Impeachment in U.S. History: A Look at Presidential Impeachments and Scandals

A guide to past presidential impeachments, from Andrew Johnson to Donald Trump, and the role political scandals played in these proceedings.

A Look at Presidential Impeachments and Scandals

The impeachment process in the United States, as outlined in the Constitution, provides a mechanism for removing a president from office for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Over the course of American history, three U.S. presidents have faced impeachment: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump. Each of these impeachments was deeply rooted in political scandals that reflected broader tensions in American society and governance. These proceedings not only shaped the legacies of these presidents but also had significant implications for the functioning of American democracy.

Andrew Johnson Impeachment

The first presidential impeachment occurred in 1868, when Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, became the target of impeachment. Johnson, who succeeded Abraham Lincoln after his assassination, was embroiled in a bitter conflict with Congress over Reconstruction policies in the South following the Civil War. His opposition to the Radical Republicans, who sought to impose harsher terms on the Southern states and protect the rights of freed African Americans, led to an escalating political standoff. The immediate trigger for Johnson’s impeachment was his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, which prohibited the president from removing certain officeholders without Senate approval. Johnson fired Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War, without consulting the Senate, leading to his impeachment on charges of high crimes and misdemeanors. The political nature of the impeachment, deeply tied to the ideological conflict between Johnson and Congress, culminated in his acquittal by just one vote in the Senate. Despite the lack of a conviction, Johnson’s impeachment marked a significant moment in U.S. political history, setting a precedent for future impeachment proceedings.

How did Johnson challenge the Tenure of Office Act?

Johnson’s attempt to remove Secretary of War Edwin Stanton from office without the Senate’s approval led to the impeachment of Johnson in early 1868 for violating the act. The act was significantly amended by Congress on April 5, 1869, under President Ulysses S. Grant.

Bill Clinton Impeachment

The second presidential impeachment occurred in 1998, when Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, faced impeachment after his involvement in a highly publicized sexual misconduct scandal. The Monica Lewinsky affair, a sexual relationship between Clinton and a White House intern, led to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The scandal was exposed during the investigation of Clinton’s extramarital affair by independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who initially investigated the president’s financial dealings in the Whitewater real estate project. The Lewinsky scandal became the focal point of Starr’s inquiry, which ultimately led to Clinton being impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of lying under oath and obstructing justice. The impeachment proceedings, however, were politically charged and divisive, with Democrats accusing Republicans of overreach and using the scandal for partisan gain. The Senate trial ended in Clinton’s acquittal, as neither charge garnered the necessary two-thirds majority to convict him. Despite the impeachment, Clinton’s approval ratings remained high, and his political career continued, albeit with diminished credibility in some quarters. The Clinton impeachment highlighted the intersection of personal misconduct, legal accountability, and partisan conflict in American politics.

Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal

The Clinton–Lewinsky scandal was a sex scandal involving Bill Clinton, the president of the United States, and Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern. Their sexual relationship began in 1995—when Clinton was 49 years old and Lewinsky was 22 years old—and lasted 18 months, ending in 1997.

Donald Trump Impeachment

The third presidential impeachment, involving Donald Trump, took place in the midst of his first term in office. Trump faced impeachment twice, in 2019 and again in 2021. The first impeachment stemmed from a scandal involving his dealings with Ukraine, specifically his attempt to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into launching an investigation into Joe Biden, his political rival, and Biden’s son, Hunter. The charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress centered around Trump’s efforts to withhold military aid from Ukraine as leverage to secure the desired investigation. The House of Representatives, led by Democrats, voted to impeach Trump on both charges, but the Senate trial resulted in acquittal, as Republicans largely supported the president, and neither charge achieved the necessary majority for conviction. Trump’s first impeachment reflected the growing polarization in U.S. politics, with party loyalty overshadowing bipartisan agreement.

Donald Trump Second Impeachment

Trump’s second impeachment occurred in January 2021, following the January 6th Capitol riot, where a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. The charge of incitement of insurrection stemmed from Trump’s rhetoric and claims of a stolen election, which many argued contributed directly to the violent attack. The House of Representatives impeached Trump for a second time, making him the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice. Once again, the Senate acquitted him, this time due to the absence of a sufficient majority for conviction and the fact that Trump had already left office by the time of the trial. Despite the acquittal, the second impeachment underscored the heightened political polarization of the era and the use of impeachment as a tool in the bitter partisan battles that defined Trump’s presidency.

Misconduct deeply entangled with broader political conflicts

The role of scandals in these impeachments cannot be overstated. In each case, the allegations of misconduct were deeply entangled with broader political conflicts. Johnson’s impeachment was rooted in ideological battles over Reconstruction, Clinton’s impeachment stemmed from the fallout of personal scandal and legal perjury, and Trump’s impeachments were closely tied to power struggles over elections and his actions in office. Each scandal not only fueled the immediate push for impeachment but also highlighted the growing influence of partisanship in the process, with the outcomes of the proceedings largely determined by political alignment rather than a clear, nonpartisan standard of conduct.

While the impeachment process is meant to serve as a check on presidential power, it has often been used as a tool for political combat, with its outcomes reflecting the broader political climate of the time. The precedents set by these impeachments continue to influence the understanding and application of impeachment in the 21st century.

Common FAQs

Donald Trump first impeachment

Donald Trump, serving as the 45th president of the United States, was impeached for the first time on December 18, 2019. On that date, the House of Representatives adopted two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Trump second impeachment

Donald Trump, serving as the 45th president of the United States, was impeached for the second time on January 13, 2021, one week before his term expired. On that date, the House of Representatives adopted one article of impeachment against Trump: incitement of insurrection. On February 13, 2021, the Senate voted to acquit Trump on the article of impeachment.

What happens when a president is impeached twice

President Donald Trump was impeached twice during his first term in office. In each case, he was acquitted on all counts by the Senate. The first impeachment saw the Senate acquit Trump on both counts. Article I failed by a vote of 48-52 while Article II failed by a vote of 47-53. The second impeachment saw a majority of Senators vote to convict, Trump was ultimately acquitted by a vote of 57-43.

Which action by Andrew Johnson ultimately led to his impeachment?

By mid-1867, Johnson’s enemies in Congress were repeatedly promoting impeachment. The precipitant event that resulted in a third and successful impeachment action was the firing of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, a Lincoln appointee and ally of the Radical Republicans in Congress.