"Resolved, that William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanours."
With these solemn words, the House of Representatives opened the first impeachment debate of a president since 1868.
While the occasion was historic and solemn, the atmosphere was bitter and bipartisan as Democrats at times booed and hissed and Republicans were still in shock over the confession of their new leader, the Speaker-elect, Mr Bob Livingston, that he had had extramarital affairs.
As the debate got under way, Mrs Hillary Clinton departed from her usual silence on the impeachment process to appeal for "reconciliation". Answering a question from reporters in the grounds of the White House, Mrs Clinton said: "The vast majority of Americans share my approval and pride in the job the President has been doing for our country". At this period of Christmas, Hanukkah and Ramadan, "it is time for reflection among people. We in our country ought to practise reconciliation and we ought to bring our country together", Mrs Clinton said.
But in the chamber of the House, there was little sign of the spirit of reconciliation as Democrats accused Republicans of undermining President Clinton in his role of Commander-in-Chief while US servicemen and women were engaged in combat in the Gulf region.
Mr Henry Hyde who presented the Republican case for impeachment said: "No man or woman, no matter how highly placed, no matter how effective a communicator, no matter how gifted a manipulator of opinion, or winner of votes, can be above the law in a democracy". On National Public Radio Mr Hyde said impeachment was the only option given to legislators by the US Constitution. "Lying is part and parcel of the trade of politics, but. . . to have him lying under oath again and again and again, lying to his cabinet, to the American people. . . it's just different and it is punishable," he said.
The Democrats repeated the familiar charges that by refusing to consider a censure motion, the Republicans are intent on ousting the President for purely partisan motives. Congressman John Conyers thundered that "a Republican coup d'etat is in progress". Democrats applauded at length when their leader, Mr Dick Gephardt, appealing for censure instead of impeachment, said: "The politics of smear and slash and burn must end."
The House was debating four articles of impeachment accusing Mr Clinton of committing high crimes and misdemeanours under the headings of perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of power. At least one of the these articles is expected to be approved by the Republican majority. This would mean that Mr Clinton would then face a trial in the Senate.
The debate was due to continue until 3 a.m. this morning, Irish time, and resume at 2 p.m. today. Voting on the four articles will also take place today.
Mr Gephardt, the House's leading Democrat, bemoaned the lack of a formal rebuke in alternative to impeachment. "We are deeply offended by the unfairness of this process," he told his colleagues.
"You are doing this in a way that denies millions of Americans the trust and respect for our views that we afford to you and that we feel we deserve and our Constitution guarantees," he said.
At the start of the debate, the acting chairman, Mr Ray LaHood, a Republican congressman, pleaded with the members to avoid "personally abusive" comments about the President or each other.
This drew some derisive noises from the Democratic benches where the revelations about Mr Livingston had raised the temperature.
Mr Livingston had stunned his Republican colleagues the night before when he admitted he had "on occasion strayed from my marriage".
He told them his personal life was being investigated by media to find indiscretions which "may be exploitable against me and my party on the eve of the upcoming historic vote on impeachment". Democrats said the revelations would not affect the impeachment debate but one of their outspoken members,, Ms Maxine Waters, said before the debate: "The only word that comes to mind is hypocrite. The hypocrisy is absolutely stunning."
Mr Livingston, who says that his wife and family have forgiven him, has apparently been the victim of a campaign by Hustler magazine, whose publisher, Mr Larry Flynt, offered $1 million for firsthand information about sexual affairs with members of Congress.
The White House has strongly denied some Republican claims that it planted information about Mr Livingston's private life.