Max Cleland: “I am struck by the fact that in the earlier weeks of this year, all of my colleagues in the Senate gathered on a…”

“I am struck by the fact that in the earlier weeks of this year, all of my colleagues in the Senate gathered on a question of serious constitutional gravity: impeachment of the President of the United States. This is a serious matter equivalent to that, Mr. President, that is, sending young Americans into harm's way. It is a constitutional matter, one that I personally feel strongly about and one on which I am personally conflicted. As the distinguished Senator from Arizona, I served in Vietnam. I cannot help but think back, on the presentation of this resolution, to the fact that some 35 years ago the Senate voted 88-2 in favor of the Tonkin Gulf resolution which authorized the President to 'take all necessary steps, including the use of armed forces,' in Vietnam. The House approved that resolution unanimously, 416-0. It is fascinating that my colleague, my friend, my mentor, Senator Russell, in those days chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and a great student of history, actually succeeded in attaching language which gave Congress the right to terminate the authorization of the Tonkin Gulf resolution at any time by concurrent resolution.”