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The following transcript was provided to Court TV by Federal Document Clearing House:

SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT CLINTON

FEBRUARY 11, 1999

SPEAKERS: WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST, CHIEF JUSTICE, U.S. SUPREME COURT U.S. SENATOR TRENT LOTT, MAJORITY LEADER LLOYD OGILVIE, SENATE CHAPLAIN

REHNQUIST: The Senate will convene as a court of impeachment. The chaplain will offer a prayer.

OGILVIE: Holy God, who allows beginnings and brings an end, a time for healing, a time to mend, we ask you to pour out your palpable unifying power on this Senate. Today may the senators count on you more than they count votes. This is a time neither for gloating over victory nor grimness over losing, but rather a period for grief for all that has brought us to this day.

We are one nation under you. We repent as a nation. We turn from conditional ethics and seek to return to the absolutes of your commandments. Thank you Lord for the clarion (ph) convictions expressed during this trial by so many senators of both parties that morals do count and character does count.

CHAPLAIN: May this shared common commitment unite them as they lead this nation.

Now, as their chaplain, I hold them all before your grace and mercy. As their friend, I intercede for the spiritual strength and courage and when the final votes are taken, hold them together in the oneness America so desperately needs them to exemplify.

Help them model rectitude and reconciliation by your power. Then the winner will be neither the Republicans nor the Democrats, but the American people. In your Holy Name.

CHAPLAIN: Amen.

REHNQUIST: The sergeant-at-arms will make the proclamation.

SARGENT-AT-ARMS: Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye.

All persons are commanded to keep silent on pain of imprisonment while the Senate of the United States is sitting for the trial of the articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives against William Jefferson Clinton, president of the United States.

REHNQUIST: If there is no objection, the journal of proceedings will be approved to date. The majority leader is recognized.

LOTT: Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

This morning the Senate will resume final deliberations in closed session. Our best guess at this time leaves approximately 37 senators still intending to speak. It's possible that we could conclude and have the final votes this afternoon or late this evening. But I don't think that's going to be possible at this time.

I'd like for us, when we do approach that point, that we do it in an orderly fashion and one where members and those that are interested would be given notice. And we have some business we would have to conclude also, after all the deliberations have been completed.

But I'll confer throughout the day with Senator Daschle. We'll see how it goes. And then as soon as we can see clearly when we would want to actually move to the final vote, we'd notify all the senators and the public.

We will, also, take a lunch break sometime today between 12:00 and 12:30, and we will have of course some breaks through the day for us to take some refreshment.

I yield the floor to allow the chief justice to close the session.

REHNQUIST: The Senate will now go into closed session for final deliberations on the articles of impeachment. The sergeant-at-arms is directed to clear the galleries and close the doors of the Senate chamber.

END

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