At Holiday gatherings you’ll probably encounter friends and family members with strong feelings about the impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Here are a few conversation tidbits you might want to share…
Impeachment is older than the United States
The English House of Commons could accuse any official – except the King (or Queen) of course – of a crime and have the House of Lords determine guilt. Impeachment was the only legal way the Parliament could find a person guilty which the monarch couldn’t overturn.
The Constitutional Convention worked hard on defining impeachment
Most all of the arguments heard about the Trump impeachment came up during the writing and approval of the constitution. Some wanted a very broad reach, others feared that a rogue Senate could remove the President or other officials at whim. The end product we have today is a delicate compromise designed to make the process hard yet keep it as a necessary (but seldom used) protection.
Most American impeachments haven’t generated much controversy
Since federal judge John Pickering was removed from office in 1803, most of the impeachments which made it to Senate trial have been slam dunks. (Pickering, by the way, was drunk on the bench and seldom let the law get in the way of his decisions.)
Many presidents have been threatened with impeachment but only three have been impeached by the House of Representatives
Among the more recent presidents, Herbert Hoover, Ronald Regan, both presidents Bush, and Barack Obama have had impeachment articles filed in the House. In all, about a third of presidents have been threatened with impeachment. (Any House member can start an impeachment.)
Most facing imminent impeachment slink away
That was Richard Nixon’s answer, as well as many lower officials brought up on articles of impeachment.
States impeach too
In Missouri, for example, Secretary of State Judith Moriarty was removed from office in December 1994 by a vote in the state House. A Democrat, Moriarty’s own party led the charge against her.
Beware of nincompoops and medical emergencies
Remember, when the Constitution was enacted the framers also wanted an “In Case Of Emergency, Break Glass” option. Just in case the man elected president was, well, uh-oh wacko they wanted a last ditch out. And, until the 25th Amendment to the Constitution – which allowed George H. W. Bush to become “Acting President” when Ronald Reagan was temporarily incapacitated – the Constitution allowed no option except impeachment of the President if they couldn’t reasonably do their job. That became an issue when Dwight D. Eisenhower was recovering from health issues, and, it should have been an issue when Woodrow Wilson stroked-out, giving America (temporarily) its first female President.
More on Wilson later.
So, enjoy those Holiday conversations. Feel free to throw out these impeachment trivia bits – before someone throws the gravy boat.
Glenn Koenen
References:
https://www.history.com/news/how-many-presidents-impeached
https://www.history.com/topics/us-government/impeachment-in-us-history
https://history.house.gov/Institution/Impeachment/Impeachment-List/
https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-32898809/moriarty-is-impeached-secretary-of-state-will-fight