Drama, rancor reign on floor of House
BY LAURIE KELLMAN
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Two hundred Democratic backs turned toward the Republican side of the House as President Clinton's party walked out in silence.
But there was applause from one corner. “Goodbye!” shouted Rep. Bud Shuster, R-Pa., mockingly waving from the last row of Republican seats.
Having the last word — and making it sting — became the final, unofficial rule of the 105th Congress as it closed for business less than an hour after impeaching a president.
Outside as the day began, thousands of people had gathered on their day off work.
“Democrats, go back to work!” yelled one man, who was trying to outshout the woman next to him as the lawmakers arrived.
“Good for you!” she shouted to the lawmakers.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., rolled a suitcase past the cameras and into the Democratic caucus.
Within hours the House would vote for impeachment, and weary members of Congress would be on their way home for an overdue holiday. Mr. Nadler expected to be first on the tarmac.
But first, a new stunner.
In the House chamber, Speaker-to-be Bob Livingston arrived at a microphone just below the chair from which he was to preside over the next Congress.
Mr. Livingston said Mr. Clinton should resign. Democrats pounded their chairs and shouted, “No! No! No!”
Then the shouts got more personal: “You resign! You resign! You resign!”
The lanky congressman who had, like Mr. Clinton, belatedly admitted infidelity, paused. His voice cracked. Then he said he would, indeed, resign.
Silence. Then applause from both sides of the aisle. The Democrats stood along with the Republicans to salute Mr. Livingston.
Some now were saying “no” to his stepping down. They wanted an end to what Minority Leader Dick Gephardt called “the politics of smear and slash and burn.”
But not all the ill feeling was gone so quickly.
Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., recalled Republican Bill Thomas of California glaring backward at Rep. Carrie Meek, a Florida Democrat who was sitting behind Mr. Peterson and had been calling for Mr. Livingston to quit.
“Are you satisfied?” Mr. Thomas asked her, according to Mr. Peterson.
Mr. Livingston, head down and emotional, left his colleagues stunned as he strode off the House floor and through the Speaker's Lobby. He whizzed past reporters there who had not heard his speech. They did not ask him questions.
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