ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT OF RICHARD M. NIXON (1974)

Three articles of impeachment of President richard m. nixon were voted by the Committee on the Judiciary of the house of representatives between July 27 and July 30, 1974. The vote on the articles followed an extended investigation of the so-called watergate affair, the President's knowledge of an involvement in that affair, and a prolonged controversy concerning what constitutes an "impeachable offense." All three articles, as voted, had reference to Watergate, and all charged breach of the oath of office.

The first article charged Nixon with having "prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice" by withholding evidence and participating in the "cover-up" of the Watergate affair. The nine specifications included making false statements to investigators, approving of others giving false testimony, condoning the payment of "hush money" to potential witnesses, and interfering with the conduct of the investigation.

The second article charged Nixon with misusing the powers of his office and with "repeated conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens." Five specifications included misusing the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Central Intelligence Agency; attempting to prejudice the right to a fair trial (of one Daniel Ellsberg); and failing to act against subordinates who engaged in illegal activities.

The third article charged Nixon with disobeying subpoenas issued by the committee itself in the course of its investigation. This article was approved only narrowly since some committee members argued that a good faith assertion of executive privilege was not a constitutionally impeachable offense. Two other articles were defeated in the committee vote.

The articles of impeachment never came to a vote in the full House of Representatives. On August 9, 1974, facing the virtual certainty of impeachment and of conviction by the senate, Richard M. Nixon became the first president ever to resign.

Dennis J. Mahoney
(1986)

Bibliography

United States House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary 1974 Impeachment of Richard Nixon, President of the United States. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.