History's Lessons: Why the Smithsonian is Updating Its Impeachment Exhibit

The Smithsonian has decided to refresh an exhibit at the National Museum of American History. This exhibit is all about U. S. presidents and their impeachment stories. The change comes after some people noticed that references to President Trump's impeachments were taken out last month. The Smithsonian says it's their job to share the full story. They want to make sure everyone knows about all the impeachment events in U. S. history. This includes Trump's two impeachments, as well as those of Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Richard Nixon's near-impeachment. The museum explained that the removed placard was temporary. It didn't fit well with the rest of the exhibit. It also blocked the view of other important items. The Smithsonian says they weren't asked by any government officials to take it down. Now, the museum plans to update the exhibit soon. They want to make sure it tells the complete story of impeachments in the U. S. This way, visitors can learn about all the key moments in history. It's important to note that Trump was impeached twice. The first time was in 2019 for trying to get Ukraine to investigate a political rival. The second time was in 2021 for his role in the January 6th Capitol riot. Both times, the Senate acquitted him. Johnson and Clinton were also impeached and acquitted, while Nixon resigned before he could be impeached. The Smithsonian's decision shows how museums balance accuracy and presentation. They want to share the full story but also make sure the exhibit looks good and is easy to understand. This update will help visitors get a clearer picture of impeachment in U. S. history.