The past two weeks of public impeachment testimony before the House Intelligence Committee produced indelible scenes of drama and confrontation. The photographs here are images that will fill American textbooks for generations, whatever the outcome of the proceedings. Unseen but vividly present was the most important character of all, the 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, only the fourth president to face possible impeachment.

Americans were witness to images of career public servants testifying against the wishes of their superiors, including the unforgettable Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, whose family came to the United States from Ukraine when he was 3, in Army dress uniform. A daughter of refugees from the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, a model of dignity and composure, faced hostile questioning from committee Republicans. A major Trump political contributor, Gordon Sondland, named ambassador to the European Union, provided a few moments of color and comic relief. The Democratic chairman, Adam Schiff of California, tried to maintain decorum befitting such a solemn undertaking. For the most part, he succeeded.