How to Impeach Nixon

To the Editors:

I think many of your readers might be interested to know that the American Civil Liberties Union is organizing an impeachment campaign in every state in the country.

NYCLU members and people who responded to ads in The New York Times within their own congressional districts. We now have Civil Liberties Committees on Impeachment functioning in twenty-six congressional districts in New York.

The grass roots activities organized by the Congressional District Impeachment Committees have been very exciting and encouraging. Committees have met with their representatives; sponsored rallies, forums, debates, discussions; appeared on radio and television talk shows; organized speakers’ bureaus and provided speakers to community and civic groups, schools, clubs; placed full-page ads in local newspapers; spearheaded letter-writing campaigns to members of the House of Representatives and members of the House Judiciary Committee; printed leaflets, bumper stickers, buttons; and set up and staffed impeachment tables at shopping centers and in front of large stores such as Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, at street corners and movie theaters.

The campaign is going well, but there are still many things we need to do to maintain and increase the present momentum of the impeachment campaign. If you would like to help, here are some suggestions:

1. If you have not yet joined a Congressional District Civil Liberties Committee on Impeachment, please do. If you would like the name, address, and phone number of the chairperson for your congressional district, contact NYCLU at 84 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, (212) 924-7800.

2. The importance of repetitive letter writing cannot be overstated. Do not feel your job is done because you have written your representative once. Too many representatives will try to avoid responsibility by saying, “My impeachment mail is slacking off.” Suggest that people write their representatives at least twice per month, with additional letters as various developments occur.

3. Continued emphasis must be given to the House Judiciary Committee. They are moving far too slowly. Tell people to write to Peter Rodino, Chairman, and Edward Hutchinson, Ranking Republican of the House Judiciary Committee.

We found that once people learn that impeachment is not conviction, is not accusation of guilt without a trial, and does not require indictable criminal offenses (although such offenses are indeed impeachable), and once people learn that impeachment merely means calling for a trial by the Senate, many more people are in favor of impeachment. We will continue to try to bring about this understanding by explaining what impeachment is and presenting the evidence which makes impeachment necessary. We will also be emphasizing that impeachment is the best way to compel full disclosure.

Volunteers are urgently needed to staff impeachment tables, as well as to help with office work. If you are interested, please call Saralee Evans at 84 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, (212) 924-7800. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on what we are doing, please let us know.

Norman Siegel

Field Director,

New York Civil Liberties Union