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Impeachment: An American History
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
30 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 9 to read
Four experts on the American presidency examine the three times impeachment has been invoked--against Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton--and explain what it means today. Impeachment is a double-edged sword. Though it was designed to check tyrants, Thomas Jefferson also called impeachment "the most formidable weapon for the purpose of a dominant faction that was ever contrived." On the one hand, it nullifies the will of voters, the basic foundation of all representative democracies. On the other, its absence from the Constitution would leave the country vulnerable to despotic leadership. It is rarely used, and with good reason. Only three times has a president's conduct led to such political disarray as to warrant his potential removal from office, transforming a political crisis into a constitutional one. None has yet succeeded. Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868 for failing to kowtow to congressional leaders--and, in a large sense, for failing to be Abraham Lincoln--yet survived his Senate trial. Richard Nixon resigned in August 1974 after the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment against him for lying, obstructing justice, and employing his executive power for personal and political gain. Bill Clinton had an affair with a White House intern, but in 1999 he faced trial in the Senate less for that prurient act than for lying under oath about it. In the first book to consider these three presidents alone--and the one thing they have in common--Jeffrey A. Engel, Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, and Peter Baker explain that the basis and process of impeachment is more political than legal. The Constitution states that the president "shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," leaving room for historical precedent and the temperament of the time to weigh heavily on each case. This book reveals the complicated motives behind each impeachment--never entirely limited to the question of a president's guilt--and the risks to all sides. Each case depended on factors beyond the president's behavior: his relationship with Congress, the polarization of the moment, and the power and resilience of the office itself. This is a realist view of impeachment that looks to history for clues about its potential use in the future.
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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We need more politicians like Lincoln who accept defeat and is willing to work with the administration to transition #abrahamlincoln #impeachment #jonmeacham #andrewjohnson #history #ushistory #politicalscience #uspolitics #kindlequotes

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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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8 likes1 stack add
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image

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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image

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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image

quote
Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image

quote
Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image

quote
Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image

quote
Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image

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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image
quote
Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
post image
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Owls31092
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Of course, we just couldn‘t start a book about #impeachment without a quote from #donaldtrump #ushistory #history #uspolitics #politicalscience #jefferyengel

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KimHM
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Pickpick

Being a history of the two (A. Johnson and B. Clinton) and a half (Nixon) times we got to impeachment, This collection of essays makes for a digestible appetizer for more solid fare. Impeachment seems to be a complicated and malleable concept with enormously important repercussions. One has to be glad Pelosi was so cautious. 💡💡💡💡

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KimHM
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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The playbook . . . 🤫🤥🤐🤭

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KimHM
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Because we must think about these things 📚📚📚

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BookishMarginalia
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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#MiaCat is out for the count. Isn‘t he gorgeous? #CatsofLitsy

HufflepuffGirl90 He looks so much like my kitty! So handsome! 5y
shaynarae That nose! 😻 5y
Kshakal So precious!! 😻😻 5y
Velvetfur Aaww he's such a little snuggles! 😍 5y
158 likes5 comments
review
KimM
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Pickpick

A look back at what the founding fathers intended for impeachment to be. This book was very well done and without bias. It‘s a fact-based view of 3 impeachments and the actions and politics that led up to them.

24 likes1 stack add
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BookishMarginalia
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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#MiaCat and #DavidCat among the books 💜💜💜

rubyslippersreads 😻😻😻 5y
123 likes1 comment
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BookishMarginalia
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Off to a good start. #ModernLibrary publishes great anthologies.

85 likes4 stack adds
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BookishMarginalia
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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#YetiCat sunning herself in a favorite spot: our Florida room bookshelves. Awww! (Notice she is not using either of the comfy cat beds!) #CatsofLitsy

Lreads And she is still more comfortable than we can ever hope to be! 😊 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa That‘s perfect cat! Love it! 5y
Naj Cats are the ones living the dream life🙌 5y
guinsgirlreads 🥰😍😍😍😍🥰 5y
Susanita A Florida room in Florida! 5y
144 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
BookishMarginalia
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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At home today waiting for the county inspector to sign off on our electrical work, so... light reading and coffee!

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ontheBL
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Pickpick

I probably recommend everything Jon Meacham touches. Impeachment is a tiny book jam-packed full of interesting facts about a well known word yet unfamiliar process. There is an under current of the thought that a vote on November 6th is a vote to impeach Trump or not. So go vote!!!

onthebl.org/2018/10/30/impeachment/

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ontheBL
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel

“Those who study history are also destined to repeat it. But we are less surprised.” Jon Meacham

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ontheBL
Impeachment: An American History | Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, Jeffrey A Engel
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Taking a reading break to enjoy some Starbucks. We love it even more because of the puppaccinos, good service, and convenient 532 steps away from my front door. It's the perfect good-girl treat for Beau and me!
onthebl.org/2018/10/24/starbucks/