America has only once brought a President to trial - in 1868, when President Andrew Johnson was charged with high crimes and misdemeanours. In the aftermath of the civil war, the decision to impeach created as much public furore as the crisis over President Nixon does now, and the historic trial in the Senate is the scenario for any impeachment to come.
Robert MacNeil relates what is happening in America now to what happened then - during this re-enactment of the trial of a president, the way the case against him was put, the cross-examination of the witnesses, the impassioned speeches by his defence lawyers, and the verdict, as the senate votes.
A history lesson for tomorrow The President
Andrew Johnson. ..WALTER KLAVUN For the Defence For the Prosecution
Scriptwriter JOHN LLOYD Producer TAM FRY
Editor MICHAEL TOWNSON Director ALVIN RAKOFF