Presidential Impeachment History: How Many Removed from Office?

So you're curious about how many presidents have been impeached and removed from office? Honestly, it's one of those questions that pops up a lot, especially when political drama hits the news. I remember chatting with a friend last year during the elections, and we got into this whole debate. He was sure some president got kicked out, but I had to set him straight.

Let's cut to the chase. When we talk about how many presidents have been impeached and removed from office, the answer is zero. That's right, not a single one has been booted out after impeachment. But it's not as simple as that. There's a whole history behind it, and I'll walk you through every bit. Why does it matter? Because understanding this helps us see how our government works (or doesn't, sometimes).

Breaking Down Impeachment: What It Really Means

First off, impeachment isn't what most folks think. It's not a trial by jury or a criminal conviction. In the US, impeachment is just the House of Representatives accusing a president of serious offenses. Think of it like an indictment. Then, the Senate holds a trial to decide if they should be removed. The House needs a simple majority to impeach, but the Senate needs a supermajority—two-thirds—to convict and remove someone. That's a high bar, and it's why no president has ever been removed this way.

I used to mix this up with resignations or other scandals. Like, Richard Nixon almost got impeached but quit first. More on that later. The key point? Impeachment is a political process, not criminal. It's messy and often partisan, which is frustrating to watch. I've seen it play out in real-time, and it feels like a circus sometimes.

Key Facts About Presidential Impeachment

Let's get specific. Dates, charges, outcomes—stuff that answers how many presidents have been impeached and removed from office directly. Here's a quick rundown:

  • Only three presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice).
  • The Senate acquitted all of them, meaning no removal occurred.
  • Impeachment charges vary but often include abuse of power or obstruction.

To make it clearer, here's a table with all the details. See for yourself how close some votes were.

President Year Specific Charges House Vote Outcome (Impeached?) Senate Vote Outcome (Removed?) Final Result
Andrew Johnson 1868 Violating the Tenure of Office Act (fired a Cabinet member without Senate approval) Yes, 126–47 Acquitted by one vote, 35–19 (needed 36 to convict) Not removed; served full term
Bill Clinton 1998 Perjury and obstruction of justice (related to the Monica Lewinsky scandal) Yes, on two articles Acquitted (perjury: 45–55, obstruction: 50–50) Not removed; finished presidency
Donald Trump (First) 2019 Abuse of power and obstruction of Congress (Ukraine phone call pressuring for investigations) Yes Acquitted (abuse: 48–52, obstruction: 47–53) Not removed; continued in office
Donald Trump (Second) 2021 Incitement of insurrection (related to the January 6 Capitol riot) Yes Acquitted (57–43, short of needed votes) Not removed; term ended shortly after

Looking at this, it's nuts how Andrew Johnson's case came down to one vote. Imagine being that close to losing your job over politics. I've read old accounts, and it was pure chaos back then. But back to the big question: how many presidents have been impeached and removed from office? Still zero. This table shows why—Senate votes never hit the mark.

The Full Story on Each Impeachment

Alright, let's dive deeper. Each case has its own drama, dates, and details. I'll cover them one by one because they're fascinating (and sometimes infuriating).

Andrew Johnson: The First Impeachment Drama

Johnson was Abraham Lincoln's VP and took over after Lincoln's assassination in 1865. Things got ugly fast. He clashed with Congress over Reconstruction policies. The big trigger? He fired Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, without Senate approval. That violated the Tenure of Office Act, a law Congress passed to limit his power. Congress impeached him in 1868.

Specifics: The trial lasted months. Dates: House voted for impeachment on March 2–3, 1868; Senate trial ran from March to May. Key figures: Radical Republicans led the charge. Outcome: Acquitted by one vote. Why? Some senators thought it was too political, and Johnson promised to stop blocking Reconstruction. Honestly, I think it was a power play gone wrong. If he'd been removed, history could've changed big time.

Bill Clinton: The Scandal That Rocked the 90s

Who doesn't remember this? I was in high school when it happened, and it was all over TV. Clinton got impeached in 1998 for lying under oath about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Charges: perjury and obstruction. Dates: House impeachment vote on December 19, 1998; Senate trial in January–February 1999.

Results: Senate acquitted him easily. Perjury charge failed 45–55, obstruction 50–50. Why no removal? Public opinion was on Clinton's side. Economy was good, and folks saw it as a personal matter, not impeachable. Looking back, I feel it was overblown. The process wasted time and money when Congress should've focused on real issues.

Donald Trump's Double Trouble

Trump made history by getting impeached twice—first in 2019, then in 2021. First one was over a phone call to Ukraine's president, asking for dirt on Joe Biden. Charges: abuse of power and obstruction. Dates: House vote December 18, 2019; Senate acquittal February 5, 2020.

Second impeachment came after the Capitol riot. Charge: incitement of insurrection. Dates: House vote January 13, 2021; Senate trial February 9–13. Vote: 57–43 to convict, but 67 needed. So again, no removal. I watched this live, and it felt surreal. The evidence was strong, but politics blocked it. That's why when people ask how many presidents have been impeached and removed from office, it's always zero—Senate partisanship wins.

What About Nixon? And Other Near Misses

Richard Nixon is a big one folks confuse. He wasn't impeached because he resigned in 1974 before the House could vote. Charges would've been obstruction, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress over Watergate. Dates: He quit on August 9, 1974, after impeachment proceedings started in February. If he hadn't resigned, he might've been the first removed—support collapsed fast.

Other presidents faced threats but no formal impeachment. Like Andrew Jackson in the 1830s over bank policies, or more recently, chatter about Obama or Bush. But none got close. Why? Political costs. Congress only acts when public pressure mounts. I've studied this, and it's eye-opening how rare actual impeachment is, despite all the noise.

Why Has No President Been Removed? The Real Reasons

So why is the count for how many presidents have been impeached and removed from office stuck at zero? Let's break it down. It's not random; it's built into the system.

  • High Senate threshold: Needing 67 votes out of 100 is tough. Parties rarely control that many seats, so cross-party support is rare.
  • Partisan politics: Senators vote with their party almost always. In Trump's cases, almost no Republicans crossed lines. Frustrating, right?
  • Public opinion: If voters back the president, senators hesitate. Clinton survived because his approval ratings were high.
  • Constitutional design: The founders made removal hard to avoid instability. But sometimes, it protects bad behavior. I think that's a flaw—it should be easier when crimes are clear.

Take Andrew Johnson's case. One vote saved him because a senator cut a deal. That kind of backroom politics still happens. It makes you wonder if the system is broken.

Crucial FAQs Answered

You've got questions; I've got answers. Here's a quick FAQ section based on what people search. I've seen these pop up in forums, and I'll tackle them head-on.

How many US presidents have been impeached and removed from office?

None. Zero presidents have been removed from office after impeachment. Three were impeached but acquitted by the Senate.

Was Richard Nixon impeached?

No, Nixon resigned before the House voted on impeachment. He's the only president to resign, avoiding the process.

Can a president be impeached twice?

Yes, as Donald Trump showed. The Constitution doesn't limit it. Each impeachment stands alone.

What happens after impeachment if not removed?

The president stays in office, like Clinton and Trump. No fines or jail—it's purely about removal from power.

Has any president come close to being removed?

Andrew Johnson was one vote away in 1868. Trump's second trial in 2021 had 57 votes for removal, just 10 short.

How does impeachment affect a president's legacy?

It tarnishes their record but doesn't disqualify them. Clinton's approval rose after, while Trump's base stayed loyal. History judges them harshly, though.

These answers clear up a lot. I've had friends ask these exact things, and it helps to have the facts straight.

Personal Take: What I've Learned

After digging into this, I've got some thoughts. The impeachment process feels broken. It's too political and rarely serves justice. Take Trump's cases—strong evidence, but no accountability. It makes me question if it's worth the effort. On the flip side, it's a crucial check on power. Without it, presidents could get away with anything.

I recall the Clinton era vividly. News was non-stop, and it divided the country. But it taught me that impeachment is more about optics than outcomes. That's probably why we keep seeing headlines about how many presidents have been impeached and removed from office, yet the answer never changes.

Bottom line? Zero removals so far. But who knows—future events might alter that. For now, it's a key piece of American history.

Leave a Comments

Recommended Article