Crimes, Follies, and Misfortunes : the Federal Impeachment trials.

Of the fourteen American political figures tried from 1799 through 1989, five committed acts for which they were, or could have been, convicted (crimes). Five were found unfit because of impropriety, inability, or unwillingness to perform their duties (follies). The remaining four were targets of political or business interests arrayed against them (misfortunes). Seven of the fourteen -- all judges -- were convicted. An impeachment trial must prove abuse of office or inability to perform official duties, not "political intransigence or unwary speechmaking, " states Eleanore Bushnell. Meticulous scholarship and elegant prose mark Bushnell's investigation, which details the accusations against each official brought to trial and links each proceeding to biographical information and facts including the political composition of Congress, an article-by-article indictment and refutation of charges, and final summations for each side. Bushnell views the constitutionally mandated impeachment process as an important means of overseeing officials with lifelong tenure. And, noting that eleven of the impeached officers were judges, she observes that criminality has not been a conspicuous cause of judicial misconduct. More common problems have included alcoholism, absenteeism, senility, and violations of ethical canons.