Word: latta
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...devoted to arguing over whether the committee should meet in closed or open sessions. Another half-day was spent debating whether the committee should decide in advance what constituted an impeachable offense. The committee postponed the decision, chiefly to avoid a partisan showdown. But Republican Representative Delbert Latta of Ohio, a Nixon defender, maintained in retrospect: "If we'd defined an impeachable offense to begin with, we wouldn't have gone so slowly. It would have been clear that largely unproven charges weren't going to be relevant." He was referring to allegations of misconduct that were...
...patience and fairness in the inquiry so far has won respect among Republicans. Some then backed his view. Republicans Hamilton Fish Jr. and Lawrence Hogan complained about the "dilatory tactics" of St. Clair. Republican David Dennis nonetheless asked to subpoena only the first four items. Republican Delbert Latta, a Nixon loyalist, offered a motion that the subpoena be perfected by making the last two items more precise, apparently an attempt to delay a subpoena vote...
...Equivocal. Reacting cannily and quickly, Chairman Rodino saw a chance to diffuse the emotions. He asked Latta if he had any proposed clarifying language in writing. Caught short, Latta said it would require some time to prepare. Rodino suggested that the committee should recess until afternoon, which would also afford time for more extended debate. During the lunch hour, Latta searched for the proper wording for his amendment, finally adopted the language of a Doar memo explaining the last two items. Rodino gladly accepted it, declaring: "I'm not seeking a confrontation. I'm seeking evidence...
When the committee reconvened, Latta introduced his amendment, and it carried unanimously. The Republican resistance to subpoenaing all six items had virtually vanished. Robert McClory added a clinching revelation. He told the committee that during the lunch hour he had called St. Clair and asked whether Nixon's lawyer would put his latest offer in writing. St. Clair had refused. McClory's patience too thus had expired. "I think the offer is entirely too equivocal," he said of St. Clair's stand. When the roll was called, only three Republicans dissented. Among them was Hutchinson, who explained...