The Obituaries of Republicans Who Opposed Nixon’s Impeachment

Ryan Goodman, Just Security:

In that summer of 1974, seven Republicans joined the Democrats to vote for at least one article of impeachment, including Toni Railsback (Ill.), Hamilton Fish Jr. (N.Y.), Lawrence J. Hogan (Md.), M. Caldwell Butler (Va.), William S. Cohen (Maine), Harold V. Froehlich (Wis.), and Robert McClory (Ill.)

Ten Republicans voted against all three articles of impeachment: Edward Hutchinson (Mich.), David Dennis (Ind.), Delbert Latta (Ohio), Trent Lott (Miss.), Joseph Maraziti (N.J.), Wiley Mayne (Iowa), Carlos Moorhead (Calif.), Charles Sandman (N.J.), Henry Smith (N.Y.), and Charles Wiggins (Calif.).

Regardless of whether the congressmen voted for or against the articles of impeachment, their legacies were largely defined by this one moment. So much so that newspapers titled their obituaries with reference to this vote.

Regardless how Trump’s impeachment trial turns out, those Republicans who vote to acquit him — which may well be one and all of them — will forever be defined by that vote. To say that corruption is acceptable is itself a form of corruption.

My prediction: the most likely scenario is that the entire Republican Senate caucus votes unanimously to acquit. But the nature of Trump’s mob-style rule over the Republican Party is such that no dissent is allowed. None. If any Republicans stand up to Trump — even just a handful — the odds increase significantly that the whole dam will burst.

★ Thursday, 30 January 2020