Bill Clinton was impeached 20 years ago. What was going on in Washington, D.C., that day?

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Bill Clinton was impeached 20 years ago. What was going on in Washington, D.C., that day?

Clinton and Hillary Clinton

AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton watches President Clinton pause as he thanks those Democratic members of the House of Representatives who voted against impeachment in this Dec. 19, 1998 file photo.

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  • President Bill Clinton was impeached 20 years ago, on December 19, 1998.
  • Clinton was the second president in US history to be impeached. Despite the House's vote, Clinton promised to stay in the presidency until the "last hour."
  • Here's what that winter day looked like in Washington, D.C.:
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December 19, 1998, was a cold winter day. Bill and Hillary Clinton prepared for the outcome of the House impeachment vote.

December 19, 1998, was a cold winter day. Bill and Hillary Clinton prepared for the outcome of the House impeachment vote.

Pro and anti-Clinton protesters gathered around Capitol Hill.

Pro and anti-Clinton protesters gathered around Capitol Hill.
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People demonstrated outside the Capitol all day.

People demonstrated outside the Capitol all day.

Newt Gingrich, then-speaker of the House, had named Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican, to preside over the impeachment proceedings.

Newt Gingrich, then-speaker of the House, had named Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican, to preside over the impeachment proceedings.
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That same day, Rep. Bob Livingston, a Louisiana Republican who had been the Speaker of the House-elect, resigned over his own case of adultery. He encouraged Clinton to do the same.

That same day, Rep. Bob Livingston, a Louisiana Republican who had been the Speaker of the House-elect, resigned over his own case of adultery. He encouraged Clinton to do the same.

The House of Representatives voted on President Clinton's articles of impeachment. Two articles passed by close margins.

The House of Representatives voted on President Clinton's articles of impeachment. Two articles passed by close margins.
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That morning, the Washington Post reported that pizza deliveries in the Capitol were booming that week due to staffers working late nights to prepare for the impeachment vote.

That morning, the Washington Post reported that pizza deliveries in the Capitol were booming that week due to staffers working late nights to prepare for the impeachment vote.

On the same day the House voted on his impeachment, President Clinton was calling off operation Desert Fox, a brief bombing campaign against Iraq.

On the same day the House voted on his impeachment, President Clinton was calling off operation Desert Fox, a brief bombing campaign against Iraq.
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Once passed, the two articles of impeachment were delivered to Secretary of the Senate Gary Sisco.

Once passed, the two articles of impeachment were delivered to Secretary of the Senate Gary Sisco.

President Clinton spoke outside the White House after the House voted to impeach him.

President Clinton spoke outside the White House after the House voted to impeach him.
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Hillary Clinton stood by Bill's side as he delivered a speech following the vote of impeachment.

Hillary Clinton stood by Bill's side as he delivered a speech following the vote of impeachment.

Despite the outcome of the vote, the Clintons smiled as they met members of the press outside the White House.

Despite the outcome of the vote, the Clintons smiled as they met members of the press outside the White House.
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