Impeachment Debate Begins Today; Iraq Hit by Second Wave of Missiles

House Republicans said Thursday that they would open debate this morning on the impeachment of President Clinton, even as Democrats warned that the divisive drama would lower the morale of U.S. troops attacking Iraq and could give dictator Saddam Hussein an unnecessary “advantage in this war.”

The Republicans’ determination to resume impeachment proceedings made for a remarkably bitter and partisan day on Capitol Hill and the majority party was undeterred by the latest unexpected twist in the 11-month-old sex-and-lying scandal: the evening revelation that House Speaker-elect Bob Livingston (R-La.) has had extramarital affairs.

“I have on occasion strayed from my marriage,” Livingston said in a statement released Thursday.

Although the necessary 218 votes for impeachment appear solid, the Livingston bombshell threw last-minute uncertainty into the tenor of today’s historic debate on whether to impeach Clinton for lying under oath and obstructing justice as he sought to conceal his affair with former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky.

Livingston, who maintained that his “indiscretions were not with employees on my staff,” told his colleagues about his past in a closed-door GOP conference Thursday night, saying his future was in their hands. He made his revelation after reports that a magazine was working on a story about his past.

His fellow Republicans rose to their feet applauding in a dramatic show of support for his election as their next speaker when the 106th Congress convenes in January.

But so rancorous was the atmosphere on Capitol Hill that the two political parties will meet on the floor of the House at 9 a.m. EST today without an agreement on how long the debate will last, how it will be scripted or whether votes on the four articles of impeachment will be cast today or Saturday.

Earlier Thursday, Livingston argued that the House must meet a self-imposed deadline and wrap up impeachment by the end of the year, turning away Democratic criticism that the impeachment debate would endanger the American military effort against Iraq.

He noted that in 1974 Congress went forward with impeachment preparations against President Nixon as the war in Vietnam was being fought.

“The Congress never wavered, the Congress never slowed down, the Congress completed its constitutional duties while the soldiers were in the field,” Livingston said.

Delay Until Next Week Is Sought

But Democrats insisted that the debate be put off until at least next week, after the bombs have stopped falling on Iraq and America’s fighting force is out of harm’s way.

They also stressed that an open, public debate to remove the man who ordered the attack on Iraq, could lead Hussein to believe that America is in turmoil and cannot sustain its attacks against his nation.

Said Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), ranking Democrat on the House National Security Committee: “Who would think of removing Gen. [H. Norman] Schwarzkopf in the middle of Desert Storm?”

The debate, originally scheduled to start Thursday but postponed because of the U.S. attack on Iraq, likely will begin with arguments over how long the two sides will square off on the floor.

Republican and Democratic leaders faced off late Thursday afternoon on the House floor and staked out their positions on the schedule for impeachment.

Democrats, in arguing for delay, left open the possibility that hostilities in Iraq could extend so long this month that the House would have to revisit the issue in the next Congress. Republicans, however, were vehement that the issue must be decided in the current Congress, in which they hold five more House seats than they will next year.

Some GOP lawmakers also privately acknowledged a desire to go home for the holidays.

No decisions were made. By Thursday evening, all that was clear was that the debate would likely begin with arguments over how long the two sides will argue.

The Democrats originally wanted 36 hours. Republicans countered with 16.

When the sides could not agree, Republicans said that they could use a parliamentary rule to hold debate to one hour, an idea that further angered the Democrats.

The two sides could decide to continue debating well past midnight tonight, possibly until 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. Under that scenario, they would return to the floor Saturday morning to vote. For only the second time in the nation’s history, the House would be casting impeachment votes that could lead to removal of a president from office.

Against this volatile backdrop, Clinton’s prospects for preventing a trial in the Senate appeared Thursday night to be as grim as ever.

As a dwindling bloc of lawmakers prepared to go into today’s vote with intentions undeclared, more moderate Republicans lined up in favor of impeachment.

Among those declaring their intent to support impeachment Thursday were Reps. Stephen Horn of Long Beach, Rick Lazio of New York, Jim Nussle of Iowa and Heather Wilson of New Mexico.

“Our nation will survive this crisis, regardless of the ultimate fate of President Clinton,” Horn said.

In another twist, Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-N.Y.) said the president should consider resigning, if he is impeached. At least one other House Democrat, Paul McHale of Pennsylvania, has called for Clinton’s resignation.

In the partisan argument over when to debate the president’s impeachment, many lawmakers spoke of their service in the armed forces during difficult times in Washington.

Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) a Korean War veteran, described the turmoil when President Harry S. Truman removed Gen. Douglas MacArthur as commander of U.S. forces, a decision he said sharply lowered the morale of his unit, which ultimately suffered 90% casualties.

“Look at the hypocrisy involved here,” Rangel said. “You cannot come to the floor of the House today and laud the president and the men and women of the military and then, when the sun goes down, impeach him. That is higher crimes and misdemeanors.”

But Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-San Diego), a decorated Vietnam War veteran, told of parachuting under fire at a time when actress Jane Fonda and activist Tom Hayden were protesting the war.

“I was shot down by a Russian missile,” he said. “And it bothered me that those people protested. All I wanted was the support of the American people.”

On the floor, House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) said: “As these troops are engaged now, they have a right to know the work of the nation goes forward.”

Armey also quoted Clinton from a White House photo opportunity earlier in the day, when the president was asked whether debate and a vote on impeachment would “undercut” his authority to continue to carry out the bombing mission against Iraq.

“No,” Armey said in quoting the president.

He did not read the rest of the quote, in which the president added: “I think that, first of all, I’m going to complete this mission. We’re going to complete this mission. And the Republican leadership has to decide how to do their job. That’s not for me to comment on.”

But House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) said that, while his party wants a full debate on impeachment, “we strongly object” to having it during wartime.

“We believe we’ve also got to look at how Saddam Hussein will perceive this, that we are having a debate in our House of Representatives to remove our commander-in-chief.”

Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) asked: “How do we not invite some action by our enemy to take advantage in this war?”

After the session, tensions continued to sharpen and Livingston announced to reporters that debate on impeachment--what he termed a “dark cloud”--would begin at 9 a.m. today. Democrats met privately to discuss whether to pursue procedural delays aimed at interrupting what Republicans hope to be an orderly debate.

“There’s a lot of ways they can obstruct us,” Livingston conceded.

But he added: “It won’t assist our troops if we just sit here dormant. That will be counterproductive.”

Once the debate gets underway, Democrats will try to find a way to vote on a lesser punishment.

Indirect Vote on Censure

Republican leaders are not expected to allow a direct vote on censuring Clinton, but Gephardt aides said that Democratic lawmakers will pursue an indirect vote on the issue.

Gephardt likely will propose sending the impeachment articles back to committee, a motion expected to contain censure language. The House parliamentarian is expected to rule censure out of order. But the Democrats could press for a House vote appealing the parliamentarian’s ruling.

In addition, some frustrated Democrats are mulling other options to delay the proceedings. Through a variety of parliamentary tactics, Democratic lawmakers could drag out the proceedings for hours by forcing votes on miscellaneous matters.

Times staff writer Edwin Chen contributed to this story.

The debate on impeachment will be carried live on The Times’ Web site: https://www.latimes.com/scandal

The Day’s Events

FOCUS ON IRAQ

* Baghdad reaction: Iraqi forces have been barely visible during the bombardment. But the Pentagon is bracing nevertheless for a possible counterstrike. A19

* On the home front: L.A. International Airport passengers are urged to arrive early and expect closer screening during the holidays in the wake of U.S. air strikes. A31. Howard Rosenberg comments on TV coverage. A28

* Weapons: Not since the Gulf War has the United States assembled this much weaponry. A19. The B-52 returns to duty to hurl missiles. A17

****

FOCUS ON IMPEACHMENT

* Clinton course: The GOP vows to open impeachment proceedings against President Clinton this morning. Clinton, however, is following a tried-and-true strategy in the face of crisis--by throwing himself into his job. A43

* GOP: The House votes, 417 to 5, for resolution endorsing the objectives of the administration’s Iraq policy. Some Republicans, including Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, left, soften their initial criticism of Clinton’s decision to launch an attack on Iraq. A44

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TV Coverage

Coverage plans for today’s scheduled debate and possible vote by the U.S. House of Representatives on the four articles of impeachment passed by the Judiciary Committee (all times PST):

* ABC: 6 a.m., extended live coverage begins, followed by updates. Votes will be carried live.

* CBS: 6 or 7 a.m. (when House debate commences), extended live coverage begins, length determined by events. Votes will be carried live.

* NBC: 6 or 7 a.m. (when House debate commences), extended live coverage begins, length determined by events. Votes will be carried live.

* PBS: 6 a.m., gavel-to-gavel coverage begins.

* CNN: 6 a.m., extended coverage begins, interspersed with coverage of Iraq crisis as events warrant.

* Fox News Channel: 6 a.m., extended live coverage begins, interspersed with coverage of Iraq crisis as events warrant.

* MSNBC: 6 a.m., extended live coverage begins, interspersed with coverage of Iraq crisis as events warrant.

* C-SPAN: 6 a.m., gavel-to-gavel coverage begins.

* Court TV: 6 a.m., gavel-to-gavel coverage begins.

Source: Associated Press