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The US House of Representatives recently voted in favor of the impeachment of Donald Trump. He now faces the Senate in the next round of this process, who will decide his fate as president.
Throughout history, this has only happened two times before – with Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. However, the argument to consider impeachment against sitting presidents is not uncommon. Not all impeachment resolutions get to the hearing and trial stage that we will now see in the Senate. From 1843 to 2019 it has almost been the norm that sitting US Presidents have had to face this threat.
Tyler John – 1843
There were several attempts to remove Democratic-Republican turned Whig, President John Tyler from office in 1843. The most effective was the January 10 resolution that was introduced by Rep. John Minor Botts, of Virginia. Of all nine counts of impeachable crimes leveled again him, none passed.
James Buchanan – 1860
The year 1860 was loaded with hearings held within the ‘Covode Committee’ where the impeachment of Democrat President James Buchanan was considered. The impeachment efforts did not stand.
Andrew Johnson – 1867
President Andrew Johnson was accused of corruption and attempts were made to remove him from office. On two occasions, a vote was cast but Johnson was acquitted by one vote at the Senate trial.
Ulysses S. Grant – 1876
Grant was doomed to be impeached following a financial scandal but no direct evidence was found on him. When it seemed like the democrats had failed they shifted their focus on his working hours and how much times he spent away from his official obligations. Proceedings never took off.
Grover Cleveland – 1896
President Grover Cleveland was set to be impeached when a resolution stating that he was selling unauthorized federal bonds and breaking the Pullman strike was submitted. The resolution was eventually tabled.
Herbert Hoover – 1932
The impeachment resolutions against President Herbert Hoover was introduced twice but were tabled by wide margins.
Harry S. Truman – 1951
Congressional Republicans called for the impeachment of Truman in 1951 after he fired General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Senate hearings and debates were held, and new bills introduced against him. The resolution later seized.
Richard M. Nixon – 1973
The Watergate scandal led the Judiciary Committee into considering the impeachment of Richard M. Nixon in 1973.
Investigations began, a resolution came forward by the House in 1974 and hearings began soon after. On August 9, 1974, Nixon resigned from office, making him the first to ever resign the US presidency.
Ronald Reagan – 1987
Citing the Iran Contra affair a resolution was introduced in 1987 for the impeachment of Reagan. The proceedings never ended with impeachment. However, his administration saw the highest number of indictments and convictions of officials for any US presidency.
George H. W. Bush – 1991
In 1991 President George H. W. Bush faced impeachment threats from a resolution against him for starting the Gulf War. The resolution failed twice.
Bill Clinton – 1997
A resolution was led against Bill Clinton in 1997. It steered the House Judiciary Committee into inquiring impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton.
It made him the second to suffer an impeachment defeat but he got clearance for all charges by the Senate relating to the Lewinsky scandal.
George W. Bush – 2008
President George W. Bush and other administrators earned a label for impeachment following the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. All efforts to impeach him failed and never made it to the hearing stage.
Barack Obama – 2012
Some Republicans were of the view that Obama had abusively used his executive power. Walter B. Jones called for the consideration of impeachment in 2012. The resolution failed.
Donald Trump – 2019
Unlike other presidents, motions for the impeachment of President Donald Trump already began within weeks of inauguration. While none went into effect, an announcement by Nancy Pelosi in September 2019 opened a new impeachment issue. Hearings began soon after and he was charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. On December 18, 2019, the impeachment of Donald Trump was successful, making him the third president in US history.
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