Ii - The Michigan Daily - Friday, February 12, 1999
TRIAL OF THE PRESIDENT
i
"He should be removed from
office but he won't be because
he's a liar and because there's
too many dirty politics on
Capitol Hill."
- Sarah Cover, LSA junior
"I agree with the verdict, but I
deplore the fact that there
wasn't a censure."
- Mike Wallace, correspondent,
60 Minutes and University alum
"A lot of people make those
kind of mistakes."
- Miguel Perez, Couzens
Residence Hall dining service
"Our budget is balanced for
once; our economy's soaring -
Clinton's personal life is
nobody's business."
- Mike Garcia, LSA first-year
student
"Democrats are the party of
working-class people. They're
worried about real problems,
not Monica."
- Ebony Robinson, LSA sophomore
"It's a triumph for democracy
... the American government is*
inherently bipartisan."
- Cyrus Kholdani, LSA first-year
student
"The charges do not rise to the
level of high crimes and
misdemeanors. I think most of
the people feel the same way."
- William Ingram, Alice Lloyd
Hall Scholars program director
The nation must move on
The trial of President Clinton was plagued with partisan attacks and votes
"It's not really a good thing or
a bad thing - I mean, who
wants Al Gore?"
- Brian Mount, Engineering
first-year student
For the second time in our country's his-
tory, the Senate was forced to vote on
the guilt or innocence of the U.S. presi-
dent. And for the second time in our coun-
try's history, the nation's chief executive
was found not guilty. Although the process
was tainted with partisanship, the Senate
made the decision that was best for the
country. Now Clinton must salvage what is
left of his presidency, which has been tar-
nished by a Republican-led witch hunt.
The independent counsel was approved
originally as an investigation into Cinton's
Whitewater transactions. But it evolved
into an open-ended inquiry into Clinton's
character. Independent Counsel Kenneth
Starr turned over every stone in pursuit of
a skeleton inside the president's character,
with more than $40 million supporting his
quest. Last January, Starr found what he
was searching for - a scandal that he
hoped would bring the president down. Its
content was sure to keep the public capti-
vated, as it was smothered in sex, lies and
videotape.
When the vote on articles of impeach-
ment moved to the House, partisanship
dominated the debates. The House's job
was to set guidelines of impeachment
that defined "High Crimes and
Misdemeanors." The representatives did
not do that. Giving evasive answers
about a sexual relationship with an intern
may be sleazy, but it is
not a hi h crime. It was The preside
especial y disappointing salvage Wh
that the House vote was
almost completely left of his p
divided along party cy, Which h
lines. The debates on the tarnished b
House floor were oftenw
uncivilized and inappro- witch hunt
priate, focusing more on Starr and H
sex than perjury. Our Republican!
435 representatives
played a partisan game
with one of their most important consti-
tutional responsibilities.
When the articles moved to the Senate,
undits nationwide speculated that the
igher house of Congress would provide a
more sophisticated and intellectual forum
n
a;
y
l
10
S.
for debate on Clinton's - and the country's
- future. Supreme Court Chief Justice
William Rehnquist was presiding over the
trial, so it would be impossible for the sen-
ators to dis lay the same irresponsible
behavior as t e representatives.
The Senate tnal, however, was mostly
dominated by partisan rhetoric
t must and Sunday morning talk show
t is appearances. Many of the proce-
du ral votes, including the deci-
esiden- sion to depose Monica
s been Lewinsky, Vernon Jordan and
a Sidney Blumenthal, were
ap roved due to Republican con-
,d by trol in the Senate.
use Ten Senate Republicans
transcended party lines and
cast not guilty votes on the
first article, and five on the
second article, for the good of the coun-
try, and they must be commended. If the
Senate removed Clinton from office, the
nation's economy, polity and morale
would have suffered greatly. The Senate
should remove a president or judge if the
official's conduct threatens the safety or
well being of the nation. Clinton's
actions, however, did not harm the
United States. They were dishonest and
of poor character. With a war chest o*
more than $40 million, however, a lawyer
could find skeletons in anybody's closet.
Now the Senate has decided, as a
body, that Clinton's actions did not con-
stitute removal from office. It is impor-
tant to note that while two-thirds of the
Senate must vote to remove Clinton
from office, less than half of the sena-
tors voted that he was guilty on the first
article, and exactly ha lfon the second.
Clinton must attempt to move on wit*
the presidency. He will forever be
impeached by the House, so it will be dif-
ficult for him to have the same power and
voice as he did before the reresentatives
cast their thoughtless votes. But now it is
time for the House, Senate and Clinton to
work together and get back to governing
the nation, which will be forever scarred
by the partisan attack on our 42nd presi-
dent. -,1 --
"My deep hope is that the
country, both in terms of
citzenry and ... the government
in Washington, will turn its
attention to the more profound
issues."
- Ralph Williams, English and
religion professor
SHAPING THE NATION:
"Justice was served. Now the
manhunt is over, we can get
back to the real agenda."
- Kelley Boland, president,
College Democrats
A TIMELINE OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS
"Everybody does stuff and I
don't think people voted for him
because he was a good person
per se."
- Diego Bernal,co-chair, La Voz
Mexicana
Sen. Spencer Abraham is "just
a Republican functionary that
votes the way his party leaders
tell him to. Michigan can do
better."
- Geoffrey Fieger, Detroit civil
attorney and defeated
gubernatorial candidate
Summer, 1995: Monica
Lewinsky works as an
intern at the White House
November, 1995:
Lewinsky begins sexual
relationship with President
Clinton, according to a
conversation taped in
January 1998
Jan. 7, 1998: In a sworn
affidavit to Paula Jones'
attorneys, Lewinsky
testifies that she had no
relationship with Clinton.
Jan 12. 1998: Tripp
gives special prosecutor
Kenneth Starr 20 hours of
conversation with
Lewinsky that she taped.
Lewinsky allegedly tells
Tripp she had an affair
with Clinton.
Jan. 13, 1998: Tripp is
wired with a recording
device from the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
During her conversation
with Lewinsky, Lewins
allegedly tells Tripp that
Clinton asked her to
conceal their relationship
Jan. 17, 1998: Jones'
lawyers question Clinton
under oath. Clinton denies
a sexual affair with
Lewinsky
Jan. 18, 1998: Internet
gossip journalist Matt
Drudge publishes a story
in the Drudge Report
about how Newsweek held
off on a story detailing
Clinton's relationship with
Lewinsky
Jan. 20, 1998: Major
news media sources
confirm that Starr has
expanded his Whitewater
investigation to include
subordination of perjury
and obstruction of justice
relating to Lewinsky
Jan. 21, 1998: Clinton
claims his relationship with
Lewinsky is " not sexual"
and denies accusations
that he asked Lewinsky to
lie under oath
Jan. 26. 1998: Clinton
Lewinsky
Jan. 27, 1998: Starr
launches open-jury
investigation int Leinsky
allegations
March 3 1998: Vernon
Jordan, Clinton's friend,
testifies before grand jury
March 21, 1998: To
limit testimony of his aides
Bruce Lindsay and Sindey
Blumenthal,C linton
invokes executive
privilege.
" May 5, 1998: Judge
strikes down claims of
executive privilege
June 30, 1998: Tripp
be ins grand jury
te imony.
July 26, 1998: Clinton
reportedly subpoenaed by
Starr
July 28, 1998:
Lewinsky gets immunity
from Starr
July 29, 1998: Starr's
office removes subpoena
after Clinton agrees to
testify voluntarily
Aug. 6, 1998: Lewinsky
testifies before grand jury
Au . 17, 1998: Clinton
testifies before grand r
from his office. Latert at
day, Clinton addresses
American public, admits to
an inappropriate
relationship with Lewinsky
Sept. 9, 1998: Starr
sends his final report, 18
boxes of documents, to
the House of
Representatives
Sept. 11, 1998: Starr's
report becomes available
Hyde
Dec. 12 1998: Led by
Henry Hyde (R-ll.), the
House Judiciary
Committee approves
final article o impeach-
ment, .which accuses
Clinton of perury for his
responses to the
committee's 81
questions
Dec. 19, 1998: the
House votes to impeach
Clinton on two of the
charges - perjuand
obstruction of justice
Jan. 7 1999: Senate
be ins impeachment
trial. Chief Justice
William Rehnquist is
sworn in to preside over
trial
Today: Clinton acquit-
ted by the Senate.
Michigan Senator Carl
Levin casts deciding
vote on second article
0
iU
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"Anything from scandals to
impeachment trials makes
people apathetic, which is
dangerous for this country."
- Mehul Madia, MSA
representative
"I think it was
"I think it was
decision."
- Sidney Fine,J
the correct
history professor
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