虽然唐纳德·特朗普并不是唯一一位陷入法律和道德丑闻的美国总统,但作为第一位遭到刑事起诉的美国总统,他将在历史上占据一个独一无二的位置。
另外两位与特朗普有类似境遇的总统最终遭到国会弹劾,他们分别是比尔·克林顿,他在宣誓时撒谎,否认与一位白宫实习生的婚外情;另外一位是安德鲁·约翰逊,他在美国内战后激烈的权力斗争中的行为超出了其行政职权的范围。
理查德·尼克松因为卷入臭名昭著的水门事件而辞职。罗纳德·里根和尤利西斯·S·格兰特都丑闻缠身,他们的亲信都被起诉,但两位总统并未遭到指控。
下文简要介绍了特朗普前任们的遭遇:
比尔·克林顿
民主党总统克林顿在总统任期有一半以上的时间都受到了各种调查,调查内容包括失败的房地产交易,以及与一名白宫实习生的婚外情等。
调查人员对比尔和希拉里·克林顿夫妇在陷入困境的白水(Whitewater)房地产项目中的投资进行了长时间审查。1994年,被任命负责该项调查的独立检察官肯尼斯·斯塔尔,没有发现克林顿夫妇有任何不当行为的证据。但克林顿夫妇的两位密友吉姆和苏珊·麦克道格尔,却因为与白水有关的指控而被判有罪。克林顿在阿肯色州的继任者、州长吉姆·盖伊·塔克,也被判有罪。
斯塔尔在1998年的报告中曝光了克林顿与实习生莫妮卡·莱温斯基婚外情的骇人细节,事实证明此事的影响更加严重。在前阿肯色州雇员保拉·琼斯提起性骚扰诉讼时,克林顿在接受审问时否认与莱温斯基发生“性关系”。
斯塔尔裁定,克林顿在宣誓作证时撒谎,妨碍了司法公正。这导致众议院于1998年12月19日投票弹劾克林顿。但参议院否决了克林顿的罪名,使他能够继续担任总统,直到他的任期于2001年1月结束。
罗纳德·里根
里根并未因为他总统任期中最大的丑闻而面临弹劾或遭到法院指控。但被称为“伊朗门”事件的人质交换计划,却在他离开白宫后一直困扰着他。
1986年,在里根的第二个任期,公众得知他的政府授权向伊朗秘密出售武器,同时希望伊朗帮助释放在黎巴嫩关押的美国人质。销售武器所得的多达3,000万美元资金,被用于援助反对尼加拉瓜左翼政府的叛乱分子,违反了美国法律。
里根的国家安全顾问约翰·波因德克斯特辞职,他的助手奥利弗·诺斯上校被解雇。两人还因为试图欺骗和阻挠国会而被判有罪,但他们的定罪后来被推翻。里根的继任者乔治·H·W·布什总统赦免了其他六名涉案者。
里根坚称,他对武器销售所得被用于资助尼加拉瓜反对派的事情毫不知情。
理查德·尼克松
尼克松于1974年8月辞职,没有因为他的政府掩盖了参与闯入华盛顿民主党全国委员会(Democratic National Committee)总部的事件而面临弹劾。
发生在水门大厦的拙劣盗窃案,导致七名男子被起诉,其中包括两名前白宫助手。水门事件的五名被告认罪;另外两人在刑事审判中被判有罪。
1972年非法闯入水门大厦的阴谋,并没有阻止尼克松在几个月后轻松连任。他承受住了风暴,直到1974年众议院司法委员会(House Judiciary Committee)通过了三项弹劾条款,指控他妨碍司法公正、滥用权力和藐视国会。
在众议院全体投票之前,一段令人震惊的录音带被公布,从中可以听到尼克松批准了向联邦调查局施压从而迫使其放弃调查水门事件的计划。尼克松在失去了国会关键共和党人的支持后辞职。
他的副总统杰拉尔德·福特成为总统,并在一个月后赦免了尼克松。
尤利西斯·S·格兰特
格兰特作为总统从未遭到刑事指控或被正式指控行为不当,但他却出手干预了一起由自己的政府起诉的腐败案。这起案件的被告是他在白宫的私人秘书。
1875年,财政部长本杰明·H·布里斯托发起了一项调查,导致数百人被捕,他们参与了一项被称为“威士忌酒帮”(Whiskey Ring)的计划,其中酿酒商、税务官员和同谋者将数百万美元的酒税转移到自己的腰包。
当时奥维尔·E·巴布科克将军被指控为同谋者后,从内战时期的将军当选总统的格兰特发现,这场打击行动与自己的想法不一致。巴布科克不仅是总统的私人秘书,而且他和格兰特自战争以来就是朋友。
检察官称,他们发现了巴布科克发送给酒帮头目的电报,为他们的计划提供协助。尽管如此,格兰特坚持要为他的助手辩护。
为了避免总统出现在对巴布科克的审判现场,律师们于1876年2月12日在白宫对格兰特进行了宣誓问询。后来,他的证词副本在圣路易斯的法庭上被宣读。陪审团判决巴布科克无罪,这很大程度上要归功于格兰特的坚定维护。
安德鲁·约翰逊
安德鲁·约翰逊是美国史上第一位遭到弹劾的总统,并因此名誉扫地。他遭到弹劾的原因是在内战后的重建问题上与国会发生激烈争执。
1864年,来自田纳西州的民主党人约翰逊,凭借团结票,当选为亚伯拉罕·林肯的副总统,1865年林肯遇刺后,约翰逊接任了总统。约翰逊在白宫呼吁赦免南方领导人,并反对给予解放的黑人投票权,激怒了国会的共和党人。
而约翰逊解雇了林肯任命的战争部长埃德温·斯坦顿,促使众议院通过了弹劾条款,指控总统非法解雇和更换斯坦顿。斯坦顿主张对战败的南方采取更严厉的政策。
约翰逊的弹劾审判于1868年3月5日在参议院开始。两个多月后审判结束,参议员们以一票之差,未能将约翰逊赶下台。他完成了最后一年的总统任期,但民主党同僚拒绝了他再次参选的提名。(财富中文网)
译者:刘进龙
审校:汪皓
虽然唐纳德·特朗普并不是唯一一位陷入法律和道德丑闻的美国总统,但作为第一位遭到刑事起诉的美国总统,他将在历史上占据一个独一无二的位置。
另外两位与特朗普有类似境遇的总统最终遭到国会弹劾,他们分别是比尔·克林顿,他在宣誓时撒谎,否认与一位白宫实习生的婚外情;另外一位是安德鲁·约翰逊,他在美国内战后激烈的权力斗争中的行为超出了其行政职权的范围。
理查德·尼克松因为卷入臭名昭著的水门事件而辞职。罗纳德·里根和尤利西斯·S·格兰特都丑闻缠身,他们的亲信都被起诉,但两位总统并未遭到指控。
下文简要介绍了特朗普前任们的遭遇:
比尔·克林顿
民主党总统克林顿在总统任期有一半以上的时间都受到了各种调查,调查内容包括失败的房地产交易,以及与一名白宫实习生的婚外情等。
调查人员对比尔和希拉里·克林顿夫妇在陷入困境的白水(Whitewater)房地产项目中的投资进行了长时间审查。1994年,被任命负责该项调查的独立检察官肯尼斯·斯塔尔,没有发现克林顿夫妇有任何不当行为的证据。但克林顿夫妇的两位密友吉姆和苏珊·麦克道格尔,却因为与白水有关的指控而被判有罪。克林顿在阿肯色州的继任者、州长吉姆·盖伊·塔克,也被判有罪。
斯塔尔在1998年的报告中曝光了克林顿与实习生莫妮卡·莱温斯基婚外情的骇人细节,事实证明此事的影响更加严重。在前阿肯色州雇员保拉·琼斯提起性骚扰诉讼时,克林顿在接受审问时否认与莱温斯基发生“性关系”。
斯塔尔裁定,克林顿在宣誓作证时撒谎,妨碍了司法公正。这导致众议院于1998年12月19日投票弹劾克林顿。但参议院否决了克林顿的罪名,使他能够继续担任总统,直到他的任期于2001年1月结束。
罗纳德·里根
里根并未因为他总统任期中最大的丑闻而面临弹劾或遭到法院指控。但被称为“伊朗门”事件的人质交换计划,却在他离开白宫后一直困扰着他。
1986年,在里根的第二个任期,公众得知他的政府授权向伊朗秘密出售武器,同时希望伊朗帮助释放在黎巴嫩关押的美国人质。销售武器所得的多达3,000万美元资金,被用于援助反对尼加拉瓜左翼政府的叛乱分子,违反了美国法律。
里根的国家安全顾问约翰·波因德克斯特辞职,他的助手奥利弗·诺斯上校被解雇。两人还因为试图欺骗和阻挠国会而被判有罪,但他们的定罪后来被推翻。里根的继任者乔治·H·W·布什总统赦免了其他六名涉案者。
里根坚称,他对武器销售所得被用于资助尼加拉瓜反对派的事情毫不知情。
理查德·尼克松
尼克松于1974年8月辞职,没有因为他的政府掩盖了参与闯入华盛顿民主党全国委员会(Democratic National Committee)总部的事件而面临弹劾。
发生在水门大厦的拙劣盗窃案,导致七名男子被起诉,其中包括两名前白宫助手。水门事件的五名被告认罪;另外两人在刑事审判中被判有罪。
1972年非法闯入水门大厦的阴谋,并没有阻止尼克松在几个月后轻松连任。他承受住了风暴,直到1974年众议院司法委员会(House Judiciary Committee)通过了三项弹劾条款,指控他妨碍司法公正、滥用权力和藐视国会。
在众议院全体投票之前,一段令人震惊的录音带被公布,从中可以听到尼克松批准了向联邦调查局施压从而迫使其放弃调查水门事件的计划。尼克松在失去了国会关键共和党人的支持后辞职。
他的副总统杰拉尔德·福特成为总统,并在一个月后赦免了尼克松。
尤利西斯·S·格兰特
格兰特作为总统从未遭到刑事指控或被正式指控行为不当,但他却出手干预了一起由自己的政府起诉的腐败案。这起案件的被告是他在白宫的私人秘书。
1875年,财政部长本杰明·H·布里斯托发起了一项调查,导致数百人被捕,他们参与了一项被称为“威士忌酒帮”(Whiskey Ring)的计划,其中酿酒商、税务官员和同谋者将数百万美元的酒税转移到自己的腰包。
当时奥维尔·E·巴布科克将军被指控为同谋者后,从内战时期的将军当选总统的格兰特发现,这场打击行动与自己的想法不一致。巴布科克不仅是总统的私人秘书,而且他和格兰特自战争以来就是朋友。
检察官称,他们发现了巴布科克发送给酒帮头目的电报,为他们的计划提供协助。尽管如此,格兰特坚持要为他的助手辩护。
为了避免总统出现在对巴布科克的审判现场,律师们于1876年2月12日在白宫对格兰特进行了宣誓问询。后来,他的证词副本在圣路易斯的法庭上被宣读。陪审团判决巴布科克无罪,这很大程度上要归功于格兰特的坚定维护。
安德鲁·约翰逊
安德鲁·约翰逊是美国史上第一位遭到弹劾的总统,并因此名誉扫地。他遭到弹劾的原因是在内战后的重建问题上与国会发生激烈争执。
1864年,来自田纳西州的民主党人约翰逊,凭借团结票,当选为亚伯拉罕·林肯的副总统,1865年林肯遇刺后,约翰逊接任了总统。约翰逊在白宫呼吁赦免南方领导人,并反对给予解放的黑人投票权,激怒了国会的共和党人。
而约翰逊解雇了林肯任命的战争部长埃德温·斯坦顿,促使众议院通过了弹劾条款,指控总统非法解雇和更换斯坦顿。斯坦顿主张对战败的南方采取更严厉的政策。
约翰逊的弹劾审判于1868年3月5日在参议院开始。两个多月后审判结束,参议员们以一票之差,未能将约翰逊赶下台。他完成了最后一年的总统任期,但民主党同僚拒绝了他再次参选的提名。(财富中文网)
译者:刘进龙
审校:汪皓
Though far from the only U.S. president dogged by legal and ethical scandals, Donald Trump now occupies a unique place in history as the first indicted on criminal charges.
Two others, like Trump, found themselves impeached by Congress — Bill Clinton for lying under oath about his affair with a White House intern, and Andrew Johnson for pushing the limits of his executive authority in a bitter power struggle following the Civil War.
Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace over his role in the infamous Watergate break-in. And Ronald Reagan and Ulysses S. Grant both became forever tied to scandals in which close aides got prosecuted, though neither president was ever charged.
Here’s a look at how Trump’s predecessors fared:
BILL CLINTON
Clinton spent more than half his presidency under scrutiny in investigations that ranged from failed real estate deals to the Democratic president’s affair with a White House intern.
Investigators took a lengthy look into Bill and Hillary Clinton’s investments in the troubled Whitewater real estate venture. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, appointed to oversee the investigation in 1994, turned up no evidence of wrongdoing by the Clintons. But two of their close associates, Jim and Susan McDougal, ended up convicted of Whitewater-related charges. So did Jim Guy Tucker, Clinton’s successor as governor of Arkansas.
Starr’s 1998 report packed with lurid details of Clinton’s affair with intern Monica Lewinsky proved far more damaging. While being questioned in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones, Clinton had denied having “sexual relations” with Lewinsky.
Starr concluded that Clinton had lied under oath and obstructed justice. That led to the House voting to impeach Clinton on Dec. 19, 1998. He was acquitted by the Senate, allowing him to remain in office until his term ended in January 2001.
RONALD REAGAN
Reagan never faced impeachment or court charges for the biggest scandal of his presidency. But the arms-for-hostages scheme that became known as the Iran-Contra affair dogged him long after he left the White House.
In 1986, during Reagan’s second term, the public learned that his administration had authorized secret arms sales to Iran while seeking Iranian aid in freeing American hostages held in Lebanon. As much as $30 million from the arms sales was diverted, in violation of U.S. law, to aid rebels fighting the leftist government of Nicaragua.
Reagan’s national security adviser, John Poindexter, resigned and an aide, Lt. Col. Oliver North, was fired. Both were also convicted of crimes stemming from efforts to deceive and obstruct Congress. Their convictions were later overturned. President George H.W. Bush, Reagan’s successor, pardoned six others involved.
Reagan insisted money from the arms sales was funneled to the Nicaraguan Contra rebels without his knowledge.
RICHARD NIXON
Nixon resigned from office in August 1974 rather than face impeachment for his administration’s cover-up of its involvement in a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington.
The bungled burglary at the Watergate office building resulted in the indictment of seven men, including two former White House aides. Five of the Watergate defendants pleaded guilty; two were convicted in criminal trials.
Intrigue over the 1972 Watergate break-in didn’t stop Nixon from cruising to reelection a few months later. He endured the storm until the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 approved three articles of impeachment accusing him of obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress.
Before the full House could vote, a bombshell tape recording was released in which Nixon could be heard approving a plan to pressure the FBI to drop its Watergate investigation. Nixon resigned after losing support from key congressional Republicans.
His vice president, Gerald Ford, became president and pardoned Nixon a month later.
ULYSSES S. GRANT
While never personally charged with crimes or formally accused of wrongdoing, Grant as president torpedoed a corruption case prosecuted by his own administration. The man on trial was Grant’s personal secretary in the White House.
In 1875, an investigation launched by Treasury Secretary Benjamin H. Bristow resulted in hundreds of arrests in a scheme known as the Whiskey Ring, in which distillers, revenue agents and fellow conspirators diverted millions of dollars in liquor taxes to themselves.
The Civil War general-turned-president found himself at odds with the crackdown when Gen. Orville E. Babcock ended up charged as a conspirator. Not only was Babcock the president’s personal secretary, but he and Grant had also been friends since the war.
Prosecutors said they had uncovered telegrams Babcock sent to ringleaders to assist their scheme. Regardless, Grant insisted on testifying in his aide’s defense.
To avoid the spectacle of the president appearing at Babcock’s trial, attorneys questioned Grant under oath at the White House on Feb. 12, 1876. A transcript of his testimony was later read in court in St. Louis. The jury acquitted Babcock, a decision largely credited to Grant’s unwavering defense.
ANDREW JOHNSON
The first American president to have his legacy tarnished by impeachment, Andrew Johnson’s woes arose from his intense feuding with Congress over Reconstruction following the Civil War.
The Tennessee Democrat had been elected vice president in 1864 as part of a unity ticket with Abraham Lincoln, and Johnson assumed the presidency after Lincoln’s 1865 assassination. From the White House, Johnson called for pardoning Confederate leaders and opposed extending voting rights to freed Blacks, infuriating congressional Republicans.
It was Johnson’s firing of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, a Lincoln appointee who favored tougher policies toward the defeated South, that prompted the House to pass articles of impeachment that accused the president of ousting and replacing Stanton illegally.
Johnson’s impeachment trial began in the Senate on March 5, 1868. It ended more than two months later, with senators just one vote short of removing Johnson from office. He served the remainder of his final year, but fellow Democrats denied him their nomination to run again.