Monday, December 19, 2016

Today's Date In History: House Impeaches President Clinton

Today, the Electoral College votes to officially elect the president.  It is also the anniversary of one of the most momentous votes in recent history.  On December 19, 1998, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Bill Clinton.

During the two or three months leading up to this vote, I would occasionally put on C-SPAN and watch the proceedings.  On 12/19, which was a Saturday, I watched C-SPAN for an hour or so in the morning, and then went out for a hike that afternoon.  I returned to find out that the vote had been cast and the president impeached.  My reaction was something to the effect of, "They did it.  They actually grew a pair and did it."

On this year's 12/19, if all goes like it's supposed to, another vote will take place, against another Clinton.  But instead of removing her from the White House, it will prevent her from returning to the place where she once was First Lady.

The impeachment of President Bill Clinton is discussed at History(dot)com and The History Place.

An article recalling the impeachment appeared in 2007 in Politico.

Contemporary news stories have been preserved, shall we say, at CNN and The New York Times.

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