雖然唐納德·特朗普并不是唯一一位陷入法律和道德丑聞的美國(guó)總統(tǒng),但作為第一位遭到刑事起訴的美國(guó)總統(tǒng),他將在歷史上占據(jù)一個(gè)獨(dú)一無(wú)二的位置。
另外兩位與特朗普有類似境遇的總統(tǒng)最終遭到國(guó)會(huì)彈劾,他們分別是比爾·克林頓,他在宣誓時(shí)撒謊,否認(rèn)與一位白宮實(shí)習(xí)生的婚外情;另外一位是安德魯·約翰遜,他在美國(guó)內(nèi)戰(zhàn)后激烈的權(quán)力斗爭(zhēng)中的行為超出了其行政職權(quán)的范圍。
理查德·尼克松因?yàn)榫砣氤裘阎乃T事件而辭職。羅納德·里根和尤利西斯·S·格蘭特都丑聞纏身,他們的親信都被起訴,但兩位總統(tǒng)并未遭到指控。
下文簡(jiǎn)要介紹了特朗普前任們的遭遇:
比爾·克林頓
民主黨總統(tǒng)克林頓在總統(tǒng)任期有一半以上的時(shí)間都受到了各種調(diào)查,調(diào)查內(nèi)容包括失敗的房地產(chǎn)交易,以及與一名白宮實(shí)習(xí)生的婚外情等。
調(diào)查人員對(duì)比爾和希拉里·克林頓夫婦在陷入困境的白水(Whitewater)房地產(chǎn)項(xiàng)目中的投資進(jìn)行了長(zhǎng)時(shí)間審查。1994年,被任命負(fù)責(zé)該項(xiàng)調(diào)查的獨(dú)立檢察官肯尼斯·斯塔爾,沒(méi)有發(fā)現(xiàn)克林頓夫婦有任何不當(dāng)行為的證據(jù)。但克林頓夫婦的兩位密友吉姆和蘇珊·麥克道格爾,卻因?yàn)榕c白水有關(guān)的指控而被判有罪??肆诸D在阿肯色州的繼任者、州長(zhǎng)吉姆·蓋伊·塔克,也被判有罪。
斯塔爾在1998年的報(bào)告中曝光了克林頓與實(shí)習(xí)生莫妮卡·萊溫斯基婚外情的駭人細(xì)節(jié),事實(shí)證明此事的影響更加嚴(yán)重。在前阿肯色州雇員保拉·瓊斯提起性騷擾訴訟時(shí),克林頓在接受審問(wèn)時(shí)否認(rèn)與萊溫斯基發(fā)生“性關(guān)系”。
斯塔爾裁定,克林頓在宣誓作證時(shí)撒謊,妨礙了司法公正。這導(dǎo)致眾議院于1998年12月19日投票彈劾克林頓。但參議院否決了克林頓的罪名,使他能夠繼續(xù)擔(dān)任總統(tǒng),直到他的任期于2001年1月結(jié)束。
羅納德·里根
里根并未因?yàn)樗偨y(tǒng)任期中最大的丑聞而面臨彈劾或遭到法院指控。但被稱為“伊朗門”事件的人質(zhì)交換計(jì)劃,卻在他離開(kāi)白宮后一直困擾著他。
1986年,在里根的第二個(gè)任期,公眾得知他的政府授權(quán)向伊朗秘密出售武器,同時(shí)希望伊朗幫助釋放在黎巴嫩關(guān)押的美國(guó)人質(zhì)。銷售武器所得的多達(dá)3,000萬(wàn)美元資金,被用于援助反對(duì)尼加拉瓜左翼政府的叛亂分子,違反了美國(guó)法律。
里根的國(guó)家安全顧問(wèn)約翰·波因德克斯特辭職,他的助手奧利弗·諾斯上校被解雇。兩人還因?yàn)樵噲D欺騙和阻撓國(guó)會(huì)而被判有罪,但他們的定罪后來(lái)被推翻。里根的繼任者喬治·H·W·布什總統(tǒng)赦免了其他六名涉案者。
里根堅(jiān)稱,他對(duì)武器銷售所得被用于資助尼加拉瓜反對(duì)派的事情毫不知情。
理查德·尼克松
尼克松于1974年8月辭職,沒(méi)有因?yàn)樗恼谏w了參與闖入華盛頓民主黨全國(guó)委員會(huì)(Democratic National Committee)總部的事件而面臨彈劾。
發(fā)生在水門大廈的拙劣盜竊案,導(dǎo)致七名男子被起訴,其中包括兩名前白宮助手。水門事件的五名被告認(rèn)罪;另外兩人在刑事審判中被判有罪。
1972年非法闖入水門大廈的陰謀,并沒(méi)有阻止尼克松在幾個(gè)月后輕松連任。他承受住了風(fēng)暴,直到1974年眾議院司法委員會(huì)(House Judiciary Committee)通過(guò)了三項(xiàng)彈劾條款,指控他妨礙司法公正、濫用權(quán)力和藐視國(guó)會(huì)。
在眾議院全體投票之前,一段令人震驚的錄音帶被公布,從中可以聽(tīng)到尼克松批準(zhǔn)了向聯(lián)邦調(diào)查局施壓從而迫使其放棄調(diào)查水門事件的計(jì)劃。尼克松在失去了國(guó)會(huì)關(guān)鍵共和黨人的支持后辭職。
他的副總統(tǒng)杰拉爾德·福特成為總統(tǒng),并在一個(gè)月后赦免了尼克松。
尤利西斯·S·格蘭特
格蘭特作為總統(tǒng)從未遭到刑事指控或被正式指控行為不當(dāng),但他卻出手干預(yù)了一起由自己的政府起訴的腐敗案。這起案件的被告是他在白宮的私人秘書(shū)。
1875年,財(cái)政部長(zhǎng)本杰明·H·布里斯托發(fā)起了一項(xiàng)調(diào)查,導(dǎo)致數(shù)百人被捕,他們參與了一項(xiàng)被稱為“威士忌酒幫”(Whiskey Ring)的計(jì)劃,其中釀酒商、稅務(wù)官員和同謀者將數(shù)百萬(wàn)美元的酒稅轉(zhuǎn)移到自己的腰包。
當(dāng)時(shí)奧維爾·E·巴布科克將軍被指控為同謀者后,從內(nèi)戰(zhàn)時(shí)期的將軍當(dāng)選總統(tǒng)的格蘭特發(fā)現(xiàn),這場(chǎng)打擊行動(dòng)與自己的想法不一致。巴布科克不僅是總統(tǒng)的私人秘書(shū),而且他和格蘭特自戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)以來(lái)就是朋友。
檢察官稱,他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了巴布科克發(fā)送給酒幫頭目的電報(bào),為他們的計(jì)劃提供協(xié)助。盡管如此,格蘭特堅(jiān)持要為他的助手辯護(hù)。
為了避免總統(tǒng)出現(xiàn)在對(duì)巴布科克的審判現(xiàn)場(chǎng),律師們于1876年2月12日在白宮對(duì)格蘭特進(jìn)行了宣誓問(wèn)詢。后來(lái),他的證詞副本在圣路易斯的法庭上被宣讀。陪審團(tuán)判決巴布科克無(wú)罪,這很大程度上要?dú)w功于格蘭特的堅(jiān)定維護(hù)。
安德魯·約翰遜
安德魯·約翰遜是美國(guó)史上第一位遭到彈劾的總統(tǒng),并因此名譽(yù)掃地。他遭到彈劾的原因是在內(nèi)戰(zhàn)后的重建問(wèn)題上與國(guó)會(huì)發(fā)生激烈爭(zhēng)執(zhí)。
1864年,來(lái)自田納西州的民主黨人約翰遜,憑借團(tuán)結(jié)票,當(dāng)選為亞伯拉罕·林肯的副總統(tǒng),1865年林肯遇刺后,約翰遜接任了總統(tǒng)。約翰遜在白宮呼吁赦免南方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人,并反對(duì)給予解放的黑人投票權(quán),激怒了國(guó)會(huì)的共和黨人。
而約翰遜解雇了林肯任命的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)部長(zhǎng)埃德溫·斯坦頓,促使眾議院通過(guò)了彈劾條款,指控總統(tǒng)非法解雇和更換斯坦頓。斯坦頓主張對(duì)戰(zhàn)敗的南方采取更嚴(yán)厲的政策。
約翰遜的彈劾審判于1868年3月5日在參議院開(kāi)始。兩個(gè)多月后審判結(jié)束,參議員們以一票之差,未能將約翰遜趕下臺(tái)。他完成了最后一年的總統(tǒng)任期,但民主黨同僚拒絕了他再次參選的提名。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
雖然唐納德·特朗普并不是唯一一位陷入法律和道德丑聞的美國(guó)總統(tǒng),但作為第一位遭到刑事起訴的美國(guó)總統(tǒng),他將在歷史上占據(jù)一個(gè)獨(dú)一無(wú)二的位置。
另外兩位與特朗普有類似境遇的總統(tǒng)最終遭到國(guó)會(huì)彈劾,他們分別是比爾·克林頓,他在宣誓時(shí)撒謊,否認(rèn)與一位白宮實(shí)習(xí)生的婚外情;另外一位是安德魯·約翰遜,他在美國(guó)內(nèi)戰(zhàn)后激烈的權(quán)力斗爭(zhēng)中的行為超出了其行政職權(quán)的范圍。
理查德·尼克松因?yàn)榫砣氤裘阎乃T事件而辭職。羅納德·里根和尤利西斯·S·格蘭特都丑聞纏身,他們的親信都被起訴,但兩位總統(tǒng)并未遭到指控。
下文簡(jiǎn)要介紹了特朗普前任們的遭遇:
比爾·克林頓
民主黨總統(tǒng)克林頓在總統(tǒng)任期有一半以上的時(shí)間都受到了各種調(diào)查,調(diào)查內(nèi)容包括失敗的房地產(chǎn)交易,以及與一名白宮實(shí)習(xí)生的婚外情等。
調(diào)查人員對(duì)比爾和希拉里·克林頓夫婦在陷入困境的白水(Whitewater)房地產(chǎn)項(xiàng)目中的投資進(jìn)行了長(zhǎng)時(shí)間審查。1994年,被任命負(fù)責(zé)該項(xiàng)調(diào)查的獨(dú)立檢察官肯尼斯·斯塔爾,沒(méi)有發(fā)現(xiàn)克林頓夫婦有任何不當(dāng)行為的證據(jù)。但克林頓夫婦的兩位密友吉姆和蘇珊·麥克道格爾,卻因?yàn)榕c白水有關(guān)的指控而被判有罪??肆诸D在阿肯色州的繼任者、州長(zhǎng)吉姆·蓋伊·塔克,也被判有罪。
斯塔爾在1998年的報(bào)告中曝光了克林頓與實(shí)習(xí)生莫妮卡·萊溫斯基婚外情的駭人細(xì)節(jié),事實(shí)證明此事的影響更加嚴(yán)重。在前阿肯色州雇員保拉·瓊斯提起性騷擾訴訟時(shí),克林頓在接受審問(wèn)時(shí)否認(rèn)與萊溫斯基發(fā)生“性關(guān)系”。
斯塔爾裁定,克林頓在宣誓作證時(shí)撒謊,妨礙了司法公正。這導(dǎo)致眾議院于1998年12月19日投票彈劾克林頓。但參議院否決了克林頓的罪名,使他能夠繼續(xù)擔(dān)任總統(tǒng),直到他的任期于2001年1月結(jié)束。
羅納德·里根
里根并未因?yàn)樗偨y(tǒng)任期中最大的丑聞而面臨彈劾或遭到法院指控。但被稱為“伊朗門”事件的人質(zhì)交換計(jì)劃,卻在他離開(kāi)白宮后一直困擾著他。
1986年,在里根的第二個(gè)任期,公眾得知他的政府授權(quán)向伊朗秘密出售武器,同時(shí)希望伊朗幫助釋放在黎巴嫩關(guān)押的美國(guó)人質(zhì)。銷售武器所得的多達(dá)3,000萬(wàn)美元資金,被用于援助反對(duì)尼加拉瓜左翼政府的叛亂分子,違反了美國(guó)法律。
里根的國(guó)家安全顧問(wèn)約翰·波因德克斯特辭職,他的助手奧利弗·諾斯上校被解雇。兩人還因?yàn)樵噲D欺騙和阻撓國(guó)會(huì)而被判有罪,但他們的定罪后來(lái)被推翻。里根的繼任者喬治·H·W·布什總統(tǒng)赦免了其他六名涉案者。
里根堅(jiān)稱,他對(duì)武器銷售所得被用于資助尼加拉瓜反對(duì)派的事情毫不知情。
理查德·尼克松
尼克松于1974年8月辭職,沒(méi)有因?yàn)樗恼谏w了參與闖入華盛頓民主黨全國(guó)委員會(huì)(Democratic National Committee)總部的事件而面臨彈劾。
發(fā)生在水門大廈的拙劣盜竊案,導(dǎo)致七名男子被起訴,其中包括兩名前白宮助手。水門事件的五名被告認(rèn)罪;另外兩人在刑事審判中被判有罪。
1972年非法闖入水門大廈的陰謀,并沒(méi)有阻止尼克松在幾個(gè)月后輕松連任。他承受住了風(fēng)暴,直到1974年眾議院司法委員會(huì)(House Judiciary Committee)通過(guò)了三項(xiàng)彈劾條款,指控他妨礙司法公正、濫用權(quán)力和藐視國(guó)會(huì)。
在眾議院全體投票之前,一段令人震驚的錄音帶被公布,從中可以聽(tīng)到尼克松批準(zhǔn)了向聯(lián)邦調(diào)查局施壓從而迫使其放棄調(diào)查水門事件的計(jì)劃。尼克松在失去了國(guó)會(huì)關(guān)鍵共和黨人的支持后辭職。
他的副總統(tǒng)杰拉爾德·福特成為總統(tǒng),并在一個(gè)月后赦免了尼克松。
尤利西斯·S·格蘭特
格蘭特作為總統(tǒng)從未遭到刑事指控或被正式指控行為不當(dāng),但他卻出手干預(yù)了一起由自己的政府起訴的腐敗案。這起案件的被告是他在白宮的私人秘書(shū)。
1875年,財(cái)政部長(zhǎng)本杰明·H·布里斯托發(fā)起了一項(xiàng)調(diào)查,導(dǎo)致數(shù)百人被捕,他們參與了一項(xiàng)被稱為“威士忌酒幫”(Whiskey Ring)的計(jì)劃,其中釀酒商、稅務(wù)官員和同謀者將數(shù)百萬(wàn)美元的酒稅轉(zhuǎn)移到自己的腰包。
當(dāng)時(shí)奧維爾·E·巴布科克將軍被指控為同謀者后,從內(nèi)戰(zhàn)時(shí)期的將軍當(dāng)選總統(tǒng)的格蘭特發(fā)現(xiàn),這場(chǎng)打擊行動(dòng)與自己的想法不一致。巴布科克不僅是總統(tǒng)的私人秘書(shū),而且他和格蘭特自戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)以來(lái)就是朋友。
檢察官稱,他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了巴布科克發(fā)送給酒幫頭目的電報(bào),為他們的計(jì)劃提供協(xié)助。盡管如此,格蘭特堅(jiān)持要為他的助手辯護(hù)。
為了避免總統(tǒng)出現(xiàn)在對(duì)巴布科克的審判現(xiàn)場(chǎng),律師們于1876年2月12日在白宮對(duì)格蘭特進(jìn)行了宣誓問(wèn)詢。后來(lái),他的證詞副本在圣路易斯的法庭上被宣讀。陪審團(tuán)判決巴布科克無(wú)罪,這很大程度上要?dú)w功于格蘭特的堅(jiān)定維護(hù)。
安德魯·約翰遜
安德魯·約翰遜是美國(guó)史上第一位遭到彈劾的總統(tǒng),并因此名譽(yù)掃地。他遭到彈劾的原因是在內(nèi)戰(zhàn)后的重建問(wèn)題上與國(guó)會(huì)發(fā)生激烈爭(zhēng)執(zhí)。
1864年,來(lái)自田納西州的民主黨人約翰遜,憑借團(tuán)結(jié)票,當(dāng)選為亞伯拉罕·林肯的副總統(tǒng),1865年林肯遇刺后,約翰遜接任了總統(tǒng)。約翰遜在白宮呼吁赦免南方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人,并反對(duì)給予解放的黑人投票權(quán),激怒了國(guó)會(huì)的共和黨人。
而約翰遜解雇了林肯任命的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)部長(zhǎng)埃德溫·斯坦頓,促使眾議院通過(guò)了彈劾條款,指控總統(tǒng)非法解雇和更換斯坦頓。斯坦頓主張對(duì)戰(zhàn)敗的南方采取更嚴(yán)厲的政策。
約翰遜的彈劾審判于1868年3月5日在參議院開(kāi)始。兩個(gè)多月后審判結(jié)束,參議員們以一票之差,未能將約翰遜趕下臺(tái)。他完成了最后一年的總統(tǒng)任期,但民主黨同僚拒絕了他再次參選的提名。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
Though far from the only U.S. president dogged by legal and ethical scandals, Donald Trump now occupies a unique place in history as the first indicted on criminal charges.
Two others, like Trump, found themselves impeached by Congress — Bill Clinton for lying under oath about his affair with a White House intern, and Andrew Johnson for pushing the limits of his executive authority in a bitter power struggle following the Civil War.
Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace over his role in the infamous Watergate break-in. And Ronald Reagan and Ulysses S. Grant both became forever tied to scandals in which close aides got prosecuted, though neither president was ever charged.
Here’s a look at how Trump’s predecessors fared:
BILL CLINTON
Clinton spent more than half his presidency under scrutiny in investigations that ranged from failed real estate deals to the Democratic president’s affair with a White House intern.
Investigators took a lengthy look into Bill and Hillary Clinton’s investments in the troubled Whitewater real estate venture. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, appointed to oversee the investigation in 1994, turned up no evidence of wrongdoing by the Clintons. But two of their close associates, Jim and Susan McDougal, ended up convicted of Whitewater-related charges. So did Jim Guy Tucker, Clinton’s successor as governor of Arkansas.
Starr’s 1998 report packed with lurid details of Clinton’s affair with intern Monica Lewinsky proved far more damaging. While being questioned in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones, Clinton had denied having “sexual relations” with Lewinsky.
Starr concluded that Clinton had lied under oath and obstructed justice. That led to the House voting to impeach Clinton on Dec. 19, 1998. He was acquitted by the Senate, allowing him to remain in office until his term ended in January 2001.
RONALD REAGAN
Reagan never faced impeachment or court charges for the biggest scandal of his presidency. But the arms-for-hostages scheme that became known as the Iran-Contra affair dogged him long after he left the White House.
In 1986, during Reagan’s second term, the public learned that his administration had authorized secret arms sales to Iran while seeking Iranian aid in freeing American hostages held in Lebanon. As much as $30 million from the arms sales was diverted, in violation of U.S. law, to aid rebels fighting the leftist government of Nicaragua.
Reagan’s national security adviser, John Poindexter, resigned and an aide, Lt. Col. Oliver North, was fired. Both were also convicted of crimes stemming from efforts to deceive and obstruct Congress. Their convictions were later overturned. President George H.W. Bush, Reagan’s successor, pardoned six others involved.
Reagan insisted money from the arms sales was funneled to the Nicaraguan Contra rebels without his knowledge.
RICHARD NIXON
Nixon resigned from office in August 1974 rather than face impeachment for his administration’s cover-up of its involvement in a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington.
The bungled burglary at the Watergate office building resulted in the indictment of seven men, including two former White House aides. Five of the Watergate defendants pleaded guilty; two were convicted in criminal trials.
Intrigue over the 1972 Watergate break-in didn’t stop Nixon from cruising to reelection a few months later. He endured the storm until the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 approved three articles of impeachment accusing him of obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress.
Before the full House could vote, a bombshell tape recording was released in which Nixon could be heard approving a plan to pressure the FBI to drop its Watergate investigation. Nixon resigned after losing support from key congressional Republicans.
His vice president, Gerald Ford, became president and pardoned Nixon a month later.
ULYSSES S. GRANT
While never personally charged with crimes or formally accused of wrongdoing, Grant as president torpedoed a corruption case prosecuted by his own administration. The man on trial was Grant’s personal secretary in the White House.
In 1875, an investigation launched by Treasury Secretary Benjamin H. Bristow resulted in hundreds of arrests in a scheme known as the Whiskey Ring, in which distillers, revenue agents and fellow conspirators diverted millions of dollars in liquor taxes to themselves.
The Civil War general-turned-president found himself at odds with the crackdown when Gen. Orville E. Babcock ended up charged as a conspirator. Not only was Babcock the president’s personal secretary, but he and Grant had also been friends since the war.
Prosecutors said they had uncovered telegrams Babcock sent to ringleaders to assist their scheme. Regardless, Grant insisted on testifying in his aide’s defense.
To avoid the spectacle of the president appearing at Babcock’s trial, attorneys questioned Grant under oath at the White House on Feb. 12, 1876. A transcript of his testimony was later read in court in St. Louis. The jury acquitted Babcock, a decision largely credited to Grant’s unwavering defense.
ANDREW JOHNSON
The first American president to have his legacy tarnished by impeachment, Andrew Johnson’s woes arose from his intense feuding with Congress over Reconstruction following the Civil War.
The Tennessee Democrat had been elected vice president in 1864 as part of a unity ticket with Abraham Lincoln, and Johnson assumed the presidency after Lincoln’s 1865 assassination. From the White House, Johnson called for pardoning Confederate leaders and opposed extending voting rights to freed Blacks, infuriating congressional Republicans.
It was Johnson’s firing of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, a Lincoln appointee who favored tougher policies toward the defeated South, that prompted the House to pass articles of impeachment that accused the president of ousting and replacing Stanton illegally.
Johnson’s impeachment trial began in the Senate on March 5, 1868. It ended more than two months later, with senators just one vote short of removing Johnson from office. He served the remainder of his final year, but fellow Democrats denied him their nomination to run again.