--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It became evident to me that there was a…" description: "\"It became evident to me that there was a very serious political element at work. I know that the term impeachment was bandied about. I do not believe, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/fred-f-fielding-37694_believe_it-became-evident-to-me-that-there-was-a_2676253.png" --- # It became evident to me that there was a very serious… ![“It became evident to me that there was a very serious political element at work. I know that the term impeachment was bandied about. I do not believe, however, that the word was used with the ferocity it was more recently or that it was in the Nixon years.” quote by Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/fred-f-fielding-37694_believe_it-became-evident-to-me-that-there-was-a_2676253.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/fred-f-fielding-37694_believe_it-became-evident-to-me-that-there-was-a_2676253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/fred-f-fielding-37694_believe_it-became-evident-to-me-that-there-was-a_2676253.png) > “It became evident to me that there was a very serious political element at work. I know that the term impeachment was bandied about. I do not believe, however, that the word was used with the ferocity it was more recently or that it was in the Nixon years.” [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker notes that political motives have long colored impeachment discussions, but the intensity of modern usage differs from earlier eras. **In simple terms:** Political motives affect impeachment language, but intensity varies over time. Key Takeaway Recognize how political context shapes legal discourse. Themes politics law history Mood analytical reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - legal debates - historical analysis - media commentary Key Concepts impeachment political rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - How does political context alter legal terms? - What factors increase rhetorical intensity? A Different Perspective Modern political climates can amplify language beyond original intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Impeachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impeachment/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) ## Related quotes > [The genius of impeachment lay in the fact that it could punish the man without punishing the office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-genius-of-impeachment-lay-in-the-fact-that-it-could-punish-the/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/an-impeachable-offense-is-whatever-a-majority-of-the-house-of/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [“So many of the professional foreign policy establishment, and so many of their hangers-on among the lumpen academics and journalists, had become worried by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/so-many-of-the-professional-foreign-policy-establishment-and-so-many/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I salute the 51 congressmen who voted (for the impeachment complaints.) It's not over yet. There will always be hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corazon-aquino/i-salute-the-51-congressmen-who-voted-for-the-impeachment-complaints/) [Corazon Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corazon-aquino/) > [“Passing articles of impeachment against President Obama in the House at this premature point would have the same effect. There is no public will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/passing-articles-of-impeachment-against-president-obama-in-the-house/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [If the president does something dastardly, the impeachment process is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/if-the-president-does-something-dastardly-the-impeachment-process-is/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [How to check these unconstitutional invasions of rights by the Federal judiciary? Not by impeachment in the first instance, but by a strong protestation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/how-to-check-these-unconstitutional-invasions-of-rights-by-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Every time there's an institutional issue like impeachment, there's concern from the outside about what will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-temer/every-time-there-s-an-institutional-issue-like-impeachment-there-s/) [Michel Temer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-temer/) > [To be clear, impeachment is above all else a political act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/to-be-clear-impeachment-is-above-all-else-a-political-act/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [I think that in the minds of many, the press is being seen less and less as a neutral observer in the impeachment enterprise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-that-in-the-minds-of-many-the-press-is-being-seen-less-and/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Hillary Clinton, our junior senator from New York, announced that she has no intentions of ever, ever running for office of the President of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/hillary-clinton-our-junior-senator-from-new-york-announced-that-she/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [This impeachment narrative started before President Trump was even nominated to the Repub - as the Republican candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagen-mcdowell/this-impeachment-narrative-started-before-president-trump-was-even/) [Dagen McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagen-mcdowell/) > [Impeachment is one of the most significant and arduous authorities of the United States Congress, a power I do not take lightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-donalds/impeachment-is-one-of-the-most-significant-and-arduous-authorities-of/) [Byron Donalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-donalds/) > [I, of course, predicted attempt of Donald Trump impeachment back on November 22nd of 2016 year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-of-course-predicted-attempt-of-donald-trump-impeachment-back-on/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Maybe Trump himself will be voted out through impeachment, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/maybe-trump-himself-will-be-voted-out-through-impeachment-right/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) ## More by Fred F. Fielding > [This drama between Dean and Ehrlichman took place while I was trying to give the contents to the FBI.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/this-drama-between-dean-and-ehrlichman-took-place-while-i-was-trying/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [Soon after I returned to private practice, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger called me one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/soon-after-i-returned-to-private-practice-former-supreme-court-chief/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [Morgan, Lewis is a very large firm now, but it was not quite as big then. It was exciting for an associate in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/morgan-lewis-is-a-very-large-firm-now-but-it-was-not-quite-as-big/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [It is hard for people outside the White House to understand the constant daily problems and issues that come up that require the president's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/it-is-hard-for-people-outside-the-white-house-to-understand-the/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [Dean had just come from seeing his lawyer. That was the first time that I found out that he had consulted a lawyer. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/dean-had-just-come-from-seeing-his-lawyer-that-was-the-first-time/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [The last eight years have created a lot of deep-seated hostility. People take political decisions very personally, and today there is a constant, ongoing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/the-last-eight-years-have-created-a-lot-of-deep-seated-hostility/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [The Nixon years were trying. They honed my judgment for everything I did later on. The experience also illustrated for me the importance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/the-nixon-years-were-trying-they-honed-my-judgment-for-everything-i/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [I'm still friendly with Dean. He still calls me on the phone from time to time. John Dean was fired and later ended up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/i-m-still-friendly-with-dean-he-still-calls-me-on-the-phone-from-time/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [But look, you did not have to be well versed in politics to know that some stupid things were going on. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/but-look-you-did-not-have-to-be-well-versed-in-politics-to-know-that/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [One regret I have is that I did not learn more about what was happening very early, so that I could have tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/one-regret-i-have-is-that-i-did-not-learn-more-about-what-was/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) > [It was frightening because it was the first time I had gotten a sense of how serious the problem was. It became clear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-f-fielding/it-was-frightening-because-it-was-the-first-time-i-had-gotten-a-sense/) [Fred F. Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) [Explore all 12 Fred F. Fielding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-f-fielding/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It became evident to me that there was a very serious political element at work. I know that the term impeachment was bandied about. I do not believe, however, that the word was used with the ferocity it was more recently or that it was in the Nixon years.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fred F. 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