For those of you who are two young to remember 44 years ago this week the Senate Watergate Hearings were starting. Testimony at this set of hearings revealed the taping system at the White House that ultimately led to the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox by President Nixon. Those tapes eventually were turned over to the Committee and they provided the "smoking gun" that led to the Nixon resignation.
I was working at a hospital in Washington DC at the time and I remember getting up after working the evening shift to having breakfast and watching the hearings that were being held live on TV. PBS even ran the tape of the hearings every evening. Everyday we waited to see what new revelations would come out of that day's hearings. John Dean, Bob Ehrlichman, H.R. Haldeman and finally Alexander Butterfield's testimony started to fill in the pieces that led to Nixon's impeachment because of his obstruction of justice.
I can't help but having a sense of deja vu when I watch the news this past week. Another firing to stop an investigation, hints of a taping system, former National Security Chief claiming the 5th and Trump bragging about the firing to his Russian friends and thinking this might end the investigation. At least Nixon never admitted his obstruction of justice. Can't wait for the testimony of former FBI Chief Comey after Memorial Day. You can bet I will be watching the TV that day.
P.S.
We know that with the Republicans in control of Congress it will be difficult to move too far toward impeachment but the Republican dam might be cracking just a little bit.
2 comments:
We haven't had a President impeached since Bill Clinton.
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