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A Historic Trial Ends

On February 12, the U.S. Senate finally ended a historic 37-day impeachment trial, and more than a year of troubles for President Bill Clinton. The Senate voted not to remove Clinton from office.

The President had been charged with two crimes. The first was perjury, or lying under oath. Ten Republicans joined all 45 Democrats to reject that charge. The second charge, or article of impeachment, accused the President of blocking justice by interfering with a legal investigation. That was rejected by a 50-to-50 vote. Both outcomes fell far short of the 67 votes needed for removal.

Clinton is the only elected President ever to be impeached. (Andrew Johnson took office when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Richard Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment.)

Two hours after the Senate finished voting, Bill Clinton walked out into the bright sunshine of the White House Rose Garden. There he gave a speech that he had worked on late into the night. It lasted only 82 seconds. "I want to say again," he announced, "how profoundly sorry I am for what I said and did to trigger these events and the great burden they have imposed on the Congress and on the American people."

Next: The World Mourns A King