If I hear one more television talking head say the Clinton
crimes don’t measure up to the Watergate scandal, I think
I’ll have an aneurysm.
Let’s look at the facts.
In 1974, the House Judiciary Committee recommended
articles of impeachment against President Nixon for
violating his oath to uphold the Constitution and for
preventing, obstructing and impeding the administration
of justice. Specifically, Nixon was accused of the following
in article I:
- “Making or causing to be made false or misleading
statements to lawfully authorized investigative
officers and employees of the United States.”Sound familiar?
- “Withholding relevant and material evidence or
information from lawfully authorized investigative
officers and employees of the United States.”Have you heard this lately?
- “Approving, condoning, acquiescing in, and
counseling witnesses with respect to the giving of
false or misleading statements to lawfully
authorized investigative officers and employees of
the United States and false or misleading testimony
in duly instituted judicial and congressional
proceedings.”Can you say “suborning perjury”?
- “Interfering or endeavoring to interfere with the
conduct of investigations by the Department of
Justice of the United States, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the office of Watergate special
prosecution force and congressional committees.”Stonewalling, obstruction of justice, yada yada.
- “Approving, condoning and acquiescing in the
surreptitious payments of substantial sums of
money for the purpose of obtaining the silence or
influencing the testimony of witnesses, potential
witnesses or individuals who participated in such
unlawful entry and other illegal activities.”Hush money? It worked for Webb Hubbell, too.
- “Endeavoring to misuse the Central Intelligence
Agency, an agency of the United States.”OK, we don’t know about the CIA, but how about
the IRS? How about the FBI? - “Disseminating information received from officers
of the Department of Justice of the United States to
subjects of investigations conducted by lawfully
authorized investigative officers and employees of
the United States for the purpose of aiding and
assisting such subjects in their attempts to avoid
criminal liability.”Witness tampering by any other name.
- “Making false or misleading public statements for
the purpose of deceiving the people of the United
States into believing that a thorough and complete
investigation has been conducted with respect to
allegation of misconduct on the part of personnel of
the executive branch of the United States and
personnel of the Committee for the Re-Election of
the President, and that there was no involvement
of such personnel in such misconduct; or”“I did not have sex with that woman — Miss
Lewinsky.” - “Endeavoring to cause prospective defendants, and
individuals duly tried and convicted, to expect
favored treatment and consideration in return for
their silence or false testimony, or rewarding
individuals for their silence or false testimony.”Calling Susan McDougal.
Then there was article II, in which Nixon was accused
violating the rights of citizens:
- “He has, acting personally and through his
subordinates and agents, endeavored to obtain from
the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the
constitutional rights of citizens, confidential
information contained in income tax returns for
purposes not authorized by law, and to cause, in
violation of the constitutional rights of citizens,
income tax audits or other income tax investigation
to be initiated or conducted in a discriminatory
manner.”Exhibit A: The Western Journalism Center.
- “He misused the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the Secret Service, and other executive personnel,
in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights
of citizens, by directing or authorizing such agencies
or personnel to conduct or continue electronic
surveillance or other investigations for purposes
unrelated to national security, the enforcement of
laws, or any other lawful function of his office; he
did direct, authorize, or permit the use of
information obtained thereby for purposes
unrelated to national security, the enforcement of
laws, or any other lawful function of his office; and
he did direct the concealment of certain records
made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of
electronic surveillance.”Did someone say Filegate?
- “He has, acting personally and through his
subordinates and agents, in violation or disregard of
the constitutional rights of citizens, authorized and
permitted to be maintained a secret investigative
unit with the office of the president, financed in
part with money derived from campaign
contributions to him, which unlawfully utilized the
resources of the Central Intelligence Agency,
engaged in covert and unlawful activities, and
attempted to prejudice the constitutional right of an
accused to a fair trial.”Terry Lenzner, where are you?
- “He has failed to take care that the laws were
faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or
had reason to know that his close subordinates
endeavored to impede and frustrate lawful
inquiries by duly constituted executive; judicial and
legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry
into the headquarters of the Democratic National
Committee, and the cover-up thereof, and
concerning other unlawful activities including
those relating to the confirmation of Richard
Kleindienst as attorney general of the United States,
the electronic surveillance of private citizens, the
break-in into the office of D. Lewis Fielding, and the
campaign financing practices of the Committee to
Re-Elect the President.”Gee, campaign finance abuses? Hmmmm.
- “In disregard of the rule of law: he knowingly
misused the executive power by interfering with
agencies of the executive branch: including the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal
Division and the Office of Watergate Special
Prosecution Force of the Department of Justice, in
violation of his duty to take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.”Obstruction, abuse of power — where have I heard
this before?
And article III?
“In his conduct of the office of president of the
United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his
oath faithfully to execute the office of the president
of the United States, and to the best of his ability
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the
United States, and in violation of his constitutional
duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed,
had failed without lawful cause or excuse, to
produce papers and things as directed by duly
authorized subpoenas issued by the Committee on
the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, on
April 11, 1974, May 5, 1974, May 30, 1974, and June
24, 1974, and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas.
The subpoenaed papers and things were deemed
necessary by the committee in order to resolve by
direct evidence fundamental, factual questions
relating to presidential direction, knowledge or
approval of actions demonstrated by other evidence
to be substantial grounds for impeachment of the
president. In refusing to produce these papers and
things, Richard M. Nixon, substituting his
judgment as to what materials were necessary for
the inquiry, interposed the powers of the presidency
against the lawful subpoenas of the House of
Representatives, thereby assuming to himself
functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of
the sole power of impeachment vested by the
Constitution in the House of Representatives.In all this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner
contrary to his trust as president and subversive of
constitutional government, to the great prejudice of
the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest
injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore, Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct,
warrants impeachment and trial and removal from
office.”
Let’s remember, this last article was drafted after many
weeks of hearings by the House Judiciary Committee. Even
before similar hearings take place on the conduct of this
administration, it’s easy to see that Clinton is every bit as
guilty as Nixon. And that’s before we even start talking
about Chinagate, Travelgate, Whitewater and dozens of
other scandals yet concluded.
So, enough. Let’s not have any more talk about Watergate
being more serious than the crimes of the Clinton
administration.
What is the greatest threat to free and fair elections in America? Here’s a hint
Dennis Prager