>>> On 24 July 2002, James Traficant became only the second US Representative since the Civil War to be drummed out of Congress (and only the fifth in US history to meet that fate). Almost as soon as the deciding vote was cast, someone yanked down Traficant's official Website. (It used to be here.) With it went all of Traficant's speeches, press releases, and other info. This includes his classic one-minute speeches, in which he pointedly and hilariously railed against some perceived or real injustice from the floor of the House. The Memory Hole certainly doesn't agree with all of Traficant's zingers (though we do like the way he slammed the IRS, Janet Reno, the Waco massacre, and NAFTA), but they're just too enjoyable to let disappear.

Also, we're posting Traficant's final speech, made right before the vote that ended his career as a Representative. As he is only the second Congressman in 135 years to be booted, the speech has historical value. Plus, it gives Traficant's side of the story, something that's been missing in the media coverage.

Traficant's One Minute Speeches

1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001

Traficant's final speech

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