WASHINGTON. Dec 11: In a pivotal day reached only twice before in the nation s history. Republicans are primed to muscle through the House Judiciary Committee an impeachment resolution that advocates removal of President Clinton from office, reports AP.

Thy, committee where legal argum?u,ts are co7«nlngled with raw partisanship was to debate four articles of impeachment Friday and make its recommendations to the 435-member House.

The articles accuse the president of lying under oath to a ’court investigative panel known as a grand jury, lying under oath in the Paula Jones civil lawsuit, obstruction of Justice and abuse of power. All of Clinton's actions were designed, they say. to conceal his extramarital affair with a former White House intern half his age. Monica Lewinsky.

Only twice before has the committee taken such a grave vote against a president, recommending impeachment of

Richard M.'Nixon in 1974 and Andrew Johnson in 1868. Nixon resigned before the House could act. Johnson was impeached by the House and acquitted by a single vote in a Senate trial.

Anticipating the lame-duck House would nave to convene for a roll call on sending articles of impeachment to the Senate, retiring Speaker Newt Gingrich has notified all 435 members to prepare to return to the Capitol next week.

Republican moderates will determine Clinton s fate on the House floor. Democrats fought for their support with an alternate proposal in committee to censure the president, a resolution the committee is virtually certain to reject in a vote, expected Saturday.

Although Democrats were said to be ready to stiffen their censure proposal with a call for a financial penalty from the president, it was unclear whether the full House would vote on any censure measure.

Congressional sources.

speaking on condition of anonymity, said Rep. Bob Livingston. the Louisiana Republican in line to become speaker, had said in private conversations he was unlikely to permit a vote on censure in the full

In alternating speeches Thursday night by Republicans who support impeachment and Den^crats who oppose it., committee members set the stage and tried to prepare the country for what was to come.

The American people may wake up Sunday morning to find out that this committee has passed articles of impeachment on the president." said Rep. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat. Schumer could ultimately vote on the 6resident's fate in the Senate: e was elected to the Senate in November and will assume his seat in January.

"I think the American people are waiting for us to come to our senses and end this political game of chicken,” he said.

Pro-impeachment Republi-

cans spoke of the need to respect the rule of law. to teach children right from wrong and to punish those who lie under oath — even presidents who don't tell the truth about an extramarital affair.

"We can't escape it. perjury and falsehood under oath still leaps out at us," said Republican Rep. George Gekas.

Democrats, however, contended there are degrees of perjury. and that personal ana official misconduct are not the

"All lies are not perjury." said Rep. John Conyears of Michigan, the committee's senior Democrat. "Perjury may or may not be impeachable."

Before the members spoke, the committee’s two chief investigative counsels — David Schippers for the Republicans and Abbe Lowell for the Democrats — offered lengthy summations of the evidence and showed the first public clips of Clinton's deposition last January in the Jones case.