This Is William Cohen’s Third Impeachment

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

The New Yorker

Obama, Washington, Politics, President, Barack, Lizza, Wnyc, News, Wickenden

4.3 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2019

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The current impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump are only the fourth in American history, and William Cohen has been near the center of power for three of them. First, he was a Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee in 1974, when his vote in favor of articles of impeachment helped end the Presidency of Richard Nixon. Twenty years later, as Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Defense, he had to navigate American military policy around the Lewinsky scandal. Cohen is now a Washington power-broker, and he tells The New Yorker’s Michael Luo the story of both sagas and their relation to today’s news. During Watergate, Cohen received death threats for what was perceived as his betrayal of Nixon, and he says that his chances for a Republican leadership position were “finished.” But Cohen implores his G.O.P. successors in Congress to put Constitution above party; otherwise, “this is not going to be a democracy that will be recognizable a few years from now.”

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0:47.8	This is the Politics and More podcast.
0:50.7	I'm David Remnick.
0:52.9	In the course of today's events, it becomes necessary for us to address, among other grievances,
1:00.2	the president's failure to faithfully execute the law.
1:04.3	Sadly, but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders, and a heart full of love for America.
1:13.4	Today, I am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment.
1:19.3	Here we are. Remember the date.
1:22.6	Today, the House Judiciary Committee begins drafting articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
1:28.9	Four American presidents have faced impeachment.
1:32.0	And we're going to hear from someone who's had a bird's-eye seat for, well, three of them.
1:37.4	William Cohen was a Republican on the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 when he helped seal
1:43.0	Richard Nixon's fate with his vote for impeachment.
	...

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