The Age of Impeachment: American Constitutional Culture Since 1960 [Hardcover]

David E. Kyvig (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0700615814 | ISBN-13: 978-0700615810 | Publication Date: April 28, 2008 | Edition: 1St Edition

In this magisterial new work, Bancroft Prize-winning historian David Kyvig chronicles the rise of a culture of impeachment since 1960-one that extends far beyond the infamous scandals surrounding Presidents Richard Nixon (Watergate) and Bill Clinton (Monica Lewinsky) and has dramatically altered the face of American politics. A buzz word in today's public life, "impeachment" was anything but that before 1960. Since then it has been transformed from a historically little-known and little-used tool of last resort into a political weapon of choice. By examining the details and consequences of impeachment episodes involving three Supreme Court justices, a vice president, five federal judges, and four presidents, Kyvig explores this seismic shift in our constitutional culture and gauges its ongoing implications for American political life. Beginning with the John Birch Society's campaign against Chief Justice Earl Warren, impeachment efforts became far more frequent after 1960, with eight actually ending in resignation or removal. In describing these efforts, Kyvig recounts stories and subplots about key political actors and the controversies they inspired. He argues that judicial cases are as important as the better-known presidential ones and shows why those cases that did not proceed-against not only Warren, but also Abe Fortas, William O. Douglas, Spiro Agnew, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush-are as illuminating as those that did. Kyvig demonstrates that impeachment has been the bellwether of a changing-and increasingly toxic-political climate. Perhaps most important and ominous, the increasing threat of impeachment has encouraged presidents to hide potentially impeachable actions behind a thick veil of executive secrecy, while dramatically expanding executive power beyond the reach of either Congress or the courts. Combining political and legal history at their best, Kyvig also explores the cultural impact of journalist David Frost, editorial cartoonist Herblock, and filmmakers Alan Pakula, Robert Altman, and Oliver Stone. A gifted storyteller, he presents a cautionary tale that should be read by all who care about our national government and its ability to survive and thrive in perilous times.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Kyvig, one of our most imaginative and accomplished constitutional historians, has produced an extraordinarily well written, deeply researched, and judicious account of the uses and misuses of impeachment over the past 40-odd years. This is an excellent--and timely--history."--James T. Patterson, author of Restless Giant: The United States from Watergate to Bush v. Gore

"Time and time again, Kyvig unearths or spotlights previously ignored if not undiscovered material. But, as with any good history, it is the stories he tells that often rivet the reader. . . . An outstanding and invaluable book. Its readership should be wide and deep."--Michael J. Gerhardt, author of The Federal Impeachment Process

About the Author

David E. Kyvig is Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of History at Northern Illinois University and author or editor of ten other books, including Explicit and Authentic Acts: Amending the U.S. Constitution, 1776-1995, winner of the 1997 Bancroft Prize.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 500 pages
• Publisher: University Press Of Kansas; 1St Edition edition (April 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700615814
• ISBN-13: 978-0700615810
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exploring the History of Impeachment in Federal Office in the latter half of the twentieth century., May 30, 2010

By 

Roger D. Launius "Historian" (Washington, D.C., United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Age of Impeachment: American Constitutional Culture Since 1960 (Hardcover)

Why have there been so many attempted impeachments of officials in the last fifty years? Have public officials become more corrupt than in the past? Has society and its standards changed? Has something else taken place? "The Age of Impeachment," by David E. Kyvig of Northern Illinois University, seeks to answer these and related questions in an interesting and insightful narrative.

Taking a chronological approach, Kyvig suggests that recent history, essentially the last fifty years, has been dominated by a rise in impeachment as a political tool for ridding the public sphere of rivals. After an introductory chapter that lays out the themes of the book, Kyvig explores three efforts to impeach Federal judges. He then follows with individual chapters on the efforts to impeach Vice President Spiro Agnew and President Richard Nixon. He also includes individual chapters on the push to impeach Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Other case studies are also included, but in the end Kyvig suggests that the rise of an impeachment culture is detrimental to public life in the U.S. This may or may not be the case, but it is a conclusion that deserves serious reflection by all. This is an interesting and useful book about an important part of the American political landscape in the latter part of the twentieth century.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The U.S. needs more not less impeachments, September 14, 2008

By 

Smile of Reason (Covington, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Age of Impeachment: American Constitutional Culture Since 1960 (Hardcover)

I disagree with the author's unarticulated major premise: the U.S. needs less not more impeachments. The result of impeachment and conviction is dismissal from office. In the private sector, employees are dismissed every day. Why should the public sector be any different? Many incompetent, entrenched and overpaid civil servants staff the bureaucracies of every federal department and agency. Why should they be immune from dismissal? Art. II, Sec. 4 of the Constitution provides that, "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. ". The author focuses on impeachment of the president, vice-president, and federal judges. But we should all be concerned with those other "civil officers" in the federal bureaucracy. Congress could classify many of their official acts as "misdemeanors". Other than the irresponsible public employee labor unions, what citizens would not celebrate if every four years Congress reviewed the performance of those senior "civil officers", and impeached, convicted, and removed from office those who are incompetent, entrenched and overpaid? We need more impeachments, not less.