Charges continue to haunt Hillary Rodham Clinton

0 Comments | Insight on the News, August 19, 1996 | by John Elvin

Seeking to verify the existence of the suppressed study, of which Hillary is said by Zeifman to have been in charge, Insight asked former Rep. Charles Wiggins of California if he could confirm the Zeifman account. Wiggins, who as a congressman served on the committee, now is a federal appeals-court judge. Here is his reply.

Dear Mr. Elvin:

This will acknowledge your letter concerning your interview with Jerry Zeifman. I have discussed recently Jerry Zeifman's book [Without Honor! with him and he furnished me with a copy of it. I understand that you wish me to comment upon Jerry's description of an incident reported in the book involving my discovery of a publication authored by several college professors and commissioned by the Judiciary Committee.

The issue arose early in the impeachment proceedings. Because of my belief that the words "abuse of power" were not sufficiently definite to impose liability upon the president, at a full committee meeting I queried the chairman about this issue and requested that he commission research as to any abuses of power committed by Nixon's predecessors. In that way, perhaps we would be able to provide some meaning to this obscure phrase. Although the debate in the full committee was pretty much along party lines, I was ultimately defeated in my effort to obtain a study by the Judiciary Committee of former abuses of power. The matter was thereupon dropped, at least as far as I was aware.

The committee completed its investigation and ultimately held televised hearings with which you are aware. One of the articles of impeachment was based upon the president's abuse of power. I argued before the full committee that it was a meaningless expression and had not been given any certainty by any studies conducted by the committee. My memory is that that representation by me was not contradicted. In due course, the committee voted on the proposed articles of impeachment. One such article was that Nixon abused the powers of his office.

At some later date, perhaps in the fall of 1974, I was traveling in the south and stopped by an airport newsstand for the purpose of obtaining some item to read on my flight to Washington. At that time I discovered a paperback book published by, as I recall, three authors who were academics. The cover sheet indicated that the book reflected a study prepared at the request of [House Judiciary Committee] Chairman Peter Rodino and was used in connection with the proceedings against Richard Nixon. That description on the cover sheet was sufficient to arouse my curiosity and I bought the book. I read it on my flight to Washington and the next workday morning I called upon Pete Rodino to ask his explanation. He did not deny that the study was conducted but did deny that it was used in connection with the proceedings. Because I was not furnished a copy of this study for my use, I was somewhat offended by the chairman's statement. In due course he confirmed this to me in a letter.

Jerry Zeifman, I am told, has full access to the exchange of correspondence between myself and Chairman Rodino and will doubtless recall personally my remarks before the full committee early in the proceedings. In summary, Jerry Zeifman has the story substantially correct. It has been many years since I have attempted to recall the specifics of this affair and it is possible that my memory is currently somewhat deficient but I nevertheless am prepared to endorse Mr. Zeifman's general description of the events.