# Question on President Nixon 'impeached" versus "initiating impeachment proceedings" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2018, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903 "2018-08-20T07:10:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/1 "2018-08-20T07:10:09Z")
Hi, Many websites I’ve read say President Nixon was not impeached but other websites state that impeachment proceedings were initiated against him. What is the difference? Is Carl Bernstein correct in stating that Nixon was impeached (8 minutes and 4 seconds into the video “for which he was impeached”. )? I look forward to your feedback. “SHUT UP! I’LL RESIGN”… Trump TEARS After Mark Hertling & McRaven’s Letter “Take My Clearance Too” Carl Bernstein 8.04 ""for which he was impeached" ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/2 "2018-08-20T07:14:10Z")
from Wikipedia > **[Impeachment process against Richard Nixon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_process_against_Richard_Nixon)** > > The impeachment process against Richard Nixon began in the United States House of Representatives on October 30, 1973, following the series of high-level resignations and firings widely called the "Saturday Night Massacre" during the course of the Watergate scandal. The House Committee on the Judiciary set up an impeachment inquiry staff and began investigations into possible impeachable offenses by Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States. The process was formally initiated ... With President Nixon’s resignation, Congress dropped its impeachment proceedings. On August 20, 1974, the House authorized the printing of the Committee report H. Rept. 93-1305, which included the text of the resolution impeaching President Nixon and set forth articles of impeachment against him.[110][111] ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/3 "2018-08-20T08:36:05Z")
It’s fairly straightforward. The printing of copies of the House Resolution laying out the articles of impeachment had been authorized (which makes it part of the impeachment proceedings), but the resolution had not been taken up by the House and voted on (which makes the actual impeachment something that did not take place). After all, if the resolution had failed, we would say that impeachment proceedings had been initiated, but the President had not been impeached. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/4 "2018-08-20T08:45:40Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi, > > Many websites I’ve read say President Nixon was not impeached but other websites state that impeachment proceedings were initiated against him. What is the difference? The difference is the process was started, but not completed. The House passed [H. Res 803](https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-resolution/803) on Feb. 6, 1974 which instructed the Judiciary Committee to investigate whether Nixon should be impeached. The Committee did so, and subpoenaed Nixon’s White House tapes, which were the subject of a rather famous Supreme Court case. After they got the tapes, the Committee approved three of five articles of impeachment at the end of July, 1974, and sent them to the full House for a vote. Nixon resigned on August 9, before the matter could be voted on by the House. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/5 "2018-08-20T15:30:56Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > The difference is the process was started, but not completed. > > The House passed [H. Res 803](https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-resolution/803) on Feb. 6, 1974 which instructed the Judiciary Committee to investigate whether Nixon should be impeached. The Committee did so, and subpoenaed Nixon’s White House tapes, which were the subject of a rather famous Supreme Court case. After they got the tapes, the Committee approved three of five articles of impeachment at the end of July, 1974, and sent them to the full House for a vote. Nixon resigned on August 9, before the matter could be voted on by the House. Thank you both. Very helpful in clarifying that for me. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/6 "2018-08-20T18:07:42Z")
It is virtually certain that the full House would have voted to impeach Nixon in a matter of a few days or weeks, and it is very likely that the Senate would have voted to remove him. But strictly speaking Nixon was not impeached. In a related situation, Connecticut Governor John Rowland was impeached by the state House (for corruption), but resigned just as the state Senate proceedings were convened (the motion was tabled when his resignation was announced). Strictly speaking, he too was not formally removed from office. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/7 "2018-08-20T22:08:21Z")
By resigning before the impeachment resolution had been voted on by the House, Nixon retained his pension, and all the benefits provided to ex-Presidents. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/8 "2018-08-23T08:47:37Z")
You would think that Carl Berstein of all people would know better than to say that Nixon was impeached. Hillary Clinton made the same mistake. It makes you wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-president-nixon-impeached-versus-initiating-impeachment-proceedings/819903/9 "2018-08-23T15:25:09Z")
Nixon is sometimes labeled as an “unindicted co-conspirator”. That term may be used again soon.