Transcripts give glimpses of closed Senate debate

Some senators are publishing statements they made during the closed-door impeachment deliberations

February 14, 1999
Web posted at: 1:28 p.m. EST (1828 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, February 14) -- The closed-door Senate debate during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton is being partially unveiled as transcripts of some of the senators' remarks become available in the Congressional Record.

Senators spent nearly four days in closed-door deliberations before voting on Friday to acquit Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice charges, and some excerpts of their comments started appearing in the Congressional Record over the weekend.

The record is not complete. Each senator is deciding which of their remarks, if any, they will make public. So far, about two-thirds of the Senate has published at least part of their deliberations.

Majority Leader Trent Lott had not released a statement by the weekend

Notably absent from the record as it appeared during the weekend were statements from Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota).

Those remarks that are available reveal some surprises. For example, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said he would not have voted to convict the president of obstruction if he knew his vote would mean removal of the president from office.

"The world has one stable superpower -- the United States of America," Stevens told his colleagues. Removing the president "could destabilize our nation -- leaving him in office will not."

From Shakespeare to Hollywood

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) focused on the historical implications. "The record of this impeachment trial is a time capsule. We leave it for succeeding generations," he said.

Sen. Robert Byrd recited Shakespeare

For others, the gravity of the debate manifested itself in literary references. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) opened with a quote from Shakespeare's Macbeth -- "I think my country sinks beneath the yoke. It weeps. It bleeds."

Sen. Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina), meanwhile, alluded to a Hollywood Western, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," about a man who falsely gets credit for another's heroism.

"We must not permit a lie to become the truth," Helms said in his published statement.

Many Republicans published statements that the president's guilt seemed obvious.

"The evidence was so powerful, I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt," said Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Arkansas), whose brother, Rep. Asa Hutchinson, was a House manager at the impeachment trial.

Sen. Patrick Moynihan (D-New York) reviewed the history of the Constitution's impeachment clause, arguing only "great and dangerous offenses" against the nation would warrant removal.

"Senators," he stated in his published remarks, "do not take the imprudent risk that removing William Jefferson Clinton for low crimes will not in the end jeopardize the Constitution itself."

'No saloon fights here'

Some freshmen senators were surprised to find themselves thrust into roles in the national drama.

Sen. Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) said it took him "many sleepless nights and troubling days" to decide his vote, while Sen. Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D-Arkansas) was dismayed to have impeachment become the subject of her maiden speech.

"As a farmer's daughter raised on the salt of the earth with basic Christian values," Lincoln said, "I regret that my first opportunity to speak on the floor of this historic chamber is under these circumstances."

But there were light moments, too. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D- North Dakota) told a story about the young Theodore Roosevelt punching out a cowboy who made fun of his fancy spurs.

"No saloon fights here," Dorgan said in his published statement. "We engage in verbal battles."

And Sen. John Edwards (D-North Carolina) addressed his remarks to Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who presided over the trial: "The last time I saw you, before this impeachment trial, you were leading a sing-along at the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. I thought this might be a good idea for this group."

"A healing device," Rehnquist replied, according to the Congressional Record.

At that point, the record reflects laughter.

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