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[Watergate Scandal]. Larry Hogan Annotated Speech Announcing His Vote for the Impeachment of President Richard Nixon. ...
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Description
"Those who oppose impeachment say it would weaken the Presidency. In my view, if we do not impeach the President after all that he has done, we would be weakening the Presidency even more."
[Watergate Scandal]. Larry Hogan Annotated Speech Announcing His
Vote for the Impeachment of President Richard Nixon. Twelve
typed pages on onion skin, 8.5" x 11", no place; no date
[circa July 23, 1974]. A heavily annotated working draft of
the speech delivered by Representative Larry Hogan on July 23, 1974
in which he announced his intention to vote for all three articles
of impeachment against President Richard Nixon for his role in the
Watergate Scandal. Hogan was the first and only Republican member
of the House Judiciary Committee to vote for all three. The night
before the committee began its televised debates on impeachment,
Hogan called a 15-minute press conference from his office in
Washington. D.C. and publicly delivered a resounding address to a
stunned nation.This particular draft differs from the final speech in a few minor places, with subtle changes made in the language. It contains numerous pencil annotations and corrections and is a specular example of a working draft, presumably designed for editing. Holographically titled "Impeachment," it reads, in part:
"I want with all my heart to be able to say to you now that the President of the United States is innocent of wrongdoing, that he has not committed an impeachable offense but I cannot say that. After having read and reread and studied, sifted and tested the mass of information which came before us, I have come to the conclusion that Richard M. Nixon has, beyond a reasonable doubt, committed impeachable offenses which, in my judgement, are of sufficient magnitude that he should be removed from office. The evidence convinces me that my president has lied repeatedly, deicing public officials and the American people. He has withheld information necessary for our system of justice to work. Instead of cooperating with prosecutors and investigators, as he said publicly, he concealed and covered up evidence, and coached witnesses so that their testimony would show things that really were not true. He tried to use the CIA to impede and thwart the investigation of Watergate by the FBI. He approved of payment of what he knew to be blackmail to buy the silence of an important Watergate witness...
Remember... I quoted John F. Kennedy who said, 'Sometimes party loyalty demands too much.' Remember that? Well, those words have been coming back to haunt me in recent weeks... This vote may result, not only in defeat in my campaign for Governor of Maryland, but may end any future political career. But that pales into insignificance when weighed against my historic duty to vote as my conscience dictates. Those who oppose impeachment say it would weaken the Presidency. In my view, if we do not impeach the President after all that he has done, we would be weakening the Presidency even more..."
Twenty years after Hogan's speech, former President Nixon reflected on that moment while penning his memoirs, writing, "In San Clemente we tried to minimize the damage Hogan caused by concentrating on the many people who criticized him and his motives... But the fact was that he had dealt us a very bad blow." Unfortunately, Hogan's assertion that the vote might cost him his political career proved almost prophetic. He lost the Republican primary to Louise Gore later that year, and his later attempts to reenter politics were met with defeat. In an interview with The Baltimore Sun in 1998, Hogan remained convinced that the decision hurt his ability to find employment in the Republican administrations of Ford, Reagan, and Bush. Although he conceded that the press conference before the vote may have been a poor choice, upon reflection, he could not bring himself to regret the vote, saying: "I didn't have any choice. In the face of the evidence I couldn't have lived with myself if I did anything else."
Reference: Arthur Hirsch. "Moment of Truth Reflection," The Baltimore Sun, October 11, 1998.
Condition: Cello tape to two pages. Toning from cello tape extends through several pages. A few creased corners and scattered soiling.
Auction Info
2023 February 22 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6260 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
February, 2023
22nd
Wednesday
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