TEACHINGAMERICANHISTORYPROJECT WatergateArticlesofImpeachmentfromGeriDineen Grade 11 Lengthofclassperiod 45mins Inquiry WhatchargesdidtheHouseofRepresentativesbringagainstPresidentNixonduringthe impeachmentprocess? Objectives StudentswillbeabletoidentifythechargesbroughtagainstthePresidentand analyzehowthisreflectstheconceptthatnixonwasconsideredan imperialpresident Materials ExcerptsfromArticlesofImpeachment. Activities Studentswillanalyzeprimarysourcesandparticipateinaclassdiscussion. Duringthelesson,teachershouldcirculatethroughouttheroomandfacilitatestudentinteraction withthedocument.somestudentsmayneedadditionalsupporttodecodesomevocabulary,orto drawtheirattentiontospecificconceptspresentedinthedocuments. Assessment Studentswillbeassessed onconstructiveparticipationinclassdiscussion onabilitytoaccuratelydiscusslessoncontentonawrittenend of unitquiz ConnecticutGradeLevelExpectations Standard2:History/SocialStudiesLiteracy 2.3 Citeevidencefromasourcetodetermineanauthor spurposeandintended audience. Standard3:Application 3.1 Useevidencetodevelopaninterpretationofanevent.
WATERGATE TheArticlesofImpeachmentvotedbytheJudiciaryCommitteeoftheHouseofRepresentativesgiveagood summaryofthescopeofrichardnixon sallegedviolationsofthepublictrust.usethereadingthatfollows asaresourceincompletingthestudyguideattheendoftheselection. RESOLUTION ImpeachingRichardM.Nixon,PresidentoftheUnitedStates,ofhighcrimesandmisdemeanors. Resolved,ThatRichardM.Nixon,PresidentoftheUnitedStates,isimpeachedforhighcrimesand misdemeanors,andthatthefollowingarticlesofimpeachmentbeexhibitedtothesenate.. ArticleI InhisconductoftheofficeofPresidentoftheUnitedStates,RichardM.Nixon,inviolationofhis constitutionaloath hasprevented,obstructed,andimpededtheadministrationofjustice,inthat: OnJune17,1972,andpriorthereto,agentsoftheCommitteefortheRe electionofthepresident committedunlawfulentryoftheheadquartersofthedemocraticnationalcommitteeinwashington, DistrictofColumbia,forthepurposeofsecuringpoliticalintelligence.Subsequentthereto,RichardM. Nixon,usingthepowersofhishighoffice,engagedpersonallyandthroughhissubordinatesandagents,ina courseofconductorplandesignedtodelay,impede,andobstructtheinvestigationofsuchunlawfulentry; tocoverup,concealandprotectthoseresponsible;andtoconcealtheexistenceandscopeofother unlawfulcovertactivities. Themeansusedtoimplementthiscourseofconductorplanincludedoneormoreofthefollowing: (1)makingorcausingtobemadefalseormisleadingstatementstolawfullyauthorized investigativeofficersandemployeesoftheunitedstates; (2)withholdingrelevantandmaterialevidenceorinformationfromlawfullyauthorized investigativeofficersandemployeesoftheunitedstates; (3)approving,condoning,acquiescingin,andcounselingwitnesseswithrespecttothegivingof falseormisleadingstatementstolawfullyauthorizedinvestigativeofficersandemployeesoftheunited Statesandfalseormisleadingtestimonyindulyinstitutedjudicialandcongressionalproceedings;
(4)interferingorendeavoringtointerferewiththeconductofinvestigationsbytheDepartmentof JusticeoftheUnitedStates,theFederalBureauofInvestigation,theOfficeofWatergateSpecial ProsecutionForce,andCongressionalCommittees; (5)approving,condoning,andacquiescingin,thesurreptitiouspaymentofsubstantialsumsof moneyforthepurposeofobtainingthesilenceorinfluencingthetestimonyofwitnesses,potential witnessesorindividualswhoparticipatedinsuchunlawfulentryandotherillegalactivities; (6)endeavoringtomisusetheCentralIntelligenceAgency,anagencyoftheUnitedStates (7)disseminatinginformationreceivedfromofficersoftheDepartmentofJusticeoftheUnited Statestosubjectsofinvestigationsconductedbylawfullyauthorizedinvestigativeofficersandemployeesof theunitedstates,forthepurposeofaidingandassistingsuchsubjectsintheirattemptstoavoidcriminal liability; (8)makingfalseormisleadingpublicstatementsforthepurposeofdeceivingthepeopleofthe UnitedStatesintobelievingthatathoroughandcompleteinvestigationhadbeenconductedwithrespect toallegationsofmisconductonthepartofpersonneloftheexecutivebranchoftheunitedstatesand personnelofthecommitteeofthere electionofthepresident,andthattherewasnoinvolvementofsuch personnelinmisconduct;or (9)endeavoringtocauseprospectivedefendants,andindividualsdulytriedandconvicted,to expectfavoredtreatmentandconsiderationinreturnfortheirsilenceorfalsetestimony,orrewarding individualsfortheirsilenceorfalsetestimony. ArticleII UsingthepowersoftheofficeofPresidentoftheUnitedStates,RichardM.Nixon,inviolationof hisconstitutionaloath hasrepeatedlyengagedinconductviolatingtheconstitutionalrightsofcitizens, impairingthedueandproperadministrationofjusticeandtheconductoflawfulinquiries,orcontravening thelawsgoverningagenciesoftheexecutivebranchandthepurposedoftheseagencies. Thisconducthasincludedoneormoreofthefollowing: (1)Hehas,actingpersonallyandthroughhissubordinatesandagents,endeavoredtoobtainfrom theinternalrevenueservice,inviolationoftheconstitutionalrightsofcitizens,confidentialinformation containedinincometaxreturnsforpurposednotauthorizedbylaw,andtocause,inviolationofthe constitutionalrightsofcitizens,incometaxauditsorotherincometaxinvestigationstobeinitiatedor conductedinadiscriminatorymanner. (2)HemisusedtheFederalBureauofInvestigation,theSecretService,andotherexecutive personnel,inviolationordisregardoftheconstitutionalrightsofcitizens,bydirectingorauthorizingsuch agenciesorpersonneltoconductorcontinueelectronicsurveillanceorotherinvestigationsforpurposes unrelatedtonationalsecurity,theenforcementoflaws,oranyotherlawfulfunctionofhisoffice;hedid
direct,authorize,orpermittheuseofinformationobtainedtherebyforpurposesunrelatedtonational security,theenforcementoflaws,oranyotherlawfulfunctionofhisoffice;andhediddirectthe concealmentofcertainrecordsmadebythefederalbureauofinvestigationofelectronicsurveillance. (3)Hehas,actingpersonallyandthroughhissubordinatesandagents,inviolationordisregardof theconstitutionalrightsofcitizens,authorizedandpermittedtobemaintainedasecretinvestigativeunit withintheofficeofthepresident,financedinpartwithmoneyderivedfromcampaigncontributions,which unlawfullyutilizedtheresourcesofthecentralintelligenceagency,engagedincovertandunlawful activities,andattemptedtoprejudicetheconstitutionalrightofanaccusedtoafairtrial. (4)Hehasfailedtotakecarethatthelawswerefaithfullyexecutedbyfailingtoactwhenheknew orhadreasontoknowthathisclosesubordinatesendeavoredtoimpedeandfrustratelawfulinquiriesby dulyconstitutedexecutive,judicialandlegislativeentitiesconcerningtheunlawfulentryintothe headquartersofthedemocraticnationalcommittee,andthecover upthereof,andconcerningother unlawfulactivitiesincludingthoserelatingtotheconfirmationofrichardkleindienstasattorneygeneralof theunitedstates,theelectronicsurveillanceofprivatecitizens,thebreak inintotheofficesofdr.lewis Fielding,andthecampaignfinancingpracticesoftheCommitteetoRe electthepresident. (5)Indisregardoftheruleoflaw,heknowinglymisusedtheexecutivepowerbyinterferingwith agenciesoftheexecutivebranch,includingthefederalbureauofinvestigation,thecriminaldivision,and theofficeofwatergatespecialprosecutionforce,ofthedepartmentofjustice,andthecentral IntelligenceAgency,inviolationofhisdutytotakecarethatthelawsbefaithfullyexecuted. ArticleIII InhisconductoftheofficeofPresidentoftheUnitedStates,RichardM.Nixon,contrarytohisoath faithfullytoexecutetheofficeofpresidentoftheunitedstatesand,tothebestofhisability,preserve, protect,anddefendtheconstitutionoftheunitedstates,andinviolationofhisconstitutionaldutytotake carethatthelawsbefaithfullyexecuted,hasfailedwithoutlawfulcauseorexcusetoproducepapersand thingsasdirectedbydulyauthorizedsubpoenasissuedbythecommitteeonthejudiciaryofthehouseof RepresentativesonApril11,1974,May15,1974,May30,1974,andJune24,1974,andwillfullydisobeyed suchsubpoenas.thesubpoenaedpapersandthingsweredeemednecessarybythecommitteeinorderto resolvebydirectevidencefundamental,factualquestionsrelatingtopresidentialdirection,knowledgeor approvalofactionsdemonstratedbyotherevidencetobesubstantialgroundsforimpeachmentofthe President.InrefusingtoproducethesepapersandthingsRichardM.Nixon,substitutinghisjudgmentasto whatmaterialswerenecessaryfortheinquiry,interposedthepowersofthepresidencyagainstthethe lawfulsubpoenasofthehouseofrepresentatives,therebyassumingtohimselffunctionsandjudgments necessarytotheexerciseofthesolepowerofimpeachmentvestedbytheconstitutioninthehouseof Representatives.
Inallofthis,RichardM.NixonhasactedinamannercontrarytohistrustasPresidentandsubversiveof constitutionalgovernment,tothegreatprejudiceofthecauseoflawandjustice,andtothemanifestinjury ofthepeopleoftheunitedstates. Wherefore,RichardM.Nixon,bysuchconduct,warrantsimpeachmentandtrial,andremovalfromoffice. Adopted21 17bytheCommitteeontheJudiciaryoftheHouseofRepresentatives. Source:http://www.watergate.info/impeachment/impeachment articles.shtml
Analysis of House Judiciary Committee Impeachment Votes Members Article 1 Article 2 Article 3 Democrats Peter Rodino Yes Yes Yes Harold Donohue Yes Yes Yes Jack Brooks Yes Yes Yes Robert Kastenmeier Yes Yes Yes Don Edwards Yes Yes Yes William Hungate Yes Yes Yes John Conyers Yes Yes Yes Joshua Eilberg Yes Yes Yes Jerome Waldie Yes Yes Yes Walter Flowers Yes Yes No James Mann Yes Yes No Paul Sarbanes Yes Yes Yes John Seiberling Yes Yes Yes George Danielson Yes Yes Yes Robert Drinan Yes Yes Yes Charles Rangel Yes Yes Yes Barbara Jordan Yes Yes Yes Ray Thornton Yes Yes Yes Elizabeth Holtzman Yes Yes Yes
Wayne Owens Yes Yes Yes Edward Mezvinsky Yes Yes Yes Republicans Edward Hutchinson No No No Robert McClory No Yes Yes Henry Smith No No No Charles Sandman No No No Tom Railsback Yes No No Charles Wiggins No No No David Dennis No No No Hamilton Fish Yes Yes No Wiley Mayne No No No Lawrence Hogan Yes Yes Yes M. Caldwell Butler Yes Yes No Delbert Latta No No No William Cohen Yes Yes No Trent Lott No No No Harold Froehlich Yes Yes No Carlos Moorhead No No No Joseph Maraziti No No No
WatergateArticlesofImpeachment Highlight,circle,orunderlinethepartsofthedocumentthatanswerthesequestions: 1. WhatisthemainchargebeingbroughtagainstthePresidentineachArticle? 2. InArticleI,whateventisNixonchargedwithcoveringup? 3. IdentifyatleastsixmethodsthePresidentwasaccusedofusingtocoveruptheJune17,1972break in atthewatergate. 4. InArticleII,identifyfourwaysthatthePresidentallegedlyviolatedtheconstitutionalrightsofcitizens. 5. AccordingtoArticleIII,inwhatwaydidNixonviolatetheprincipleofseparationofpowers? 6. InwhatwaysdotheseArticlessupporttheassessmentoftheNixonadministrationasan imperial Presidency?
SOURCE:http://www.watergate.info/nixon/resignation letter.shtml