Of the impeachment process, it was Woodrow Wilson who said that "Nothing short of the grossest offenses against the plain law of the land will suffice to give them speed and effectiveness. Why do you think Representative Jordan juxtaposed impeachment criteria with Nixons actions? 7. The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men. Barbara Jordan: (11:17) The stance Jordan takes in the passage is best described as that of A) an idealist setting forth principles. Pettiness cannot be allowed to stand in the face of such overwhelming problems. ", We have heard time and time again that the evidence reflects the payment to defendants money. Barbara Jordan: ( 14:23) A nation is formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good. Barbara Jordan: (07:05) As students listen to the speech they can highlight, underline, and . 6. Barbara Jordan was a keynote speaker for the Democratic National Convention in 1976. Consider, for instance, the following question from the Barbara Jordan speech we discussed in Chapter 6. It is wrong, I suggest, it is a misreading of the Constitution for any member here to assert that for a member to vote for an article of impeachment means that that member must be convinced that the President should be removed from office. One writer lamented that Jordan's booming voice, with its thundering call to principles enshrined in the Constitution, was "a song of the past."7. Mr. Chairman, you are a strong man and it has not been easy but we have tried as best we can to give you as much assistance as possible. "4 Beginning shortly after the Watergate break-in and continuing to the present time, the President has engaged in a series of public statements and actions designed to thwart the lawful investigation by government prosecutors. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Make your investment into the leaders of tomorrow through the Bill of Rights Institute today! Congress has a lot to do: The Constitution charges the President with the task of taking care that the laws be faithfully executed, and yet the President has counseled his aides to commit, Nixon Tapes: The Smoking Gun Tape, 1972, http://watergate.info/1974/07/25/barbara-jordan-speech-on-impeachment.html, Barbara Jordan, Speech on Impeachment, July 25, 1974, Earlier today, we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, We, the people. It is a very eloquent beginning. Barbara Jordan: (12:22) We know about the Houston plan. ", James Madison again at the Constitutional Convention: "A President is impeachable if he attempts to subvert the Constitution.". Barbara Jordan: Speech on Impeachment Jul 25, 1974 A President Is Impeachable If He Attempts To Subvert The Constitution This is the speech given by Representative Barbara Jordan (Democrat-Texas) reminding her colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee of the Constitutional basis for impeachment. Common sense would be revolted if we engaged upon this process for petty reasons. ( Don't do it if you don't know it or if you And I feel that notwithstanding the past, that my presence here is one additional bit of evidence that the American Dream need not forever be deferred. I do not mean political parties in that sense. My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total. Copyright 2023. We know that there was absolute, complete direction on September 3rd, when the president indicated that a surreptitious entry had been made in Dr. Fieldings office, after having met with Mr. Ehrlichman and Mr. Young. The most effective way to secure a freer America with more opportunity for all is through engaging, educating, and empowering our youth. The purpose of the speech was to tell the problem that the Constitution had with the wordings. Let everybody come. Speech-to-Text live streaming for live captions, powered by the worlds leading speech recognition API. This we must do as individuals. Following graduation (magna cum laude in 1956), she attended Boston University Law School, where she was one of only two womenboth African Americans from Houstonto graduate. It contains rules about what power is wielded, who wields it and over whom it is wielded in the governing of a country. Try Rev and save time transcribing, captioning, and subtitling. If the impeachment provision in the Constitution of the United States will not reach the offenses charged here, then perhaps that 18th-century Constitution should be abandoned to a 20th-century paper shredder! Become a freelancer and work on your own terms. Section 107, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. , Look back at paragraph 8. Grady, "Magnificent Voice Stilled at Last. A. to explain a problem with the wording of the Constitution B. to show that Congress was at work C. to explain the reason for an inquiry D. to thank members of the committee for being allowed to speak 1 See answer Advertisement Advertisement As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. We have been talking about it awhile now. B. Get a weekly digest of the weeks most important transcripts in your inbox. Richard M. Nixon was televised nationwide. The style of Barbara Jordan's speech is formal. Jordan decided not to seek a fourth term and retired from Congress in 1979. Who can so properly be the inquisitors for the nation as the representatives of the nation themselves? Telegrams and letters poured into Jordan's office in the days following her speech. We know the question. Since June 2018, Jordan is a regional career education hub for . I could list the problems which cause people to feel cynical, angry, frustrated. We are a people in a quandary about the present. Weve been talking about it a while now. D.Parents with an abundance of pride in their kids often post their children's photos on social media even though such postings can cause their children great embarrassment. Texas columnist Molly Ivins said that Jordan would be the obvious choice in a casting call for the voice of God.2, The youngest of three daughters of a Baptist minister in a poor Houston neighborhood, Jordan attended segregated schools, graduated from the all-black Texas Southern University, and earned a law degree from Boston University in 1959, where she was deeply affected by Howard Thurman, dean of Marsh Chapel. 4. We the people. Its a very eloquent beginning. The Bill of Rights Institute teaches civics. We know that the President met with Mr. Henry Petersen twenty-seven times to discuss matters related to Watergate and immediately thereafter met with the very persons who were implicated in the information Mr. Petersen was receiving. A RESTful API to access Revs workforce of fast, high quality transcriptionists and captioners. Barbara Jordan: (09:24) Purpose - As the keynote speaker for the DNC, Jordan's purpose was, to some degree, the same purpose of all convention keynote speakers -- to rally support behind the democratic candidate for presidency . That is not sufficient reason for the majority of the people of this country to decide to vote Democratic. Although they were a large part of Jordan's audience, the public and their opinions surrounding the idea of impeachment were barriers to Jordan's purpose. Create a better, more engaging experience for every student. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). . While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Of the impeachment process, it was Woodrow Wilson who said that "Nothing short of the grossest offenses against the plain law of the land will suffice to give them speed and effectiveness. Common sense would be revolted if we engaged upon this process for petty reasons. Well I am going to close my speech by quoting a Republican President and I ask you that as you listen to these words of Abraham Lincoln, relate them to the concept of a national community in which every last one of us participates: . My presentation was for a walk to end the pressures we as a society face . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In the 1990s she served as an adviser on ethics in government for Texas Gov. Jordan was the youngest of three daughters in a close-knit family. Under Title 17 U.S.C. My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. We know about the break-in of the psychiatrist's office. Industry-leading accurate legal transcription to ensure you dont miss a statement. Barbara Jordan: (03:02) It limited impeachment to high crimes and misdemeanors and discounted and opposed the term maladministration. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that "We, the people." That's the question. The powers relating to impeachment are an essential check in the hands of the body of the legislature against and upon the encroachments of the executive. The framers of this Constitution we very astute. 2) Jordan accuses Nixon of being a racist in addition to committing high crimes and misdemeanors. The nature of impeachment: a narrowly channeled exception to the separation-of-powers maxim. Create a better, more engaging experience for every student. The framers confined in the Congress the power if need be, to remove the president in order to strike a delicate balance between a president swollen with power and grown tyrannical, and preservation of the independence of the executive. We know the nature of impeachment. Barbara Jordan: (01:20) Has the President committed offenses and planned and directed and. ", We have heard time and time again that the evidence reflects the payment to defendants money. So today we are not being petty. Use this primary source text to explore key historical events. Barbara Jordan: (07:46) The President did know that it was Republican money, that it was money from the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, which was found in the possession of one of the burglars arrested on June the 17th. Barbara Jordan: (17:30) In a sense, that though the constitution talks about equality, equality was granted by court decision. Barbara Jordan: (10:47) But through the process of amendment, interpretation and court decision I have finally been included in We, the people., The subject of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men. Today I am an inquisitor. And our meeting this week is a continuation of that tradition, but there is something different about tonight. In establishing the division between the two branches of the legislature, the House and the Senate, assigning to the one the right to accuse and to the other the right to judge, the framers of this Constitution were very astute. C.A 14-year-old girl was surprised when she discovered that her mother had been posting photos of her on social media without her even knowing about it. The language used by Jordan is legal, and so is the topic that she covers. While in Congress, one of Jordan's most famous actions was the 15-minute televised speech she gave to the members of the House Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment hearings, on July 25, 1974. Discover why Rev is the #1 speech-to-text service in the world. We have heard time and time again that the evidence reflects payment to the defendants of money. We know about the Huston plan. In other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. A President is impeachable if your attempts to subvert the constitution.. This is a belief that each American, regardless of background, has equal standing in the public forum, all of us. Franics X. Clines, "Barbara Jordan Dies at 59; Her Voice Stirred the Nation," What was the purpose of Barbara Jordan's speech? Make your content more accessible to people with disabilities. In her introduction, what did Representative Jordan make very clear? She attended Texas Southern University in Houston, becoming a member of the debate team that tied Harvard University in a debateone of her proudest college moments. But when the document was completed on the seventeenth of September 1787 I was not included in that We, the people. I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. "1 Jordan was named Best Living Orator by a professional speakers' organization. We call ourselves public servants. The division between the two branches of the Legislature, the House and the Senate, assigning to the one the right to accuse and to the other the right to judge, the Framers of this Constitution were very astute. Today, I am an inquisitor, and hyperbole would not be fictional and would not overstate the solemnness that I feel right now. That is what we are talking about. Now, what are these beliefs? It is reason, and not passion, which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision. We were further cautioned today that perhaps these proceedings ought to be delayed because certainly there would be new evidence forthcoming from the President of the United States. And that's what we're talking about. The Committee met in Washington, D.C. And in the Virginia ratification convention: "We do not trust our liberty to a particular branch. They did not make the accusers and the judges the same person. Barbara Jordan: (00:01) You can be a part of this exciting work by making a donation to The Bill of Rights Institute today! Earlier today, we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, "We, the people." According to Jordan, how did President Nixon subvert the Constitution? *Freedom for all race, sex, and background. We know that the President met with Mr. Henry Petersen 27 times to discuss matters related to Watergate, and immediately thereafter met with the very persons who were implicated in the information Mr. Petersen was receiving. Pettiness can not be allowed to stand in the face of such overwhelming problems. "It is designed as a method of national inquest into the conduct of public men." This morning, in a discussion of the evidence, we are told that the evidence which purports to support the allegations of misuse of the CIA by the President is thin. At this point, I would like to juxtapose a few of the impeachment criteria with some of the actions the President has engaged in. "Prosecutions of impeachments will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community," said Hamilton in the Federalist Papers, number 65. There is no law that can require the American people to form a national community. We contribute to teachers and students by providing valuable resources, tools, and experiences that promote civic engagement through a historical framework. And, as a kind of deal or contract between those in power and those who are subjected to this power, a constitution defines the rights and duties of citizens, and the devices that keep those in power in check. Barbara Jordan: (01:25) Barbara Jordan Career Center, formerly Barbara Jordan High School for Careers, is a public vocational school center at 5800 Eastex Freeway (U.S. Highway 59) in Houston, Texas, United States.It is a part of the Houston Independent School District.Prior to July 1, 2018, the school served as its own self-contained secondary school. And during that time, it would have been most unusual for any national political party to ask a Barbara Jordan to deliver a keynote address. Jerry K. Frye Chairman and Associate Professor of Speech Communication , University of Minnesota , Duluth & Franklin B. Krohn Ph.D. student at S.U.N.Y . Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total., Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity. An analysis of Barbara Jordan's 1976 keynote address. Common sense would be revolted if we engaged upon this process for petty reasons. My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total, and I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution. Strike a balance. The Best Speech-to-Text Solution for Your Business Learn how Rev fits into your businesses workflow. The Federal Convention of 1787 said that. And yet the president has counseled his age to commit perjury, willfully disregard the secrecy of grand jury proceedings, concealed surreptitious entry, attempt to compromise a federal judge, while publicly displaying his cooperation with the processes of criminal justice. Barbara Jordan: (02:11) " (Jordan) was carrying the water of the strategists that want to bring us back to the right of center in the (Democratic) party," said McCabe. Fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. The framers confided in the Congress the power if need be to remove the President in order to strike a delicate balance between a president swollen with power and grown tyrannical, and preservation of the independence of the Executive. Transcripts & captions for a better media workflow. Its the news, without the news. In our haste to do all things for all people, we did not foresee the full consequences of our actions. Jordan was an effective campaigner for the Democrats during the 1960 presidential election, and this experience propelled her into politics. Indignation so great as to overgrow party interest may secure a conviction; but nothing else can.". Impeachment criteria, James Madison, from the Virginia ratification convention. Mr. Chairman, you are a strong man, and it has not been easy but we have tried as best we can to give you as much assistance as possible. The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men." Barbara Jordan: (06:01) Barbara Jordan: (06:04) Which is true of Barbara Jordan's "Statement before the House Judiciary Committee on the Articles of Impeachment": 1) Jordan spends much of the speech accusing Republicans of a cover-up. Let there be no illusions about the difficulty of forming this kind of a national community. 73-82. What role do think this speech had in influencing the House Judiciary Committees decision to recommend impeachment? Indignation so great as to overgrow party interest may secure a conviction; but nothing else can.". Industry-leading accurate legal transcription to ensure you dont miss a statement. I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the. The committee was examining whether Nixon's involvement in the cover-up of the Watergate burglary, including possible obstruction of justice, constituted the kind of "high crimes and misdemeanors" meriting impeachment. . It is designed as a method of national inquest into the conduct of public men. Barbara Jordan: (08:36) On July 12, 1976, Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Not only was Jordan one of the younger members of the Judiciary Committee, she was also one of the few women. This can be accomplished only by providing each citizen with every opportunity to participate in the management of the government. (LBJ Presidential Library, National Archives) . The Constitution doesn't say that. It is designed to "bridle" the executive if he engages in excesses. Those who "behave amiss or betray the public trust. The Constitution charges the President with the task of taking care that the laws be faithfully executed, and yet the President has counseled his aides to commit perjury, willfully disregard the secrecy of grand jury proceedings, conceal surreptitious entry, attempt to compromise a federal judge, while publicly displaying his cooperation with the processes of criminal justice. Convert your audio or video into 99% accurate text by a professional. What that recital of the evidence this morning did not include is what the President did know on June the 23rd, 1972. Problems which include, lack of integrity in government, the feeling that the individual no longer counts, the reality of material and spiritual poverty, the feeling that the grand American experiment is failing or has failed. Full text and audio of Barbara Jordan - 1974 House Judiciary Statement on the Nixon Impeachment Proceedings ", James Madison again at the Constitutional Convention: "A President is impeachable if he attempts to subvert the Constitution." 65. On July 25, 1974, Jordan delivered an inspiring speech to the House Judiciary Committee, on national television, calling for an impeachment trial of then-president Richard Nixon for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. Barbara Jordan: (05:27) The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of . 5, No. Make your content more accessible to people with disabilities. An hyperbole would not be fictional and would not overstate the solemnness that I feel right now. More is required of public officials than slogans and handshakes and press releases. In a perfect storm of unlikely circumstances, Barbara Jordan, a junior congresswoman from Houston, Texas, who grew up in segregation, landed a primetime spot to deliver an opening statement on. Even as I stand here and admit that we have made mistakes, I still believe that as the people of America sit in judgment on each party, they will recognize that our mistakes were mistakes of the heart. If we as public officials propose, we must produce. The fact is that on yesterday, the American people waited with great anxiety for eight hours, not knowing whether their President would obey an order of the Supreme Court of the United States. This morning, in a discussion of the evidence, we were told that the evidence which purports to support the allegations of misuse of the CIA by the President is thin. Barbara Jordan: (04:36) The government must remove them, seek to remove them. What did Representative Jordan imply when she brought up the idea of pain in her first sentence? And when the people raised their voices, we didnt hear. The constitutionis the body of doctrines and practices that form the fundamental organizing principle of a political state. What is special? We were further cautioned today that perhaps these proceedings ought to be delayed because certainly there would be new evidence forthcoming from the President of the United States. Before the invention of social media apps, parents could not engage in sharenting and, therefore, did not have the opportunity to globally embarrass their children.C.A 14-year-old girl was surprised when she discovered that her mother had been posting photos of her on social media without her even knowing about it.D.Parents with an abundance of pride in their kids often post their children's photos on social media even though such postings can cause their children great embarrassment.l tmi, Article Sharetening Total TMIWhat is this Article mainly about?A.In the past, people took plenty of photographs using traditional film and typically k *Barbara wanted to have freedom for everyone. We are a people in search of a national community. There has not even been an obfuscated indication that this committee would receive any additional materials from the President. This morning, in a discussion of the evidence, we were told that the evidence which purports to support the allegations of misuse of the CIA by the President is thin. The Portal to Texas History, June 23, 2015. That's the question. Our concept of governing is derived from our view of people. Add English on-screen subtitles for videos. What stood out about Jordan's speech was how she used the Constitution to support her claim for articles of impeachment against Nixon, as opposed to making it a partisan affair. Throughout our history, when people have looked for new ways to solve their problems and to uphold the principles of this nation, many times they have turned to political parties. Awarded a $1000 scholarship package to complete my philanthropic event for the betterment of my local community. Thats the question. "It is designed as a method of national inquest into the conduct of public men." , ditional film and typically kept more personal shots, like baby pictures, in photo albums that usually remained on a shelf.B. Corrections? We need to take to heart the words spoken by Thomas Jefferson, Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and that affection without which liberty, and even life, are but dreary things.. They did not make the accusers and the judges the same person. It can be done if we restore the belief that we share a sense of national community, that we share a common national endeavor, it can be done. The fact is that on yesterday, the American people waited with great anxiety for eight hours, not knowing whether their President would obey an order of the Supreme Court of the United States. "It is to be used only for great misdemeanors," so it was said in the North Carolina ratification convention. We know about the Huston plan. This speech was delivered to the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate Scandal hearings and came to define the course of the . Barbara Jordan: (19:10) The Constitution doesnt say that. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Chairman. The most accurate AI-powered transcription on the market. The constitution doesnt say that. I have confidence that the Democratic Party can lead the way. I join in thanking you for giving the junior members of this committee the glorious opportunity of sharing the pain of this inquiry. Build with the best speech-to-text APIs around. Her rhetoric was decidedly old-school, shaped by her legal and legislative work, and the fact that she was a groundbreaker as both a woman and an African-American. First, we believe in equality for all and privileges for none. What was the purpose of Barbara Jordan's speech? "We divide into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused." A nation is formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good. Achieving National Stature. Barbara Jordan, 10/18/1976. When Barbara Jordan was born in Houston . Which structure does the author use to organize information in the text Improving Old MacDonald's Farm? The President had knowledge that these funds were being paid and these were funds collected for the 1972 presidential campaign. A Purpose for Historically Based Picture Books in Learning. We know that. How did that demonstrate its significance? Many fear the future. It is chiefly designed for the President and his high ministers to somehow be called into account. . On July 25, 1974, Representative Barbara Jordan delivered a powerful speech at the Richard Nixon Impeachment Hearings. We are a people trying not only to solve the problems of the present, unemployment, inflation, but we are attempting on a larger scale to fulfill the promise of America. We know that there was absolute complete direction on September 3rd when the president indicated that a surreptitious entry had been made into Dr. We cannot improve on the system of government handed down to us by the founders of the Republic. But when that document was completed on the 17th of September in 1787, I was not included in that We the people. Ive felt somehow, for many years, that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. As Americans sensed a fracturing of American life in the 1970s, Jordan called for Americans to commit themselves to a "national community" and the "common good." Journal of Applied Communication Research: Vol. Mr. Chairman, I join my colleague Mr. Rangel in thanking you for giving the junior members of this committee the glorious opportunity of sharing the pain of this inquiry. Explore our upcoming webinars, events and programs. Were told that that evidence is insufficient. Although she acquired a reputation as an effective legislator, Jordan did not become a national figure until 1974 during the Watergate scandal, when her participation in the hearings held by the House Judiciary Committee on the impeachment of U.S. Pres. Thus option (A) is correct. Moreover, the President has made public announcements and assertions bearing on the Watergate case, which the evidence will show he knew to be false. Barbara Jordan to the House Judiciary Committee (video, audio, and transcript) http://watergate.info/1974/07/25/barbara-jordan-speech-on-impeachment.html, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. African American History, Impeachment, President, Womens History. She was the first African-American as well as the first woman to deliver a keynote address at a partys convention. If that happens, who then will speak for America? We must not become the new puritans and reject our society. Barbara Jordan: ( 09:55) Impeachment is intended for occasional and extraordinary cases, where a superior power acting for the whole people it's put into operation to protect their rights and rescue their liberties from violations.