There are lessons for Democrats in both these censure efforts. Partisanship partially drove the Jackson censure, something House Democrats must avoid today. Handling Trump’s misdeeds cannot devolve into the equivalent of the Republican-led impeachment of Bill Clinton two decades ago, which strengthened that president more than serving as a punishment. Instead, House Democrats should copy the much more measured methods employed by the Senate when investigating McCarthy. The hearings back then were intended to restore dignity to government by adopting a judicial atmosphere. The focus was on a solemn assessment of misconduct rather than personal animus — the opposite of Tlaib’s impassioned exclamation at a political event.

This provides a good road map for Pelosi to follow as she stage-manages the various investigations that will be conducted by several House committees. These should be sober affairs devoid of partisanship, concluding with a committee report to the full House. After considering each report, the House would vote on censure with a simple majority needed for passage.