Representative from maine, a republican, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and after months of closed door meetings the Public Session and the articles of impeachment were about to introduced before the committee that you served on. What was happening . Well, republicans were gathering, obviously, and caucusing. I assume the democrats were doing the same thing. There really was very little discussion among the members, i would say i didnt have a discussion until the night before we actually went public. It was the day before. And i met with Tom Railsback in his office. He had invited a number of people to drop by for coffee, and it was at that meeting that i first saw what group might be willing amongst the republicans and democrats who were at least inclined to vote against impeachment who might come that morning. I was surprised. I met jim mann and talked to him for the first. Robert flowers, i talked to him for first time. Ray thornton was there, henry smith. And caldwell bu
Mr. Railsback . Chairman, thank you, and members of the committee by saying that you, mr. Chairman, i think in a rather difficult assignment with you because you know on many occasions i think you have handled yourself very well. And i think i can say for the most members of the committee that during these six months through the 38 volumes of evidence, the listening to the live witnesses morning, afternoon and night that i can be proud of my judiciary colleagues, most of them. I feel badly as Charlie Sandman did about the leaks, the selective leaks, some of which i think the newspapers made a mistake in playing. Although i know they have a job. I used to like to be on the House Judiciary Committee when we were worried about penal reform and juvenile delinquency, trying to improve some very important things in our country that needed improving, but im about to reconsider my assignment now that we have had amnesty, abortion, impeachment and now a bomb threat. Let me say that im one of th
Has in fact either authorized the bake in or personal the cover up. We were persuaded beyond a convincing case that he should stand trial in the political sense of having to have a trial in the senate but nobody felt great about it. Most people get burdened. They didnt want to. We felt there was no alternative. We were the elected officials and had a duty to see whether the highest officer in the country had breached his duty. William cohen, 1974, a republican member of the House Judiciary Committee. Thank you for being with us. Thank you for being with us on cspans 3 American History tonight. Tv 8 00 eastern time sunday evening we will continue our look at house judiciary committ committee. Our coverage of the 40th anniversary of water gate continues including debate over article two which charge nixon of abuse with power. You will also hear from the forrer director of the library and museum and explains how the committees vote affecting our understanding of president ial power today.