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43 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 333 (1974-1975)
Comments: An Introduction to the Vote of No Confidence

handle is hein.journals/gwlr43 and id is 345 raw text is: An Introduction To The Vote of No Confidence HENRY S. REUSS* For the next decade we will be spending much time analyzing and digesting the significance of Watergate. There are many lessons to be learned, affecting a broad range of public affairs. One of the first questions that confront us on the morning after is whether the impeachment process indeed works. Presidential im- peachment, used only once until 1974, was considered nearly a mori- bund constitutional process. A mountainous accumulation of evidence had been exposed to public view for many months; after much pain, public soul-searching, and deliberation, Congress finally initiated the impeachment process. Following the impeachment recommendation of the House Judiciary Committee, President Nixon resigned rather than face almost sure impeachment by the House, and probably con- viction by the Senate. Optimists conclude from this that presidential impeachment does work, that the constitutional method of removing a president is a vi- able one, and that the status quo should be retained. I recall 1973 and 1974 somewhat differently. I recall that members of Congress found it very difficult to discuss publicly the possibility of impeachment, let alone propose such an action. I recall that the process was finally initiated only after the Saturday Night Massacre inflamed the public and produced a Monday morning deluge of tele- grams on Capitol Hill. I recall the long and slow investigation, and the haggling over the definition of impeachable offenses. But above all, I recall that readiness to impeach Richard Nixon would probably * United States Representative from the Fifth District of Wisconsin and Chairman of the House Committee on Banking, Currency and Housing. January 1975 Vol. 43 No. 2