Impeachment and the history of political combat

For years, the president’s political opponents in the House of Representatives had investigated impeachment as a means of removing him from office. It was clear their ideas about the distribution of power in the American system of government, and how it should be used, were fundamentally different from each other on crucial points.

Finally, members of Congress boiled over when the nation’s chief executive took a particularly provocative political action. As they weighed impeachment articles they considered the nature of the president’s aggressive character. One proposal charged him with making, “with a loud voice, certain intemperate, inflammatory, and scandalous harangues” meant to attack Congress itself.

Thus, Andrew Johnson’s formal impeachment began. In 1868, Johnson was impeached in the House and barely survived a Senate trial.

The impeachment of JohnsonThe Watergate eraThe impeachment of ClintonIn the wake of the Big Sort