the extent of our subpoena authority in an impeachment proceeding and I think we correctly determined that the duty to enforce our subpoenas rested upon the Congress and not upon the courts. Mr. Chairman, there must be a sufficient nexus between the evidence subpoenaed and the independently impeachable offense for refusal to comply with the subpoena to be an impeachable offense. I believe that the evidence gathered by the committee establishes that at between the obstruction of justice and the refusal to comply with our lawful subpoenas. For the reasons I have outlined, I m prepared to vote for the article offered by the gentleman from Illinois as it is now connected by amendment to substantive offenses charged in Articles I and II. However, I would like to state that I consider the matter to be more appropriately included in the body of a substantive Article and that I will therefore, support the efforts of the gentleman from Maine to include it there on the House floor.
Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Statement of Representative Edward Hutchinson
Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Statement of Representative Edward Hutchinson (R - Michigan).
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Vote on Article III
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Vote on Article III
Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Cambodia Bombing Article of Impeachment. John Conyers
Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 30, 1974. Cambodia Bombing Article of Impeachment
Rocky Bay
Rocky Bay High angle GV ocean w/ rock formations off shore.
City
City Several high angle LSs of densely populated city, just a few high rise buildings seen.
Trucks
Trucks MS gravel truck passing camera. MCUs wheels of several different trucks as they pass camera, late 1940s-early 1950s service truck, delivery truck, semi-truck models.
Havana Nightclub Neon
Havana Nightclub Neon MCUs neon for popular Havana clubs: Tropicana, Montmartre and Sloppy Joe's Bar.
Oceanfront Property
Oceanfront Property High angle LSs secluded beachfront property, either a mansion or resort, location unknown.
Gambling - Slot Machines - One Armed Bandit
Gambling - Slot Machines - One Armed Bandit MS men in casino at the slot machines, man pulls the arm. MCU profile young woman pulling the arm of slot machine. MCU young man winning at slot machine, he cups his hands to catch his coin winnings. MCU profile woman winning, grabbing coins from machine. CU money being placed into machine, arm is pulled, coins are collected. MCU pulling arm of red colored slot machine. CU money being placed into "Riviera Chief" slot machine. MCU pulling arm of red colored slot machine. MCU hand pulling arm of slot machine. MCUs people placing money into machines, pulling arms, playing slots. CU face of slot machine. MS young couple trying their luck at slot machines.
Sailing
Sailing
Seaside
Seaside Elevated LS seaside city w/ boat (marina) activity, palmetto tree in FG. LS seaside resort hotels.
Old Havana
Old Havana: Buildings, Architecture
Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea Scenic TLS tranquil blue water of the Caribbean washing onto beach, shot is void of people.
Cuba
Cuba
Nightlife
Nightlife : Nightclub / Casino / Theater Low angle looking up at lobby chandelier, tilt down to see people in formal attire climbing stairs. GV back view of woman wearing orange evening gown w/ white fur stole climbing stairs. MS woman in even gown & stole climbing stairs toward camera, passing the word "Baccarat" on the wall. CU sign. GV woman on formal gown exiting the establishment.
Hands Counting Money
Hands Counting Money MCU male hands counting bills, currency is not U.S., origin unknown.
Aerial Rooftops
Aerial Rooftops Aerials over industrial / warehouse buildings.
Miami
Miami Tracking POV from boat, moving under bridge, passing white art deco hotel buildings, late 1930s /1940s era car seen driving on road parallel to water. LS Miami seen from across water. Tracking shot from water of huge white building w/ palm trees in FG. Tracking POV from boat of white Art Deco buildings. LS Miami seen from across water.
Trucks
Trucks TLS truck with yellow colored cab driving toward camera. TLS yellow and black truck driving toward camera. TLS black truck driving toward camera, tanker truck passes going opposite direction. TLS "Riverside Cement" truck driving toward camera, old black sedans driving in opposite direction. TLS yellow "Fortier Transp. Co" truck and second truck with red cab driving toward camera. TLS Greyhound bus driving toward camera, destination "San Francisco".
New York City
New York City : Mid to late 1940s
Gambling - Casinos
Gambling - Casinos : Elevated MS man & two women gambling at the roulette table, attractive woman w/ platinum colored hair is extremely happy as the male Croupier slides winning pile of chips to her, she kisses man next to her on the cheek. Elevated MCU gambling at the roulette table woman wearing bright red hat places her bet, male Croupier hands stacks chips. MCU Riviera craps table. Elevated MS men at the craps table. Elevated MS people placing bets at the roulette table. MCU gambling at the roulette table, wheel is spinning. Elevated MS men & women gambling at the craps table. MCU rolling dice at the craps table after woman next to him gives then a kiss for luck (lady luck, luck be a lady). MCU roulette wheel spinning. Elevated action at the roulette table, bets are made, male Croupier stacks the chips.