Impeachment process against Richard Nixon facts for kids
First day of the House Judiciary Committee's formal impeachment hearings against President Nixon, May 9, 1974
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| Date | October 30, 1973 – August 20, 1974 |
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| Venue | Rayburn House Office Building (staff headquartered at House Annex-1) |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Cause | Watergate scandal |
| Target | Richard Nixon, 37th president of the United States |
| Organized by | United States House Committee on the Judiciary |
| Participants | 38 members of the Judiciary Committee, Peter Rodino, chairman; also, Lead counsel John Doar, Attorney James D. St. Clair, among others |
| Outcome | Resolution containing three articles of impeachment adopted July 30, 1974; resolution became moot August 9, 1974 when President Nixon resigned from office |
| Charges | Adopted: obstruction of justice, abuse of power, contempt of Congress Rejected: usurping congressional war powers, tax fraud |
The impeachment process against Richard Nixon was a major event in American history. It began in the United States House of Representatives in October 1973. This happened after a series of events known as the "Watergate scandal".
Richard Nixon was the 37th president of the United States. An impeachment process is when a government official is accused of serious wrongdoing. The goal is to decide if they should be removed from office.
Contents
What Was the Watergate Scandal?
The Watergate scandal started with a break-in in 1972. Thieves broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters. This office was located in the Watergate hotel in Washington, D.C..
It was later discovered that people connected to President Nixon's re-election campaign were involved. There was also an effort to cover up what happened. This led to a big political scandal.
The "Saturday Night Massacre"
The impeachment process officially began after an event called the "Saturday Night Massacre." This happened on October 20, 1973.
President Nixon fired a special prosecutor who was investigating the Watergate scandal. He also fired other top justice officials. This action caused a lot of concern and anger across the country. Many people saw it as an abuse of power.
Starting the Impeachment Inquiry
After the "Saturday Night Massacre," the United States House Committee on the Judiciary got involved. This committee is a group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Their job was to investigate if President Nixon had done anything wrong enough to be impeached.
On February 6, 1974, the House of Representatives gave the Judiciary Committee special power. They could fully investigate if there were reasons to impeach President Nixon. The committee looked for evidence of "high crimes and misdemeanors". This phrase means serious abuses of power or trust by a public official. It is mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.
The Judiciary Committee's Work
The House Judiciary Committee worked hard to gather information. They looked into many actions by President Nixon and his staff. They wanted to see if he had obstructed justice or abused his power.
The committee held public hearings. These hearings were often shown live on television. People across the country watched as lawmakers discussed the evidence.
Nixon's Resignation
The Judiciary Committee eventually voted on articles of impeachment. These are formal charges against the president. The committee approved three articles of impeachment against Nixon. The charges included obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress.
However, before the full House of Representatives could vote on these charges, President Nixon made a big decision. On August 9, 1974, he resigned from office. This meant he stepped down as president.
Nixon's resignation ended the impeachment process. He was the first and only U.S. president to resign from office.
Images for kids
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Judiciary Committee Chairman Rodino (center-left) and Special Counsel Doar speaking with reporters, January 24, 1974
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Peter Rodino, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee
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Members and staff of the House Judiciary Committee in 1974
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The Judiciary Committee's impeachment hearings received intense press attention. Portions were broadcast live on television.
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Representative Barbara Jordan (left) became nationally known for her eloquence during the Judiciary Committee's impeachment hearings.
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President Nixon and the first lady (in pink) leave the White House, accompanied by Vice President Ford and the second lady, August 9, 1974, shortly before Nixon's resignation became effective
