Alexander Hamilton Quotes
[Imeachable conduct is] misconduct by public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust.
Hamilton, Alexander. "Federalist No. 65." The Federalist Papers, edited by Clinton Rossiter, Signet Classics, 2003, p. 396.
He had not committed any felonies, but these charges were laid under the concept of “high crimes and misdemeanors”.
Eight of the Chicago Mayor’s cabinet had been indicted for corruption. Chicago had historically “looked the other way” when there was corruption but this time Emanuel and the Mayor Richard M. Daley have taken a more strict approach.
This is a common rejoinder of third world country leaders to accusations of Western democracies about corruption. And doubtless it is true. However temptation has never been a good defense of improper behavior.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835-1910
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835-1910
Newt Gingrich, then speaker of the House, for years had used campaign donation money which was supposed to be used for promoting Republican candidates and political positions, to do so by purchasing Gingrich’s books with which to educate and inform people. The speaker had written them for a course in politics and was paid a significant amount for each sale. So Gingrich used campaign donation money to implement programs which happened to enrich him personally. The House had a rule limiting the amount of money that any Congressperson could earn beyond their salaries and Gingrich had gone way over that amount as a result of his book sales. After denying anything was amiss, he finally admitted to a technical violation of the House rules, but argued that he had broken no laws and should retain his Speakership. He was forced to resign, but later tried an unsuccessful run for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Alexander Hamilton was an American statesman, politician, legal scholar, military commander, lawyer, banker, and economist. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the founder of the nation's financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and the New York Post newspaper. As the first secretary of the treasury, Hamilton was the main author of the economic policies of George Washington's administration. He took the lead in the federal government's funding of the states' debts, as well as establishing the nation's first two de facto central banks, the Bank of North America and the First Bank of the United States, a system of tariffs, and friendly trade relations with Britain. His vision included a strong central government led by a vigorous executive branch, a strong commercial economy, government-controlled banks, support for manufacturing, and a strong military.
