HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER ASKS MEMBERS TO "LOOK INTO...OWN SOUL" IN IMPEACHMENT VOTE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Nearing the end of eight hours of debate on the floor of the House of Representatives today, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer* (D- Maryland), speaking in favor of passage of two articles of impeachment of President Donald J. Trump, quoted the last words of Senator John F. Kennedy's Profiles In Courage...
"The stories of past courage can...teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul."
JFK preceded this quote with the following words...
"In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience, each man must decide for himself the course he will follow."
Chapter Six of Profiles In Courage covers Senator Edmund G. Ross of Kansas who defied his Republican party line to find President Andrew Johnson NOT GUILTY in his impeachment trial of 1868. Senator Ross later wrote...
"The Senators...leaned over their desks, many with hand to ear...It was a tremendous responsibility...I almost literally looked down into my open grave."
Senator Ross had cast the deciding vote which, to the dismay of the Radical Republicans, allowed Andrew Johnson to be acquitted and serve out the remainder of his presidential term.
*Steny Hamilton Hoyer was born in 1939 in New York City. He graduated from the University of Maryland & Georgetown University Law Center (1966). SHH has served in the U.S. Congress since 1981.
SOURCE
"Profiles In Courage," by John F. Kennedy, The Illustrated Edition, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York.
JFK+50 NOTE
Two articles of impeachment (abuse of power/obstruction of Congress) of President Trump were approved by majority vote on the floor of the House of Representatives tonight, December 18, 2019.
Both votes followed closely to party lines with not one Republican voting in favor of either article. Mr. Trump is now the third POTUS to be impeached. It is widely believed that he, like Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton before him, will be acquitted in a Senate trial.
JFK Library Image
"The stories of past courage can...teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul."
JFK preceded this quote with the following words...
"In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience, each man must decide for himself the course he will follow."
Chapter Six of Profiles In Courage covers Senator Edmund G. Ross of Kansas who defied his Republican party line to find President Andrew Johnson NOT GUILTY in his impeachment trial of 1868. Senator Ross later wrote...
"The Senators...leaned over their desks, many with hand to ear...It was a tremendous responsibility...I almost literally looked down into my open grave."
Senator Ross had cast the deciding vote which, to the dismay of the Radical Republicans, allowed Andrew Johnson to be acquitted and serve out the remainder of his presidential term.
*Steny Hamilton Hoyer was born in 1939 in New York City. He graduated from the University of Maryland & Georgetown University Law Center (1966). SHH has served in the U.S. Congress since 1981.
SOURCE
"Profiles In Courage," by John F. Kennedy, The Illustrated Edition, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York.
JFK+50 NOTE
Two articles of impeachment (abuse of power/obstruction of Congress) of President Trump were approved by majority vote on the floor of the House of Representatives tonight, December 18, 2019.
Both votes followed closely to party lines with not one Republican voting in favor of either article. Mr. Trump is now the third POTUS to be impeached. It is widely believed that he, like Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton before him, will be acquitted in a Senate trial.
Steny Hoyer
(D-Maryland)
U.S. Congress Photo
JFK Library Image
