Senate Acquits Clinton; Impeachment Trial Ends

Jet, March 1, 1999

Offering and asking forgiveness, President Clinton said his impeachment acquittal should begin "a time of reconciliation and renewal for America."

In the Rose Garden of the White House, the president apologized for the Monica Lewinsky affair and his deceptions about it. He said he is humbled and grateful for the support he has received from millions of Americans over the past year since the scandal was disclosed.

"Now I ask all Americans, and I hope all Americans here in Washington and throughout our land will rededicate ourselves to the work of serving our nation and building our future," Clinton said.

Clinton spoke solemnly and plainly, about two hours after the Senate voted to acquit him on articles of impeachment for perjury and obstruction of justice, and he began with an expression of remorse.

"Now that the Senate has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility, bringing this process to a conclusion, I want to say again to the American people how profoundly sorry I am for what I said and did to trigger these events, and the great burden they have imposed on the Congress and the American people," Clinton said.

"I also am humbled and very grateful for the support and the prayers I have received from millions of Americans over this past year.

"This can be and this must be a time of reconciliation and renewal for America."

The president answered one question from a reporter who asked: "In your heart, sir, can you forgive and forget?"

Clinton replied: "I believe any person who asks for forgiveness has to be prepared to give it." He then walked back into the White House.

The U.S. Senate voted 55-45 against conviction for perjury and 50-50 against obstruction of justice. It would have taken 67 votes to convict Clinton and to expel him from office.

The perjury charge stemmed from the allegation that Clinton lied to a federal grand jury about his affair with the former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The other charge was that Clinton obstructed justice in a bid to hide his relationship with Lewinsky.

The public expected that most of the 45 Democrats would stand by Clinton in the case.

But 10 Republicans surprised the public by joining Democrats on the vote against conviction on the perjury charge. Five of those 10 Republicans again voted with Democrats against conviction on the obstruction of justice charge.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist declared after the vote: "It is therefore ordered and adjudged that the said William Jefferson Clinton be and he hereby is acquitted of the charges in the said articles."

Most Americans were pleased with the Senate vote not to remove President Clinton from office.

A USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll shows that 64 percent of the public approve of the Senate's acquittal of Clinton and also that 68 percent approve of the job Clinton is doing as president.