To End a Presidency: The Power of Impeachment

by Laurence H. Tribe, Joshua Matz

The history and future of our democracy's ultimate sanction, presidential impeachment, and a guide to how it should be used now

To End a Presidency addresses one of today's most urgent questions: when and whether to impeach a president. Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz provide an authoritative guide to impeachment's past and a bold argument about its proper role today. In an era of expansive presidential power and intense partisanship, we must rethink impeachment for the twenty-first century.


Of impeachments, one Constitutional Convention delegate declared, "A good magistrate will not fear them. A bad one will be kept in fear of them." To End a Presidency is an essential book for all Americans seeking to understand how this crucial but fearsome power should be exercised.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Law, Government, American History, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2018

About the author

Laurence Henry Tribe es un académico estadounidense que es profesor de la Universidad Carl M. Loeb en la Facultad de Derecho de Harvard de la Universidad de Harvard. La beca de Tribe se centra en el derecho constitucional estadounidense. También trabaja con la firma Massey & Gail LLP en una variedad de asuntos.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

To End a Presidency: The Power of Impeachment by Laurence H. Tribe and Joshua Matz is a book I have been eager to read and I picked this up from the library ASAP! I wasn't sure what I would find when I started it. I want it to reassure me but not really deep down inside. I wanted just the facts. What did it really take to bring down someone so powerful and wielding so much influence over congress? What would it take? He already has crossed so many red lines, where is the end?
This book takes you back to the beginning and tells you how it started, how it was tested, improvements, more recent testing, what will work, what won't, and things I never dreamed of. Wow, glad I was a nurse and not a lawyer! My head would explode! This is very informative and helpful. He obviously believes Trump is in deep, but we will see.
Make sure you read the last two highlights.

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the rise of Our Dear Respected Leader Donald Trump, many appalled progressives—myself included—have begun to fantasize about the remedy of impeachment. At least one of us, billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, has spent more then ten million dollars of his own money to persuade the members of the liberal base that this fantasy should be their goal, pursued actively and ardently to its welcome conclusion.

But an important step is missing here. Before we pursue this fantasy as a goal, we should ask ourselves a question: how does the reality of impeachment—in its rationale, its processes. Its political context, its consequences—differ from the impeachment of our fantasy, that marvelous reset button that “poofs” the Donald magically away and returns us once more to the idyllic America of November 6, 2017.

Laurence Tribe, one of America’s foremost Constitutional law experts. and his co-author Joshua Matz urge us to look long and hard at impeachment—not only before we attempt to use it, but even before we begin to talk seriously about it. These men are no fans of Trump—they are two of the lawyers currently suing him for violating the emoluments clause—but they know that the impeachment of a president is a complex and arduous undertaking. It is a drastic remedy, political in its objective and its operations, difficult to achieve in the best of times and even more difficult in period like ours when party politics have become polarized.

Tribe and Matz tell us what we need to know about this important constitutional remedy: its history, its wording (including an illuminating look at “high crimes and misdemeanors"), its rationale, the conduct which merits it, the decision of whether or not to invoke it (even if it be justified), the peculiar bi-cameral congressional responsibility to indict and convict, the history and significance of “impeachment talk" that may affect (for good and ill) the impeachment effort itself, and the possibly grave consequences of an impeachment—be it successful or unsuccessful—in a politically polarized environment like our own. To End a Presidency also includes a brief treatment the 25th Amendment, which the authors conclude is more unwieldy than impeachment itself, and therefore an inadequate alternative.

To End a Presidency is an excellent treatment of an important subject, a book which examines difficult ideas in lucid, economic prose. It is also a book that refuses to ignore our political realities and yet offers a courageous hope for the future:

. . . we must abandon fantasies that the impeachment power will sweep in and save us from destruction. It can’t and it won’t. When our democracy is threatened from within, we must save it ourselves. Maybe impeachment should play a role in that process; maybe it will only make things worse. Either way, reversing the rot in our political system will require creative and heroic efforts throughout American life. And at the heart of those efforts will be the sturggle to transcend our deepest division in search of common purpose and mutual understanding. . . . There is no quick fix for the challenges we face. They are surmountable only if each of us resolves anew that America and democracy are well worth fighting for.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

America is an advanced democracy. It is imperative we the citizenry recognize our responsibilities and make use of our rights. “Impeachment is neither a magic wand nor a doomsday device.” It won’t fix the problems that brought a failed real estate magnate and showman to power. Moreover, calling for impeachment may have deleterious consequences which serve to rally the tyrant’s support.

The best thing about this book for me is that it lowered my blood pressure. I am not going to deny I have been distressed for…more than a year now, and severely low in the past couple months. This book reminded me that there are smart, educated people thinking about how best to deal with a liar whose proclivities border on fascism. Impeachment, these authors argue, may not be the best way to address this threat.

“When our democracy is threatened from within, we must save it ourselves…We must draw together in defense of a constitutional system that binds our destinies and protects our freedoms.”

Calls for impeachment have been increasing over the past decades, but this pair of authors thinks that is a sign of the divisiveness of our politics rather than realistic means of addressing things we don’t like about the other party’s president. We reached a new low when, even before the last presidential election in 2016, promises were made by each side to impeach the winner.


The authors stress that loose talk of impeachment may become as desensitizing as crying wolf when even the public begins to mistrust the options for curbing bad behaviors in a sitting president. Our elected officials must think strategically about what they are planning to achieve especially when they do not control enough seats to initiate impeachment hearings. Hot air is not helpful in educating the public in a time of crisis because it inflames the citizenry’s baser instincts.

We must work together if we are going to govern. The authors quote Lincoln at a time our country was more divided than now:

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.”

Yes, exactly. We clearly have not seen the existential threats coming down the road or we would be a lot more circumspect about calling hatred down on fellow citizens. Good grief. If we can’t work together despite living in the most resource-rich and abundant country on earth, we’re gonna lose it. But the people that made us this angry will all be dead and we and our children will have to deal with the problems that come. If everybody’s happy with that, let’s prepare well.

“In our experience, one of the main obstacles to an even-keeled analysis of impeachment under Trump is the fear and fury that he inspires in many of his political opponents.”

Don’t be a part of the problem. Educate yourself. It turns out that the most reliable way to deal with a pedant ideologue is to sideline him…in our case, by voting him and his supporters out. Not easy. But neither are any of the alternatives. This state of affairs was a long time developing into toxicity. It may take some time to rid ourselves of it.

This book is worthwhile. Time to take a deep breath and think before you speak.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a political era where ‘impeachment’ has become a buzzword, Laurence H. Tribe and Joshua Matz offer a comprehensive book on the topic. Their exploration is firmly rooted in the academic aspects of the topic without drowning the reader in too much minutiae. The discussion commences with the emergence of impeachment in the US Constitution, examining how the Founding Fathers debated and decided to include the ability to remove senior federal officials for certain reasons, though the list was neither specific nor exhaustive. The Founders struggled with impeachment, wanting to ensure the ability to remove the aforementioned officials with not impossible, but also wishing it to be a last-ditch effort, due to its severity. Thereafter, a discussion ensues about how to define the list of reasons acceptable for impeachment, including treason, bribery, and ‘other High Crimes and Misdemeanours’. That last has long been a confusing and open-ended addition to the list, one which Tribe and Matz refuse to specify. With a foundation in place, the book moves on to discuss the actors in the process, as well as a loose discussion of how impeachment would play out, basing some of the discussion on the two actual impeachment trials that have taken place, as well as the start of the middle experience (Nixon), which failed to transpire when the sitting president resigned. Tribe and Matz offer wonderful detail here, including some of the pomp and circumstance, while peppering their discussions with documents from the congressional record. As the attentive reader will know, both impeachment trials failed when the Senate failed to meet the two-thirds threshold for both Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. There is an ongoing theme throughout the tome that partisan attacks will rarely create a conductive situation to impeach a president, though some would feel this is a wonderful means to fuel hatred or help begin an electoral campaign in the opposite direction. The latter portion of the book looks at impeachment as a useful political tool to ward off excessive abuses of power, as well as how the ‘I’ word has become a regular part of political discussions over the past two decades. As there has never been a successful impeachment in the United States, the authors cannot substantiate how its fallout might flavour the political horizon, though they posit some of the horrors that could occur, should a POTUS refuse to cede power. This is a great concern in an era where impeachment is being discussed with more vigour each passing day. While the sentiment may be there to bring forth Articles of Impeachment and hope for a successful outcome in the Senate—which I feel is no certainty—Tribe and Matz caution that impeachment should not be a knee-jerk reaction. There are other means of punishing a POTUS who strays outside of the permissible limits of the office. Before pulling out the weapon, one must survey the potential damage and how this could irreparably harm the Republic.

Looking to the present, Tribe and Matz wonder about how the current Trump Administration might fit into the rubrics they have laid out. While there is a great deal of fodder that comes up in this portion of the book, the authors are quick to explain that there is no rush to judgment when it comes to removal. Exploring presidential censure as an option comes to mind, which would still permit COngress to offer a slap on the wrist without the excessively dramatic fallout of impeachment. Of great interest to those who love constitutional discussions, the authors explore use of the 25th Amendment (replacement of a vacated presidential office and temporary incapacity of the POTUS). Tribe and Matz deliver a detailed discussion of the rules laid out in the amendment, as well as how it could be accomplished in a current situation, though they counsel against its use, for it is by no means a way to remove a sitting president through ‘backdoor antics’. So intriguing to look at the possibilities in a vacuum. I cannot say enough about this piece, which has helped educate me on so many aspects of the impeachment process in the United States. Highly recommended for those who enjoy political discussions about these matters, as well as the reader who likes analyzing the US Constitution through history and modern application.

There will be some who feel this is surely a book about how to bring about the downfall of the current American Administration. While Tribe and Matz admit that they are not fans of Trump—going so far as to explaining that they have active cases against him—their analysis of impeachment and use of modern examples does not openly argue in favour of a Trump impeachment. They allow the reader to draw their own conclusions. There is much to be said on the topic, which they do effectively by mixing laws, history, and outsider interpretation to present a well-rounded and thorough exploration of this thorniest of topics. Broken into six comprehensive chapters, the authors take their time and build a better understanding for each angle of impeachment, so the reader is not making an ignorant choice for themselves. Filled with many substantial arguments to help provide much more than a primer could on the topic. Tribe and Matz also issue dire warnings about getting pulled into the middle of a partisan swamp, which could lead to significant blowback and, as some have cited, a potential Civil War. While this all seems a little far-fetched, nothing really surprises me any longer. Politics has always been an odd beast!

Kudos, Messrs. Tribe and Matz, for such a wonderful piece. I feel much better educated and wait to see what other political permutations await between now and the next presidential election in 2020.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a true political junkie, I devoured Laurence Tribe's books when I was at University. God Save This Honorable Court still is one of my favorite go-to books when I am castigating the current Supreme Court. Tribe's knowledge on the US Constitution is without rival and it is exactly for that reason that I wanted to read this book. No one knows more than Tribe about the US Constitution, the role of the Supremes and the constitutionality of our government.

From the beginning of the book, Tribe sets out his agenda: not to convince you of the need for impeachment or to dissuade you from desiring one, but rather to inform you of the constitutionality of an impeachment against the current office holder, the history of past impeachments and why they seldom, ever, are successful.

For those Americans who are calling for impeachment, and I definitely fall into this group, this is very good resource. Tribe explains exactly what would happen, how the framers of the Constitution knew this would happen and made a guideline for it and also cautions on the timing - it is a long arduous process.

The most chilling aspect of the book is the chapter on consequences. Not since the mid-1800s, prior to the US Civil War, has America been so sharply divided. Even then, the sheer hate for our fellow Americans was not as pronounced as it is now, nor was it daily exacerbated by the media. Should there be an impeachment of a president about whom the nation feels so strongly, there will be upheaval. Tribe cautions that, unlike in the past, this is a decision that should not be made lightly nor should Americans think that their troubles will be over once the current president is impeached. Given the current heightened emotional state of Americans, there will be riots and, quite possibly, another civil war/revolution. That is not to say that impeachment should not happen. America currently is nose-diving, hurling itself, toward Fascism and the loss of our Democratic-Republic form of government. Tribe earnestly suggests that Americans take long hard look at both sides: Fascism vs Revolution/War within our own borders. As for me, I know which side I'm on. Fascism is not an option - it never has been. It never will be - no matter what the cost.

Tribe is an excellent writer who does so in much the same way that he lectures. He is easy to understand and very engaging. I highly encourage ALL Americans to read this book, be informed, know and understand what is at stake and, above all, to stop sticking your head in the sand, refusing to see what is happening in this country - on both sides.

[Colleen Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book written by one of the foremost experts on the Constitution, Lawrence Tribe. Having read other work on impeachment, I was unsure that I would learn much from this book but I was wrong. The authors examine the debates at the Constitutional Convention about ridding the country of a corrupt president and ultimately borrowed the idea of impeachment from the British. There was considerable debate about how to proceed in this matter but I will not rehash it here. Suffice to say that the Constitution does not define explicitly what warrants impeachment and decided that it requires "high crimes and misdemeanors" but defining when that has occurred has been the source of much debate throughout the course of our history.

The book focuses on several things: when does behavior warrant impeachment and is it always a good idea to carry out an impeachment unless the president is a threat to the country. In the case of the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, he threatened to reverse all of the changes brought about by the Civil War. That said, Congress chose instead to focus on his breaking a law they put in place that disallowed a president from firing a member of his cabinet- a constitutionally questionable law in the first place. Still, the Senate failed by only one vote to convict him. Richard Nixon chose to resign rather than face impeachment which was ensured because he had lost the support of his own party. Bill Clinton was impeached on the flimsiest of charges that most would argue did not constitute high crimes or misdemeanors. It was a partisan witch-hunt which had begun when Clinton was elected and made him more popular after his impeachment than before. It did not have the support of the people and proved a colossal waist of time and money. Trumps two impeachments are not included since the book was published in 2018 before either of his two impeachments.

The authors warn that impeaching a president for political reasons was never the intent of the framers and does far more harm than good. Tribe relates the debates that have occurred on several occasions when talk of impeachment began in the House. Further, just as impeaching for partisan reasons can do harm to the country, so can not impeaching when there is very strong grounds for it. He discusses the 25th Amendment as a means of getting rid of a bad president but it does not actually get rid of the president, it simply puts him out of commission for a while.

I highly recommend this book. It is clearly written and explains the issues involved very well. I wish he would write an updated edition since the events of Trump Administration.

[HR-ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Constitutional attorneys Laurence Tribe & Joshua Matz
wrote a fascinating book. They indicated that a President
(POTUS) did NOT have to be accused of a crime to be
impeached. It was a misuse of his/ her official duties.
Full disclosure: they originated a court case against
President Trump for violation of the emolument clause.

The authors clearly said impeachment should be used in
a dire emergency & not as political revenge. A citizen or
US House member could write a request for impeachment
of the President. House would decide yes/ no to proceed.
The House Judiciary Committee (HJC) would create articles
of impeachment. Which served as an indictment(s) of the
POTUS. If a majority of HJC voted yes to indict after review
ing the evidence, it would go to the full House for a vote.
218 of 435 House members needed to vote 'yes' to send
it to the Senate. Senate would lead a trial with Chief Justice
with Supreme Court (SCOTUS) acting as judge. POTUS had
the right to legal representation but he/ she did not testify
in front of the Senate. The Senate would privately deliberate
to consider the evidence & the intent of the President's
actions ? 67 of 100 Senators were needed to vote yes POTUS
was guilty of the articles presented, then he'd be removed
from the Presidency. And he no longer qualified for any
federal job. Please note: the Constitution specified the vote
would be of members present. It would be politically unwise
for a member to stay home. A POTUS only needed 1 of several
articles of impeachment voted guilty by the required # of
Senators (2/3 of members present) to be removed from office.

The authors reviewed several Presidents considered for
impeachment. President Andrew Johnson, who suceeeded
Lincoln, was impeached for firing a member of his Cabinet.
The authors said a stronger case would have been: Johnson
actively opposed the implementation of Reconstruction
after the war. Ditto for him ignoring the Emancipation
Proclamation. The Senate had 1 vote shy of removing him
from office.

President Truman was threatened w/ impeachment b/c he
fired General D. MacAuthor who defied his direct order as
Commander-in-Chief & he claimed private steel mills
(w/ labor issues) b/c the Korean War was in progress. The
US needed the steel for war efforts. MacArthur issue blew
over & SCOTUS invalidated his steel mill action. So no
impeachment process. One House member told President
Clinton he was instructed to vote for Clinton's impeach-
ment or he'd lose his committee chairmanship.

Impeachment applied to: the POTUS, Vice President (VP),
Cabinet members & federal judges. George HW Bush was
Vice Pres. (VP) during the Iran-Contra (I-C) controversy
which POTUS Reagan denied any knowledge of. Later Bush
as POTUS pardoned the administration operatives connected
with I-C. Was this act impeachable? VP Aaron Burr shot &
killed in a duel Alexander Hamilton, US Secretary of the
Treasury, in New Jersey. Burr was away from his official
duties. (For those who live outside of the US: the Vice
President of the US acts as "the President of the Senate."
When the Senate vote is a tie, he can break the tie). But
the US Congress didn't punish/ censure Burr. New Jersey
never prosecuted him. He got away with murder?

Some remedies the authors named for Congress to "rein
in" a rogue President. The House had 'the power of the
purse' and could refuse to fund or under-fund a POTUS's
pet project. Other ideas: pass a law, override his veto, get
the public and the media behind what Congress wanted
to accomplish, cenure him. To cenure a POTUS questioned
his/ her integrity.

The authors thought people were too impeachment minded
post-Clinton & voters polarized. They attributed polarization
of voters to Political Action Committees (PACs) w/ wealthy
contributors w/ polarizing TV commercials, Congressmen
seldom socialized:reducing opportunities of Congressional
compromises. Also Americans distrust of public institutions :
banks, public schools, big business, medical systems, 3
branches of goverment, the media. Also some Americans
repeated 'alternative facts.' Also social media.

The authors cautioned against impeachment. However they
speculated possible impeachment charges against President
Trump included: emolument clause abuse, Trump's enrich-
ment of his business interests while in his role of POTUS,
and abuse of pardons. Trump pardoned former Sheriff Joe
Arpaio of Maricopa Co., Arizona. Who defied a a federal court
order concerning undocumented migrants. He engaged in
a campaign of terror & atrocities against Hispanics. ICE or
Border Patrol agents usually apprehended such migrants.
Trump thumbed his nose at the rule of law. Ironic because
Trump's sister was or is a federal judge!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent examination of the impeachment process, which is a subject that comes up regularly these days. Since I listened to every word of the Clinton impeachment trial in the Senate a decade ago, I felt like I was reasonably knowledgeable, but Tribe's book also goes into the history of impeachment covering the Andrew Johnson impeachment in great detail. I hadn't been familiar with that before, and given what I read here it seems to have been justified since Johnson was not enforcing the law of the land.

Tribe and his co-author, Joshua Matz, also examine the politicization of impeachment which has gone on longer than I realized it had. I had never known that some Republicans wanted to impeach Harry Truman prior to reading this book.

The authors emphasize that for impeachment to rise above partisan politics, there must be clear evidence that the president is in fact guilty of "Bribery, Treason or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors" as stated in the Constitution. When Richard Nixon realized that House Republicans had determined that they would vote to impeach him based on evidence gathered by the independent prosecutor, he resigned rather than put the country through impeachment and the trial in the Senate. Anything short of that is a political ploy which is likely bound to fail and will galvanize the supporters of the embattled president, which is what came of the impeachment of Bill Clinton led by the Republicans.

It's not a long book, but it's packed with information and a very worthwhile read.

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Was so involved in the book I forgot to add updates. Lawrence Tribe is a wonderful teacher!!

[Ricky · Rating 5 out of 5]

To End a Presidency: The Power of Impeachment is exceptionally well-written and provides the reader with a flowing discussion of impeachment, including its origin, history of use, and potential consequences. Before reaching page seventy-five, there were comparisons to Spider-man, Julius Ceaser, Harry Potter, and Through the Looking Glass. I knew then that To End a Presidency: The Power of Impeachment was never going to be drab academic writing. And I was right.

Laurence H. Tribe and Joshua Matz offer an insightful look into impeachment. Their discussion of “high Crimes and Misdemeanors,” including its vagueness, sets the stage for questioning what acts warrant impeachment. Their examination of whether it might be best, depending on circumstances, for Congress to choose not to impeach a president—even when suspected of “high Crimes and Misdemeanors—” is thought-provoking. Their observation that in the post-Clinton era “impeachment talk has become a routine aspect of partisan strife,” is accurate, but disheartening. Most of all, their writing, knowledge, research, and passion is just superb.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, written in a world where Trump is president, focuses its attention on the historical background of the concept of impeachment, starting from the Framers and its conception, and going through notable historic instances of impeachment and impeachment talk. The authors do a great job of providing a framework for how impeachment works and the significance it holds. While the authors do acknowledge modern conceptions and talks of impeachment surrounding Trump, and they do discuss how impeachment relates to Trump's presidency throughout the book, they also take great pains to focus on the overall, general process of impeachment and how it has functioned historically, rather than solely directing the book towards impeachment and Trump. They provide a good balance between the historical context, modern discussions, and what the future might hold in terms of the presidency and impeachment. They remain realistic and cautiously hopeful in regards to modern politics and the future; they write, "This is an unsettling and unhappy story about a democracy in distress. But it's a story whose end we can still rewrite."

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid straight forward description of the American Impeachment process and how it has been used in the past. Much appreciated

[Richard Jespers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This eminently readable book explicates a complex subject, one worthy of study during a period when the term “impeachment” is bandied about in the media with incredible ease. The authors do a commendable job of, first of all, discussing the laws governing impeachment of a president and how they sprang to life in the first place as part of the US Constitution.

On the other hand, Tribe and Matz help readers to understand that nothing about impeachment is simple. They limn the intricacies of the laws, how the proceedings must begin in the House of Representatives and can conclude only in the Senate. They tell us about how difficult it is to obtain a two-thirds majority vote (under normal times, let alone now with such great partisan divides) in either house to advance impeachment. They explain which offenses are impeachable and which are not and why, that it is not a matter of removing a president from office because he is a boor. He must have committed a crime or misdemeanor. Even with those parameters, it is never a simple matter for Congress to decide.

Ultimately, the authors rule against impeaching our current President, largely because of the disruption it would cause in our society. Under normal circumstances, the executive and judicial branches of the government would help to reign in the abuses of a president. Even now, during times that do not seem normal to those of us of a certain age, the other two branches are doing their job. The House will be governed, beginning in January, 2019, by Democrats, who can begin to call the actions of President 45 into question. Even the Supreme Court, which has now been loaded with conservatives, could surprise the president. The two men whom he seated owe him absolutely nothing. The president cannot remove them from their seats if they should rule against him. And if they do favor him in ways that are questionable, they themselves could be subject to impeachment . . . theoretically. As the authors say in conclusion:

“We must abandon fantasies that the impeachment power will swoop in and save us from destruction. It can’t and it won’t. When our democracy is threatened from within, we must save it ourselves. Maybe impeachment should play a role in that process; maybe it will only make things worse. Either way, reversing the rot in our political system will require creative and heroic efforts throughout American life. And at the heart of those efforts will be the struggle to transcend our deepest divisions in search of common purpose and mutual understanding” (240-1).

“Transcending forces of decay, disinformation, and disunion will not be easy. This is the great national calling of our time—the North Star that must guide decisions about ending, or enduring disastrous presidencies. There is no quick fix for the challenges we face. They are surmountable only if each of us resolves anew that American and democracy are well worth fighting for” (241).

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tribe and Matz address impeachment constitutionally, historically, and currently. They are at their best when they describe past attempts, both successful and unsuccessful. They are also very helpful when they stress that impeachment is not the end-all-be-all solution to political strife that some make it out to be. They are pretty annoying otherwise as they seek to hit all the liberal shibboleths. They pooh-pooh originalism. They call the electoral college arbitrary. They plead the case of Merrick Garland. They put Iran-Contra on the same level as Watergate. One of them has even sued President Trump concerning emoluments. And these are just the examples off the top of my head! Their dislike of the president discolors their entire argument. They go on and on about his being close to the "nuclear button." Does this really keep people up at night? The man has shown no public inclination toward misuse of such a "button." And yet they seem worried that civilization is at the brink of collapse (their concluding remarks are even worse in this regard).

As an example of their argumentation: at one point they admit that "perjury and obstruction can be removable offenses in certain circumstances." But then they offer four arguments why the case for impeaching Clinton "was a weak one." And not one of their arguments mentions the perjury they just noted. They don't even try to argue why it should have been overlooked. They just write it out of the case without another word.

There are also dumb factual errors. Trump's first term is not scheduled to end in January 2020. There was no such thing as a "Her Majesty's Ship" in the 1790s (just how old do they think the queen is, anyway?).

So, like I said, I enjoyed the history, especially concerning past attempts at impeachment that are most forgotten today (Tyler, for example, or Grover Cleveland). If only this book were only a history!

[Bettie]

Tribe's interview with Lawrence O'Donnell

[Mitchell Kaufman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had potential, but is too heavily colored by Tribe's prejudices. By this, I refer not only to his well-established political leanings, but to his view of the Constitution as a document that varies in meaning depending on time and, in part, public opinion. Unfortunately, he takes a supreme Federal government for granted, denigrating the authority of the States and accepts the premise of a powerful President, which is a relatively recent phenomenon.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dense, jam-packed on every page with important information. Tribe carefully, historically, and systematically provides the meaning and context of impeachment and the initial intent when this was legislated. Much remains open to interpretation although a President who engages in Crimes & Misdemeanors is usually clear. Tribe rails against the rigidity and hyperbolic discourse inherent in partisan politics and argues for more deliberate dialogue within the context of protecting the constitution and democracy. Tribe shows the adverse consequences associated with a rush to impeach and implores constituents to learn more about the constitution and potentially disastrous results that could result if impeachment was pushed prematurely or hastily. All Americans should read this book. After reading it I realized that Laurence Tribe is brilliant but especially wise. The wisdom Tribe shows in this book is especially needed during these volatile times when democracy is precarious and threatened for various reasons.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an informative read about the history, law, and politics of US presidential impeachment. The book deals with cursory analysis of the basis of impeachment, its historical basis, as well as its relevance given the current political landscape of American politics.

This is a great read for those who are interested about impeachment within the context of Trump presidency.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, the book was thought provoking and current. Its lesson: really really wanting to impeach doesn't mean you should. Because sometimes you can still lose a war after winning the battle, and impeaching a current president may only get you a martyred opponent with riled supporters.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much new in here for me bc I've been injecting presidential history/politics straight into my veins for so long, but a good overview and primer on the subject for a more casual reader. I found the portion addressing the 25th Amendment especially interesting. Very timely book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm looking forward to the sequel.

[Mark Mazelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It is comprehensive in its handling of the uses and abuses of impeachment throughout US history.

[James Klagge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly informative and engaging account of impeachment--both the process and a history of its (n0n-)use. Extremely clear and penetrating. While it is written from a contemporary perspective by two critics of Trump, it does not suffer from partisanship. It is quite clear about the pros and the cons of using or threatening impeachment. In fact, if I have a criticism of the book, it is that it is too repetitive--especially about the dangers of using and threatening impeachment. Anyway, I learned a lot.

[Louise Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains the history, process, and all of the choices facing us in this debilitating time.

Check out this review that summaries it better than I: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2017/...

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read. At times it is repetitive and hard to follow. I felt there were points more plain English could have been used. Still, it is educational and explains reasons why impeachment may not be the cure we hope and think it might be. I enjoyed the historical background and how even Washington himself was a subject of impeachment discussion.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry, but very interesting and approachable even to a non-lawyer. Obviously, fascinating to read as the situation continues to unfold in real time.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not the book I was expecting and looking for. I found it more polemic than textbook, more opinion than information. There is interesting material on impeachment, its history and use, woven into the six chapters, but you have to wade through a lot of droning on, and both-sides-do-it-so-don't-get-your-knickers-in-a-twist, to find it. I also disagreed with some of their conclusions about today's state of the union -- my own experience of reality is apparently quite different from theirs. I would suggest the authors need to get out more. The book is unquestionably erudite (ie boringly dry-as-dust) but it is way too much speculation and way too many assumptions.

On the other hand, the recounting of the attempt to impeach Pres Truman was quite entertaining. And I did learn some of what I was looking for on how impeachment has been used, in threat or in practice, over the centuries. To wit, a fair number of judges and justices, the occasional cabinet member, and Presidents Jackson, Tyler, Johnson (all before 1868), Truman, Nixon, Reagan and Clinton (all after 1950), all faced serious steps toward or actual impeachment. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Pierce, Buchanan, Cleveland, Hoover, GHW Bush and GW Bush (plus Obama and Trump) were all subjected to impeachment threats, some for excellent reasons, some for political reasons. Johnson and Clinton were the only ones actually impeached and neither was convicted; Nixon chose to resign on the eve of impeachment. But history shows us that (1) we have had some truly terrible presidents and several should have been impeached but avoided it for various reasons; (2) political parties have never been above threatening a president for political purposes (but it has become much much much more common since Reagan to do so without reason).

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a clear, sober and non-partisan
examination of the entire subject of impeachment, analyzed both from constitutional and historical standpoints (as well as their implications for the current national conversations), you would do well to study this book closely. It is VERY well written (Prof. Tribe is one of the nation’s foremost constitutional scholars) and very accessible to the average reader. When you have finished it, you will understand the parts of the impeachment process as the Framers constructed it, their sometimes contentious debates concerning the place it occupies in American politics and the difficulties, contradictions and outright ambiguities involved in its use and interpretation.

Whether you think yourself for or against impeachment in our currently volatile and potentially dangerous political climate, this book will inform and increase your FACT-BASED knowledge and, if it doesn’t make you change your views one way or the other, you will at least emerge from its pages a better educated citizen. As the authors state at the conclusion, “We can but hope that this book has armed you with the right questions and the tools to help defend our democracy.”

*Note: The authors have included a new postscript in the paperback version, which considers the subject after the 2018 midterm elections. It was added in March, and brings the text forward in time.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe someday I'll feel differently, but this text's staid and conservative approach to the crisis of the moment merely served to enrage and disappoint me. Scholars such as Tribe have had their own part to play in contributing to the absolute existential crisis America and humanity writ large now find themselves in. This book's publication was in poor taste and judgement.

[Bella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Partly this is on me because I powered through the end of this book and that may have impacted my view on it. But even without that, this book was just not engaging. There could have been so many excellent juicy details but it was a pretty dry recitation of the facts. Simultaneously pretty repetitive while also feeling rushed. Just not as good as I know a nonfiction book can be.