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Focus on the 70s - The Nixon Years - PT6
TLS/MSs House Judiciary Committee adopting Articles of Impeachment against Richard Nixon, House members (including future Secretary of Defense William Cohen) debating, 1974.
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (1/2
[00.23.03-DEAN discusses the decision process of EHRLICHMAN, HALDEMAN, MITCHELL, on raising money to pay off the Watergate Defendants] Preceding that, there had been a good bit, of discussion between Mr. Haldeman and Mr. Ehrlichman and back and forth to Mr. Mitchell as to who was going to raise the necessary money. I reported to them that there, was nothing I could do, this was out of my hands, that Mr. Mitchell had felt it, was not his responsibility to raise this money and he was not, interested in doing it. Mr. Ehrlichman and Mr. Haldeman said that they thought it -was his. Finally, they asked Mr. Richard Moore, who was also attending the meeting, to go to Mr. Mitchell and lay it on the line that it was Mr. Mitchell's responsibility. Now, I assume, they did that because Mr. Moore had spent time at the Department of Justice working very closely with Mr. Mitchell and knew Mr. Mitchell. He, was an older man and they felt probably sending Mr. Moore as a direct emissary from them, rather than myself when I had failed to accomplish what they thought was necessary, might solve the problem. I later learned that Mr. Moore indeed did go to New York and did raise this with Mr. Mitchell. but Mr. Mitchell virtually ignored the matter when it -was raised by Mr. Moore. [00.24.16] Senator MONTOYA. Were these, particular conferences at San Clemente designed to just discuss the matter of Watergate? Mr. DEAN. They were designed to discuss how to deal with this committee so that the coverup would not unravel up here before this committee. Senator MONTOYA. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Senator ERVIN. Senator Gurney?, [00.24.46-Sen. GURNEY continues to play batboy for the White House in questioning DEAN, trying to discredit DEAN'S story about enlisting KALMBACH to be the bagman for the payoff money to the defendants.] Senator GURNEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a few questions, Mr. Dean. I would like to go back to the, Kalmbach meeting again when you and he first discussed this coverup money. Mr. DEAN. On the 29th, Senator? Senator GURNEY. June 29, Mr. DEAN. Yes. Senator GURNEY. You are, absolutely certain about that date? It could not have occurred in July, could it have? Mr. DEAN. The first meeting I had with him was when I flew in--he took the last flight, I believe, out of Los Angeles. We met the next morning The, records-- he very seldom stayed at the Mayflower Hotel and was staying at the Mayflower Hotel and I would assume that if the committee investigators would check the records of the Mayflower Hotel they could confirm that date. That is the best of my recollection, that it was the 29th. Senator GURNEY. This -was the June 29 date? Mr. DEAN. Yes. Senator GURNEY. Was there anyone else at the meeting? Mr. DEAN. No, sir. there was not. Senator GURNEY. And my recollection is that you had a short meeting in the coffee. shop, is that at right Mr. DEAN. I was to meet him in the, coffee, shop and I recall we sat down in the booth and it did not appear very private in the, booth, so We, decided to go to his room to discuss the matter. Senator GURNEY. And that, was there in the Mayflower Hotel? Mr. DEAN. That is correct. [00.26.28-Sen. GURNEY thinks he's got DEAN trapped in a lie] Senator GURNEY. Well, the committee has subpenaed the records of the hotel. I have a letter here from the Mayflower, and also one from the Statler Hilton. I would like a committee staffer to give these copies to the witness. Now, as You will see today, the letter is from the Mayflower Hotel, dated June, 27, 1973, addressed to Senator Gurney, Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, U.S. Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. [00.27.27-KALMBACH never stayed at the Mayflower Hotel] Dear Senator Gurney, in reply to your request of June 27, 1973, to the best of our knowledge, the records do not reflect a Mr. Herbert B. Kalmbach as being a registered guest during the period of June 1, 1972, through July 1, 1972. Very truly yours, Ray Sylvester, Senior Assistant Manager. Then the other letter from the Statler Hilton, again addressed to me. This also has the subpena of the committee plus photostatic copies of the hotel records. The hotel record photostatic copy is not very good here, so I think we are going to have to go by the letter itself. At any rate, here is what it says: Attached, please find photostatic copies of a previous subpena served on the Washington Statler Hilton, registration card and folio B. 96403, for Mr. Herbert W. Kalmbach who 'Was registered in our hotel from June 29-30, 1972. Original folio and registration card were received in compliance with the Previous subpena by Angelo J. Lano, S.A.F.B.I. telephone number 324-2685. we are Unable to locate any further records on Mr. Kalmbach. Sincerely, William J. Utnik, General Manager. [00.28.56]
LAWMAKERS
Shot of CLAUDE PEPPER speaking in HOUSE COMMITTEE. Shot of an elderly woman speaking to microphone at SENIOR CITIZENS center. Shot of PEPPER speaking at Seniors' volunteer group meeting. DUKE v.o. - PEPPER an advocate for SENIOR CITIZENS of U.S. PEPPER encourages SENIOR CITIZENS to take pride in their long service to U.S., they are important to him.
JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
House Select Committee on Assassinations hearing on the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Committee Deputy Chief Counsel Gary T. Cornwell asking Committee Chairman U.S. Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) to admit and display exhibits 349, 672, and 667. Stokes admits the exhibits. Middle-aged adult Caucasian female assistant helps Professor Mark Weiss set up the exhibits for further testimony. The assistant mics Weiss and gives him a pointer stick.
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
[00.07.12-MITCHELL is interrogated about the coverup] Mr. DASH. Did Mr. Haldeman make -any kind of promises to Magruder at that time, in your presence? Mr. MITCHELL. None other than the fact to help him as a friend and,' I think Mr. Haldeman has testified to that. Mr. DASH. IT. NOW, did you over have a meeting with Mr. Magruder" and Mr. Dean after that meeting with Mr. Haldeman? Mr. MITCHELL. Yes sir. Mr. DASH. What was as that meeting about? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, this was held at Magruder's request because he again was concerned about this perjury question that he might have, and the meeting was a quick run-through again of the recollection of the individuals as to what was discussed prior to Mr. Magruder's third appearance before the grand jury back -in September. Mr. DASH. Did you agree, at that time Mr. Mitchell, that you would hold the line, at, least, if you were called, to limit the meeting to a discussion of the election laws? [00.08.08] Mr. MITCHELL. No, that was not the basis, to hold it to the election laws, Mr. Dash, The basis of it was for the recollection of what had happened and how it would have affected Mr. Magruder in perjury. You see. if you go back Magruder had said there only had been one meeting when there actually had been two, and so forth, It wasn't a question of holding the line on anything. It was a question of the recollection of what actually did happen vis-a-vis what Magruder apparently had testified to. [00.08.40] Mr. DASH. He was obviously concerned as to what your position going to be if you were called before the grand jury. Did you make any assurances to Mr. Magruder at that time? Mr. MITCHELL. Any assurances as to what? Mr. DASH. How would you testify before the grand jury if you were called as to the meetings? Mr. MITCHELL. I made no assurances as to how I was going in to testify. Obviously I was going to testify as to what happened. Mr. DASH. Did Mr. Dean make any assurances? [00.09.03] Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Dean had a very hazy recollection of what had happened. Obviously, as I think Mr. Dean testified, he didn't want to discuss the matter. he had already of course, gone to counsel and was looking after Mr. Dean's problems. Mr. DASH. Did you learn during April that Mr. Magruder and Mr. Dean had gone to see the prosecutors? Mr. MITCHELL. I learned about Mr. Magruder. I didn't learn about Mr. Dean. [00.09.34] Mr. DASH. And were you personally aware of Mr. Dean's meetings -with the President in March and that he testified to before this committee? Mr. MITCHELL. On the meeting of March 22 at which, of course, I was present. Mr. DASH. What I am talking about are the meetings of September 15, 1972, the meeting of February 28. Mr. MITCHELL. Now, Mr. Dash. you are talking about 1972. Mr. DASH. The meetings of September 15, 1972, with the President, February 28, 1973, March 13, 1973, and March 21. Are you aware, of those meetings? [00.10.12] Mr. MITCHELL. Let, me put it this way. The only meeting that I was aware of. of Mr. Dean and the President was the one, I attended March 22. Mr. DASH, At that meeting was there any discussion by the President, by you or by Mr. Dean, concerning the, Watergate, either coverup or who may be involved in an indictment or anything like that on the 22d? [00.10.34] Mr. MITCHELL. None whatsoever The total discussion had to do with the, White House's response to this committee,. and I think it was Prompted, or at least that was my understanding at the time. it was prompted by the fact that the President was getting a pretty good knocking 'around in the press on the question of executive privilege. I believe it, arose with respect to the Gray hearings but it certainly was to be applicable to this committee's hearings. [00.11.07] Mr. DASH. Well, just a couple of more questions, Mr. Mitchell: I think you have testified -already, and quite frequently that you did not personally inform the President, of any of these so-called called White House horrors or the efforts to keep the lid-on and the Plumbers activities, is that, correct? Mr. DASH. Are you personally aware of anybody else having any conversation with the President concerning these activities? Mr. MITCHELL. Not in my presence. I am not aware, of anybody ever having reported to me that they have had. [00.11.43] Mr. DASH. Likewise it is your testimony that the President did not discuss these events or the coverup with you or, to your knowledge, with anyone else? Mr. MITCHELL. If I understand your question Mr. DASH. To your knowledge. Mr. MITCHELL [continuing]. He has not discussed them with me; to my knowledge, the answer is that is correct. Mr. DASH. To your knowledge. Therefore then, Mr. Mitchell, I am briefing your testimony at this time before the committee. [00.12.09] Is it not fair to say or is it not true that, according to your testimony, you are -not in a position to state to this committee of your own knowledge whether the President in fact knew or did not know of the break-in or the bugging of the Watergate or the coverup efforts that took place after June 17, 1972? Mr. MITCHELL. The, only thing that I can state to my own knowledge, Mr. Dash, is that so far as I know he does not know of either of those circumstances. [00.12.40]
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
[01.15.35-DEAN discussing March 22, 1973 meeting with NIXON, HALDEMAN, EHRLICHMAN on maintaining coverup through ERVIN COMMITTEE investigation] At that point. the, President turned to me and said --John, I think that, you ought to go up and discuss with Senator Ervin the parameters of executive privilege" and I said to the President, "I thought that would be very unwise because, I am the, point at, issue in the Gray hearings and I am there negotiating my own position." He agreed. and Mr. Ehrlichman said that he would come, and visit with Senator Ervin on discussing executive privilege vis-a-vis appearances of White House, staff. The meeting was very much of this tenor. There was nothing dramatic that happened. and again this was somewhat to my surprise. The meeting concluded, Haldeman and Ehrlichman departed the, office, Mr. Mitchell stayed 'and had a social conversation -with the President, they were talking about----- Senator BAKER. Were you there at the time? [01.16.31] Mr. DEAN. I -was in and out for this reason, here is a point that I had really forgotten about that, occurred in front of Mr. Mitchell. The President said in front of Mr. Mitchell that "John has been doing an excellent job on this whole problem." and it was just a compliment he paid me in front of Mr. Mitchell. I Was trying to make just make an arrangement for Mr. Mitchell to meet with Paul O'Brien who had been wanting to meet with him and as; you know outside. the President's suite there, there is an empty office that he makes available for guests. I was talking to the, receptionist as to Mr. Mitchell's availability of that. I went even to that office myself I called my secretary to tell her to make arrangements for Mr. O'Brien to come over to meet with Mr. Mitchell in that office. I meanwhile went back in the President's office and told the President and Mr. Mitchell that that office had been set up and that my secretary was trying to arrange the meeting so that Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Mitchell could meet and, as I recall, I departed then for Mr. Ziegler's office, again to see, what had happened with the White House response on Mr. Gray's statement regarding myself. Senator BAKER. All right. Does that conclude the important aspects of the March 22 meeting? Mr. DEAN. I think that does; yes. Senator BAKER. And once again with the caveat that whatever else you have said in your prepared statement will be incorporated for the purposes of our colloquy here. [01.18.05] Do we move then to April 15? Mr. DEAN. That is correct. Senator BAKER. All right. Would you go ahead, please. Mr. DEAN. Well, I might add, now, I had a conversation with the President on March 23. Senator BAKER. All right. Would you tell us about that? Mr. DEAN. The President suggested, as he had on previous occasions, and in fact my wife and I had talked about it, he had said, "John, have, you ever been up to Camp David," and I said "Well, only once on a very brief visit" which had been on November 15, Senator BAKER. Where was this conversation? Mr. DEAN. These were in the Oval Office and they would come up at the end of a meeting or something in which he had suggested I go to Camp David to enjoy Camp David. Senator BAKER. What time during the day of March 23? Mr. DEAN. Did I receive the call? Senator BAKER. I am not quite sure I understand. Mr. DEAN. All right. Senator BAKER. There was a meeting 'with the President. [01.19.00] Mr. DEAN. I was referring to the fact that, I know there has been some--I have read in the press that, you know, the President was continually trying to send me to Camp David. Well, the invitations I was getting to go to Camp David were not to go for any personal reasons other than to go up and enjoy Camp David and relax as during the Gray hearings as my name was coming more to the forefront and the President was telling me, "Don't bother to read the newspaper, I have been through this sort of thing before," and he told me, that on countless occasions to ignore the newspapers and not let this get to me. And I had relayed this to my wife and told her that the President had been very gracious in saying that we should go to Camp David and enjoy the facilities up there. [01.19.45] Senator BAKER. Was there a meeting on March 23? Mr. DEAN. No; there was a telephone call that came in, it must have been after lunch time, some time, I don't recall precisely when, what hour, but we arrived there at about 3:30 or so. so I would say that the call probably came in, given the fact that it is about over a 2-hour ride, about 1, 1:30 or so, and I would assume the President was calling, by then he had left for Florida. [01.20.18] The President said to me, he said. the most interesting thing I remember that is relevant to your inquiry now is, he said, "Well, John, your prediction is correct." That was in reference to the fact on the 21st I told him I thought one of the defendants, would--would not remain, not all the defendants would remain silent and here in fact this had occurred when Mr. McCord had submitted his letter to the court on the 23d. [01.20.48-BAKER continues to examine DEAN'S conversations with NIXON at a point when the COVERUP was in serious jeopardy] Senator BAKER. Let's examine that just a Moment, Mr. Dean. Did the President say that, you were proved correct because McCord has said so and so or is this an inference you draw from the circumstances? Mr. DEAN. Well, he was quite aware of the fact that McCord had, in the conversation that came up he was aware of the fact, that McCord's letter had been read in court that morning. Senator BAKER. Tell me what he said, please? Mr. DEAN. He just acknowledged the fact that he was aware of Mr. McCord having submitted a letter to the court. Senator BAKER. Can you recall the language? Mr. DEAN. No; I cannot, [01.21.26]
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Vote on article II of the Donohue resolution
Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). The question now occurs on the adoption of the article II of the Donohue resolution as amended by the Hungate substitute. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [Chorus of "ayes."] Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). All those opposed. [Chorus of "noes."] Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). The ayes appear to have it.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Vote on article II of the Donohue resolution
Charles Sandman Jr. (R New Jersey). Mr. Chairman, I demand the ayes and nays. Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). The gentleman from New Jersey demands a call of the roll and call of the roll is ordered and the clerk will call the, roll. All those in favor of the adoption of the Article II of the Donohue resolution as amended by the Hungate substitute please signify by saying aye. All those opposed, no. The Clerk. Mr. Donohue. Harold Donohue (D Massachusetts). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Brooks. Jack Brooks (D Texas). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Kastenmeier. Robert Kastenmeier (D Wisconsin). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Edwards. Don Edwards (D California). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Hungate. William Hungate (D Missouri). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Conyers. John Conyers (D Michigan). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Eilberg. Joshua Eilberg (D Pennsylvania). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Waldie. Jerome Waldie (D California). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Flowers. Walter Flowers (D Alabama). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Mann. James Mann (D South Carolina). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Sarbanes. Paul Sarbanes (D Maryland). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Seiberling. John Seiberling (D Ohio). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Danielson. George Danielson (D California). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Drinan. Robert Drinan (D Massachusetts). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Rangel. Charles Rangel (D New York). Aye. The Clerk. Ms. Jordan. Barbara Jordan (D Texas). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Thornton. Ray Thornton (D Arkansas). Aye. The Clerk. Ms. Holtzman. Elizabeth Holtzman (D New York). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Owens. Wayne Owens (D Iowa). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Mezvinsky. Edward Mezvinsky (D Iowa). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Hutchinson. Edward Hutchinson (R Michigan). No. The Clerk. Mr. McClory. Robert McClory (R Illinois). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Smith. Henry Smith III (R New York). No. The Clerk. Mr. Sandman. Charles Sandman Jr. (R New Jersey). No. The Clerk. Mr. Railsback. Tom Railsback (R Illinois). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Wiggins. Charles Wiggins (R California). No. The Clerk. Mr. Dennis. David Dennis (R Indiana). No. The Clerk. Mr. Fish. Hamilton Fish Jr. (R New York). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Mayne. Wiley Mayne (R Iowa). No. The Clerk. Mr. Hogan. Lawrence Hogan (R Maryland). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Butler. Caldwell Butler (R Virginia). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Cohen. William Cohen (R Maine). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Lott. Trent Lott (R Mississippi). No. The Clerk. Mr. Froehlich. Harold Froehlich (R Wisconsin). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Moorhead. Carlos Moorhead (R California). No. The Clerk. Mr. Maraziti. Joseph Maraziti (R New Jersey). No. The Clerk. Mr. Latta. Delbert Latta (R Ohio). No. The Clerk. Mr. Rodino. Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). Aye.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Vote on article II of the Donohue resolution
Members stand to leave. Paul Duke voiceover states that the abuse of power article has been approved, not a surprise. Hillary Rodham can be seen at bottom center of shot, standing/conferring with other members of the legal staff. David Dennis (R Indiana) collecting his papers and Tom Railsback (R Illinois).
Watergate Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 27, 1974. Vote to delete charge of Rewarding Defendants Silence.
Peter Rodino (D New Jersey). All time has expired. The question now occurs on the motion of the gentleman from Alabama. All those in favor of the motion please say aye. [Chorus of "ayes."] Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). All those opposed? [Chorus of "noes"] Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). The noes appear to have it. The gentleman from New Jersey. Charles Sandman Jr. (R New Jersey). On that I demand the yays and nays. Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). The gentleman demands the yays and nays. The call of the roll is demanded and the clerk will call the roll. All those who are in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye and all those opposed no.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 27, 1974. Vote to delete charge of Rewarding Defendants Silence.
The Clerk. Mr. Donohue. Harold D. Donohue (D - Massachusetts). No. The Clerk. Mr. Brooks. Jack Brooks (D Texas). No. The Clerk. Mr. Kastenmeier. Robert Kastenmeier (D Wisconsin). No. The Clerk. Mr. Edwards. Don Edwards (D California). No. The Clerk. Mr. Hungate. William Hungate (D Missouri). No. The Clerk. Mr. Conyers. John Conyers (D Michigan). No. The Clerk. Mr. Eilberg. Joshua Eilberg (D Pennsylvania). No. The Clerk. Mr. Waldie. Jerome Waldie (D California). No. The Clerk. Mr. Flowers. Walter Flowers (D Alabama). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Mann. James Mann (D South Carolina). No. The Clerk. Mr. Sarbanes. Paul Sarbanes (D Maryland). No. The Clerk. Mr. Seiberling. John Seiberling (D Ohio). No. The Clerk. Mr. Danielson. George Danielson (D California). No. The Clerk. Mr. Drinan. Robert Drinan (D Massachusetts). No. The Clerk. Mr. Rangel. Charles Rangel (D New York). No. The Clerk. Ms. Jordan. Barbara Jordan (D Texas). No. The Clerk. Mr. Thornton. Ray Thornton (D Arkansas). No. The Clerk. Ms. Holtzman. Elizabeth Holtzman (D New York). No. The Clerk. Mr. Owens. Wayne Owens (D Utah). No. The Clerk. Mr. Mezvinsky. Edward Mezvinsky (D Iowa). No. The Clerk. Mr. Hutchinson. Edward Hutchinson (R Michigan). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. McClory. Robert McClory (R Illinois). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Smith. Henry Smith III (R New York). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Sandman. Charles Sandman (R New Jersey). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Railsback. Tom Railsback (R Illinois). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Wiggins. Charles Wiggins (R California). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Dennis. Davis Dennis (R Indiana). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Fish. Hamilton Fish Jr. (R New York). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Mayne. Wiley Mayne (R Iowa). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Hogan. Lawrence Hogan (R Maryland). No. The Clerk. Mr. Butler. Caldwell Butler (R Virginia). No. The Clerk. Mr. Cohen. William Cohen (R Maine). No. The Clerk. Mr. Lott. Trent Lott (R Mississippi). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Froehlich. Harold Froehlich (R Wisconsin). Aye. The Clerk. Moorhead. Carlos Moorhead (R California). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Maraziti. Joseph Maraziti (R New jersey). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Latta. Delbert Latta (R Ohio). Aye. The Clerk. Mr. Rodino. Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). No.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings. House Judiciary Committee, July 27, 1974. Vote to delete charge of Rewarding Defendants Silence.
30.41 Clerk counting tally. The Clerk. Mr. Chairman. Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). The clerk will report. The Clerk. 15 members have voted aye, 23 members have voted no. Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). And the motion is not agreed to.
Lawmakers - February 11, 1982 - Clean Air Act
House Energy and Commerce Committee led by Representative Henry Waxman (D - California).
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
[00.30.27-DEAN continues to discuss the PAYMENT of the WATERGATE BURGLARS in exchange for their silence, the roles of HALDEMAN, EHRLICHMAN, and MITCHELL in the payments] When we came out of this private meeting, Ehrlichman told Mr. Minnick, who had been waiting to meet with him, that we had been talking about reorganization matters. This position was taken because Minnick was at Camp David for that purpose and it, would seem to be a very logical thing that I might be discussing with Haldeman and Ehrlichman In fact, in our private meeting there was no discussion of the reorganization at all. After a brief discussion about reorganization matters, I departed Camp David and returned to Washington and then flew to New York with Mr. Stans. Stans had told me some days earlier that he was going to meet with Mr. Mitchell to discuss a number of matters about winding down the reelection committee and asked me to join him. Senator ERVIN. There is a vote. I will stay here and proceed with the committee -and ask them to hold the vote until I can get over and somebody can come back and take, over so I can got over and vote. Mr. DEAN. Thank you. Stans had arranged for the meeting with -Mitchell to take place at the Metropolitan Club in 'New York City, because Stans was anxious to return to Washington as soon as the meeting Was over and did not, want to go down to Wall Street and get tied up in traffic. After the part of the meeting where Stans and Mitchell discussed their problems, Stans departed and I played the tape for Mitchell. I recall that he had only one reaction to the tape and it was to the effect that it was certainly a self-serving tape for Colson and he -wondered what the hell Hunt was talking about with regard to Mitchell's having, perjured himself. [00.32.09] I informed Mitchell that Ehrlichman and Haldeman had heard the tape and requested that He do what he could to solve, the problem I received no instruction or really any indication at all at that time from Mitchell regarding the. matters that Hunt had raised in his conversation -with Colson. To the best of my recollection, it was the first -week of December that, Mitchell called me and said that we would have to use some of the $350,000 fund to take care of the demands that were being made by Hunt and the others for money. He indicated that the money that was taken out would be returned in order that the fund could made whole, again. He asked me. to get Haldeman's approval. Prior to Mitchell's call, I had been informed by Colson's secretary that Mrs., Hunt had called her at home on a number of occasions to discuss this problem with her in order that she might pass it on to Colson and get something done about the problem. Colson had sent his secretary, Miss Joan Hall, to me with these messages indicating that he did not want to talk to her about it but that she should pass the, message on to me. I told Miss Hall not to talk to -Mrs. Hunt, and if necessary, get an unlisted phone number. [00.33.23] After the phone call from Mitchell, I called Haldeman and described the situation in full to him and that I had told Mitchell that I was very reluctant to see White House money used but that He indicated that it, would be returned as soon as they could raise some additional money, I told Haldeman that I did not think this- was a good idea to further involve the, White House in raising money for these men but I frankly had no answer. Haldeman said he did not like it either. but, since we had the assurance that the money would be returned, I should inform Strachan that he could make the delivery of the money to the committee Following my conversation with delivery Haldeman I called Strachan and told him he should speak with LaRue and make a delivery to LaRue pursuant to LaRue's instruction. I also informed Strachan that he should anticipate The fact that we would get this money back in The near future. I do not recall how much money was delivered by Strachan but I believe it. was either $40,000 or $70,000. This delivery did not satisfy the demands and they continued to be relayed by Mr. Bittman to Mr. O'Brien, who, in turn, would relay them to Mr. Mitchell. Mr. LaRue, and myself, in turn, would tell Haldeman and Ehrlichman of the demands. I call recall LaRue. and O'Brien coming to my office to discuss these and I told them that there could be no further use of the White House money and. in fact, to the contrary, Haldeman was expecting that that money which had been provided earlier was to be returned in full. [00.34.53] To the best of my recollection, it was some time shortly before the trial when the. demands reached the crescendo point once again. O'Brien and LaRue came to my office and told me of the seriousness of the, problem. Subsequently, Mitchell called me. and told me that once again I should ask Haldeman to make available the necessary funds I called Haldeman -and told him of Mitchell's request and the situation and told him that I thought it was time to get the entire money out of the. White House rather than continue as we were with every few weeks, further bites being taken out of the apple. After we discussed the matter Haldeman said, send the entire damn bundle to them but make sure that we get a receipt for $350,000. After receiving my Instructions from Haldeman I called Strachan and told him that he was to deliver the remainder of the money to LaRue but that he was to make. certain that he got a receipt, for $350,000. Strachan later told me that LaRue. had refused to give him a receipt. With each of these deliveries I am only aware of the fact that money was delivered to LaRue by Strachan. I have no knowledge of how LaRue in turn delivered it to those who were making demands upon the committee, nor do I know how much, in fact, was paid. [00.36.00]
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
During my conversation with Mr. Krogh about Young, he suggested that Mr. Gordon Liddy might be available in that he had just about completed his work. Krogh spoke very highly of Liddy's legal ability and said that his FBI Treasury Department background in law enforcement would qualify him to handle a demonstration intelligence and security operation for the reelection committee. I did not know Mr. Liddy, but I respected Krogh's judgment, both as to his judgment of other lawyers and his knowledge of law enforcement. Bud had dealt with the demonstration problems for the White House before I joined the staff. I asked Mr. Krogh to find out if Mr. Liddy was interested. Several days later Mr. Krogh informed me that Liddy was interested and asked me to come to his (Krogh's) office and meet Liddy and describe the job. I did this. I told Liddy that the primary responsibility for the job was to serve as the lawyer for the reelection committee but among the responsibilities of the general counsel would be keeping abreast of the potential of demonstrations that might affect the campaign. Liddy said he was interested. Krogh said that he would first have to clear it with Ehrlichman. I advised them that Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Magruder would be making the decision on filling the post. And if Krogh got the okay from Ehrlichman, I would set up a meeting for Liddy to be interviewed by Mr. Mitchell.
Capitol Journal - Budget, Taxes, Immigration
(01:00:00) WETA logo, PBS funding credits (01:00:13) Capital Journal opening credits and animation (01:00:40) In tv studio Capital Journal hosts HODDING CARTER and MARK SHEILDS sit before a large monitor on which is a picture of the House floor, Carter and Sheilds discuss the show's topic - the budget and tax reform, Senator PETE DOMENICI - Senate Budget Committee Chair - before the Senate lists money saving measures in the new budget, Senator LAWTON CHILES explains to the Senate why they should vote for this budget (01:03:25) Representative WILLIAM GRAY - House Budget Committee Chair - condemns the White House Administration for proposing only domestic spending cuts, long shot of Capital Building, Representative JOHN PORTER voices his frustrations that when all the budget resolutions have been passed a large deficit will still emerge (01:05:34) Back in the studio Carter and Shields discuss the Congressionally passed budget resolutions, Carter segues to subject of tax reform (01:08:00) Various shots of Senate floor, Senator BOB PACKWOOD - Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee - gives an extensive list of all the people he wants to thank for working out the new tax code, Representative DAN ROSTENKOWSKI - Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee - hoots and cheers in thanks Chairman of the Finance Committee who sits by Rostenkowski's side, Senator JOHN DANFORTH voices dissent about what's in new tax code, President RONALD REAGAN walks down the aisle of the House floor and speaks about tax reform before Congress at his 1984 State of the Union Address, shots of a the taping of a tv program where congressmen discuss tax reform, Representative BILL ARCHER in interview with Carter speaks about the negative changes contained within tax reform legislation (01:12:00) Reagan tells members of Congress to vote with their heart about tax reform, Representative RICHARD GEPHARDT says if tax reform fails it's the fault of the Republicans, Representative Archer explains why he opposes Reagan on the tax bill and what he plans to do about it, Representative CARROLL HUBBARD urges members of the House to vote against the tax bill as it will be detrimental to the economy, Speaker of the House TIP O'NEILL before the House explains the outcome of voting yea or nay, an unidentified woman reads the results of the House vote passing the tax bill (01:14:15) Back in tv studio Carter and Sheilds discuss the tax code changes introduced by the tax reform bill, Sheilds segues to discussion of immigration issue (01:16:48) Representative DANIEL LUNGREN speaks on the House floor about the too long over-looked problem of immigration, shots of an INS raid on a restaurant - restaurant host is IDed, workers are escorted out in hand-cuffs by INS officials to a van in the restaurant parking lot, Senator ALAN SIMPSON talks about his fight to get an immigration bill passed, Senator PAUL SIMON conducts a vote with fellow Senators all of whom vote "no", shot of woman in restaurant making tortillas - on screen text superimposed on this shot lists policies to be introduced by Simpson's Immigration Bill, Representative CHARLES SCHUMER explains why the House is dragging its feet about coming up with an immigration bill, Representative Lungren expresses opposition to proposed House immigration plans (01:21:14) Back in studio Shields and Carter discuss immigration legislation's fight through the Congress, Shield segues to segment on "flowery (Congressional) rhetoric" (01:23:38) Audio of Representative ROBERT GARCIA rising in support of making the rose the national flower of the U.S. - shot of fully blossomed red rose in Washington garden, back in studio Carter and Sheilds discuss what now faces Congress - tax reform, budget resolutions, and immigration (01:26:45) Carter closes out show, credits roll (01:27:30) PBS funding credits
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. With regard to these intelligence operations which Liddy now was going to undertake, could you give us some of the context of the earlier plans on the intelligence operations that Mr. Liddy was going to fill? Jeb Magruder. In September 1971 we had a luncheon meeting, John Dean called and asked me to join him and Jack Caulfield for lunch. At that time, they had envisioned a private investigating firm being formed by Mr. Caulfield. They called the project Sandwedge and the idea would be Mr. Caulfield would leave the White House form this private investigating firm and this firm would then be available then for the Committee To Re-Elect the President. In November of 1971 it was indicated to me that the project was not going to get off the ground and consequently, G. Gordon Liddy came into the picture after that.
Church Committee Hearings - Tom Charles Huston
Church quotes more of Huston's executive session testimony in which Huston says that the problem with the Huston plan was that though it was concerned with the preservation of the national security it could also be abused for political purposes where one goes from investigating "the kid with the bomb, to the kid with the picket sign, to the kid with bumper sticker for the opposing candidate" and ends up with a Watergate situation, Church goes on to say how responsibility for these operations are obscured by bureacratic compartmentalization in which no one can be implicated fully in having broken the law, Church says this needs to change and that the mission of the senate hearings is to develop a system of accountability where these agencies report not only to the White House but to Congress as well
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 19
Mr. Fred THOMPSON. (Chief Council) Leaving that subject, Mr. Kehrli I'd like to ask you this ....you mentioned the so called "Plumbers", Mr. Hunt and Mr. Liddy which were then at the White House, at one time (Mr. Kehrli smiling, man behind him rubbing eye) as I understand it at one time they were working on the so called Pentagon Papers, the leaks pertaining to the Pentagon Papers situation, is that your understanding? Mr. KEHRLI. My understanding is that they were working on a project related to leaks and the timing of it was such that I assumed it was, it had to do with the Pentagon Papers. I know that David Young also worked on a commission on de-classification that was set up. Mr. THOMPSON. Reports have been that these papers concern matters of national security. Do you know why Hunt and Liddy in this particular project would operate out of the domestic council under Mr. Ehrlichman, in this particular area if they were primarily national security problems? Mr. KEHRLI. No I don't. Mr. THOMPSON. Does it seem like a logical situation to you, or an unusual situation to you, considering the nature of the domestic council and considering the nature of the work that they were doing? Mr. KEHRLI. Well knowing the background of Mr. Ehrlichman and that at one point he was council to the President and did have in fact legal responsabilities, and there were legal relationships involved here and we were dealing with the law, I wouldn't say that it wasn't that unusual to have an organization set up like that. Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. John Caulfield is not on your chart, I don't believe, is it? Mr. KEHRLI. Yes he is. Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Caulfield on the chart? Alright, he is under Mr. Dean, would it also be accurate to state that, did you mention in your testimony previously his relationship to Mr. Ehrlichman? Mr. KEHRLI. Mr. Caulfield s? Mr. THOMPSON. If any, yes. Mr. KEHRLI. No I didn't. Mr. THOMPSON. Would it be accurate to state that often he dealt with Mr. Ehrlichman on matters? Mr. KEHRLI. I don't know. Mr. THOMPSON. You don't know that? I have no further questions Mr. Chairman.
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973
[00.27.56] Senator ERVIN. How often did you see Mr. Magruder and Mr. Liddy to ether? Mrs. HARMONY. I do not recall. Well, one time I did deliver a memo to Mr. Magruder's office when Mr. Liddy was there. It was an intelligence memo which he had dictated to me. he was In a hurry, said bring it to Mr. Magruder's office. That, I did. Senator ERVIN. Did I understand you to testify Mr. Liddy on one or more occasions told you he -was going to Visit Mr. John Mitchell? Mrs. HARMONY, Yes, he has told-- Senator ERVIN. How, many times did he make statements to that effect to you? Mrs. HARMONY. Senator Ervin, that would be difficult for me to say. I would say maybe two or three occasions Mr. Liddy has on many occasions gone out of the office on the second floor and said'. I am going upstairs. Senator ERVIN. 'Who was upstairs? Mrs. HARMONY. Anybody that was not with the finance committee. Senator ERVIN. Where was Mr. Mitchell's office? Mrs. HARMONY. Mr. Mitchell's office was on the fourth floor, I think. Senator ERVIN. That is upstairs? Mrs. HARMONY. That was upstairs. 'Mr. Magruder was upstairs, Yes. Senator ERVIN. But. on several occasions Mr. Magruder did tell You he was going to visit Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. HARMONY. Mr. Liddy, has on occasion said he was going to Mitchell's office. Senator ERVIN. You spoke of the fact that there were telephone conversations between Mr. Liddy and Bernard Barker. Mrs. HARMONY. Yes, sir. Senator ERVIN. Were these long distance calls? Mrs. HARMONY. Senator, sometimes Mr. Barker did call from Florida and sometimes I was really not aware where he was calling from. Senator ERVIN. How often did conversations occur between Mr. Liddy and Mr. Barker? Mrs. HARMONY. By Mr. Liddy answering his own phone I cannot give, you a definite answer. I would say offhand I may have taken four or five calls from Mr. Barker. Senator ERVIN. About what time of the year did these occur? Mrs. HARMONY. Well, there have been two calls from Mr. Barker, the last 2 weeks in March when we worked upstairs, I am aware of, Senator ERVIN. Did you know what they talked about? Mrs. HARMONY. No, sir. Senator ERVIN. You also state that on some occasions Mr. Liddy had telephone conversations with people in the White House. Can identify any of those people except Mr. John W. Dean III and Mr. Krogh? Mrs. HARMONY. I think he talked with Mr. Strachan. occasionally' If I had the list of names I could pick some out. Senator ERVIN. How frequently did these conversations occur? Mrs. HARMONY. I say very infrequently. But he may have made his own, placed his own calls that I am not aware. Senator ERVIN. Did he receive any calls from the White House, to your knowledge? Mrs. HARMONY. No, sir; I am not aware, I do not recall. Senator ERVIN, You do know that he made calls to the White House and talked with Mr. Strachan, Mr. Dean, and Mr. Krogh? Mrs. HARMONY. Yes, he would have received calls because as I recall, I would have taken a "leave word" if he was not there. Senator ERVIN. Why was the committee concerned with Governor Wallace's campaign? Mrs. HARMONY. I do not know. Senator ERVIN. How often did you hear Governor Wallace's campaign discussed by Mr. Liddy? Mrs. HARMONY. Mr. Chairman, this was during my first week or two with the committee. I was a little at odds at knowing who was doing what. I only just did some work that was given to me Senator ERVIN. Now you know from memos that Mr. Liddy receiving intelligence from the McGovern headquarters, do you not? Mrs. HARMONY. Yes, sir. Senator ERVIN. Do you know from whom he was receiving intelligence? Mrs. HARMONY. Mr. Chairman, I do not. Senator ERVIN. Do you know whether he received it from somebody who had infiltrated Mr. McGovern's headquarters? Mrs. HARMONY. That was my assumption. Senator ERVIN. And the same thing is true with reference to headquarters of Senator Muskie? Mrs. HARMONY. That is my assumption. Senator ERVIN. So his clandestine operations, whatever they were, extended into the headquarters of two Senators who were seeking the Democratic nomination for President? Mrs. HARMONY. Yes, Sir. Senator ERVIN. Call you identify this document?* Mrs. HARMONY, That particular one, no, sir. Senator ERVIN. Can you identify that it is like some documents you have, seen? Hand this to the witness. Mrs, HARMONY. I can see it Senator. I don't know whether I have seen that or not. Senator ERVIN. I am not asking you whether you have seen this particular document. Have you seen-- Mrs. HARMONY. I know. senator ERVIN. I wish you would look at, it, and tell me whether you have seen a document similar to this one. Mrs. HARMONY. I don't, recall. I am sorry. I do not recall, [00.33.06]
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
[00.07.39] Senator TALMADGE. Who all mentioned Executive clemency to you ? Mr. MAGRUDER. Mr. Dean and Mr. Mitchell -were the only two individuals who mentioned Executive clemency. Senator TALMADGE. Were they together or separately? ? Mr. MAGRUDER. Both, my recollection is, that at one meeting I had with Mr. Dean alone, and with Mr. Mitchell just in March of this year. Senator TALMADGE. I believe you also had a conversation, maybe, with Mr. Haldeman about Executive clemency? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. Senator TALMADGE. What did he say to you about that? Mr. MAGRUDER. At that meeting, he was very careful to say that he had no authority over that Issue and that, He could not speak for the President. He was very careful about that. Senator TALMADGE. The others were not careful !to say that they were not, speaking for the President either Mr. Mitchell or Mr. Dean"? Mr. MAGRUDER. that That is correct, I think it was n Senator TALMADGE. Implied---- Mr. MAGRUDER. [continuing]. Implied use of' the President's name without his authorization. Senator TALMADGE. Were there any conversations among you people during this period or time as to whether or not, the President knew about this situation? ? Mr. MAGRUDER. I just do not--cannot recall discussions where we discussed that specific subject. I think we all were very Careful, as I was with people who worked for me, to not discuss the Watergate in its true implications. As you know, Mr. Odle and Mr. Reisner have already testified that I did not tell them. I told them that everything was OK, purposely, so that they would not become implicated. nor, of course, would it spread to other people in Our committee or outside our committee So our discussions were limited in that- Sense. Senator TALMADGE. Now, as a former staff assistant to the President, YOU were very familiar IN-it'll the White House staff structure were you not? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes. sir. [00.09.33] Senator TALMADGE. The chain of command and decisionmaking processes that were involved. You have, testified that Mr. Mitchell was a principal figure in the planning and coverup of the affair.: that Mr. Haldeman. who traveled With the President, consulted With him daily On key issues as did Mitchell, was aware of the affair, either through your constant communications with Mr. Strachan or your meetings with him in January, 1973. And his two counsels, Mr. Dean and Mr. Colson were familiar with it, some of them involved in urging and planning it, that Mr. Kalmbach, the President's personal counsel, provided the money for these activities. Is it, your conclusion as a reasonable man in your position, that the Watergate affair. could have been undertaken and completely isolated from the, President by his closest aides and friends without his own personal knowledge? Mr. MAGRUDER. Because I did work at the White House Senator and because I am very familiar with the staff system that did exist' when Mr. Ehrlichman and Mr. Haldeman were his primary aides, it is very easy for me to see how he would not have been aware. Almost all of the work that was done by the key staff people and by our committee was capsulized and passed on to Mr. Haldeman and I am just positive that many things occurred in the White House that he did not or was not aware of. It was just the way that system worked. So I have no difficulty in believing that personally [00.11.26] Senator TALMADGE. What you are saying, as I understand it, is that his staff was so completely remote kept him so isolated, that this could have. transpired without his knowledge, approval, and consent. Is that that your testimony? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir; I can understand that very well. Senator TALMADGE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have no further questions. [00.11.48] Senator ERVIN. Senator Gurney. Senator GURNEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think almost all the points of your knowledge have been covered, Mr. Magruder, and I am only going to try to your to bring out perhaps some of those, matters that need a little amplification. Let, us begin at the beginning on the January 27 meeting at Mr. Mitchell's office. Who Called the meeting? Mr. MAGRUDER. Well, one of my roles as his chief deputy would be to schedule, meetings when there was an appropriate number of subjects to cover. When Mr. Liddy indicated to me that he was ready to make his presentation--that -was a full month and a half, almost, after he. had indicated that he had this $1 million project, in the works--I scheduled the meeting and let--I think I had my assistant let Mr. Dean know that, the meeting would take place and he was to attend. [00.12.45]
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 28, 1973 (1/2)
[00.30.35-BAKER continues questioning DEAN about the state of NIXON'S knowledge of the coverup, assessing the quality of evidence regarding the Sept. 15, 1972 meeting] Senator BAKER. All right. It, seems to me then that the extent to which the September 15 meeting Would give us some guidance in our inquiry as to what the President dent knew and when he knew it, that you depend on a combination of things. You depend on your experience at the White House as a staffer with the interrelationships of staff and the Presidential staff; the remarks which did not relate directly to Watergate, that is, the break-in at Watergate or to the concealment of the involvements and responsibilities for it. [00.31.30] But based on the general tenor of the conversation, you gained the impression, I believe you said, to paraphrase Your testimony, that the President knew that there was an on-going counter-effort, at least, and when you couple that with your knowledge of the relationships and circumstances, that you concluded then in your own mind that he knew something, and I don't believe You have testified quite exactly what, about the events involved? Mr. DEAN. Well, I might say one thing that did come specifically out, of the conversation was that we had leaped the hurdle of the, Justice Department investigation and the indictments -were down. Now the looming problems were the Patman committee hearings, and the President gave very clear instructions to Mr. Timmons he, should get, on top of those so they did not get out of hand because that was the next problem. IT was also very clear that I was to follow up with the civil litigation and see anything I could do to make sure that this didn't get out of hand. [00.32.44] [2 PAGES MISSING FROM TRANSCRIPT--PARAPHRASED] Senator BAKER states, not to distort DEAN, but it's true that DEAN had to draw inferences from the conversation and DEAN'S knowledge of the relationships of the staff that led him to believe NIXON knew of the efforts to counter the Watergate publicity, and possibly the facts regarding responsibility for the break-in itself. DEAN agrees to that summarization. BAKER states that there was no direct statement about CRP involvement in Watergate, NIXON'S knowledge, of either Watergate or the Coverup. In BAKER'S words, no direct "category one" information. DEAN. Repeats that he will not place interpretations on the things he reports, and has reported all of the evidence that he can about the meeting. BAKER says the information is useful. There will be more exploration of the Sept. 15 meeting, especially when HALDEMAN comes before the committee. [00.33.55] BAKER states that the only other person present on Sept. 12 was NIXON, BAKER is not prepared to say how the committee can get NIXON'S testimony about the events, but in any case, DEAN'S testimony will be compared in the future to other testimony. Asks about DEAN'S next meeting with NIXON. [00.34.40] DEAN states that the next meeting was preceeded by the events of the LaCOSTA meetings, in which EHRLICHMAN and HALDEMAN dictated the policy for the continuing coverup as the ERVIN COMMITTEE was announced. DEAN was asked by HALDEMAN at this time to prepare an agenda for a meeting with the PRESIDENT of the strategy for the next part of the coverup. BAKER states that he wants to know chiefly "WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?", requests DEAN to keep that focus, first on DEAN'S direct knowledge from meeting with NIXON, second by circumstantial evidence.
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 26, 1973
[00.49.52] Senator TALMADGE. Did you think it -was part of an effort to make you the fall guy in the plan? Mr. DEAN. I didn't raise the fall guy--it made, it very easy for them to protect themselves to say that this was all Dean if anything ever went wrong. I was aware of that but I didn't begin to think about that until the August 29 statement and at that time I began discussing it -with other people because I was right square In the middle of the coverup, and now my name was being put out in front of the whole thing as clearing everybody of complicity and I say this -may be a natural, I had seen it happen before. I had seen situations like this occur where people who had not actually done, something take the blame for it, to avoid embarrassing others higher up and I felt it was a real possibility. Senator TALMADGE. Why have you always assumed it was a Presidential decision to keep A keep Mr. Magruder on at the Committee To Re-Elect the President? Mr. DEAN. Well, Well, I assumed that for two reasons: First of all, it was very clear by the time Mr. Magruder or these discussions came UP the strategy was developing that the -matter could stop at, Mr. Liddy, that they could hold it there. then there could be no links in the White House through Mr. Magruder and nobody at the top of the Re-Election Committee -would be damaged. [00.51.16] Mr. Magruder was the deputy director, he was involved. I reported the fact he was involved. Mr. Mitchell, who I didn't know was involved or not, they were asking me whether I thought he should leave or stay in the campaign. I cannot, conceive of a discussion of factors not coming up in a conversation with the President about what was happening over at his reelection committee. Now, it is presumptions or it is -a presumption on my part, but given the, you know, this is the number one and two men at the election committee. Senator TALMADGE. You testified that you always suspected that Mr. Colson was far more knowledgeable than be protested. What led you to that conclusion? Mr. DEAN. Well, the fact that Mr. Magruder had told me of numbers of--the fact that The staff had contacted him regarding implementing the plan. The fact that Mr. Hunt had a very Close relationship with Mr. Colson, that the memos that I found in Hunt's safe Indicated that Hunt had a practice of reporting regularly to Mr. Colson on things that occurred, [00.52.30] and I found it very hard to believe that Mr. Hunt and Mr. Liddy would walk into Mr. Colson's office and tell him that they didn't have some security plan or something like that and then persuade Colson on a call like that or on a statement like that to call Mr. Magruder to have his staff subsequently follow up with additional calls and tell them to get that plan going. Senator TALMADGE. You testified that you had to report to the President through Mr. Haldeman or through Mr. Ehrlichman. Were you Closer to the President on the Watergate than in any other area? Mr. DEAN. Do you mean when I did begin reporting to him? Senator TALMADGE. Yes. Mr. DEAN. Yes, sir. Senator TALMADGE. Can you account for that? Mr. DEAN. Well, I can only tell you what the President told me, He told me that this matter was taking up too, much attention On the part of Mr. Haldeman and Mr. Ehrlichman which, indeed it -was very consuming for ever everybody that, was involved in it. No one, could leave the store very long for fear that something would go astray so it was something that everyone had to stay on top of. That the trial was over, we were moving into the Senate phase, we had a grand plan that had been laid out over a weekend of some 12 and 14 hour meetings. The President, I assume, thought that now that the plans had 'been laid, the policies had been made, "have Mr. Dean report to me and I will deal with him directly on the matter." [00.54.06]
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
[00.49.41-THOMPSON interrogating MITCHELL about the payoffs to the DEFENDANTS. DEAN has testified that MITCHELL was a central figure in the decision to pay off the defendants to keep silent] Mr. THOMPSON. I am not, going to pursue that any further. Getting back- to your knowledge of the money, perhaps my question should have been, "When -was the first time that you heard of the need for the payment of money," and I ask it because of this: Dean testified that the first time. he heard any discussions of the, need for money. money to take care of those who were involved in the break-in was in a, meeting which occurred on either June 23. Saturday, or June 24 attended by Dean, Mardian, LaRue, and yourself. Mr. MITCHELL. that is quite possible because, as I recall the conversation of Mr. Liddy that he had -with Mr. Mardian and LaRue, was hopeful that these people that he at that time, of course, was not in jail, not suspect, and was still working for the committee, I do know whether he was suspect or not, in any event, he was still working for the committee until the 28th of June, he was--he talked to Mardian and Liddy about the hope that somebody could provide, for these five people who had been arrested, and the thought was that that the committee should do it and, of course., that was immediately off, the committee would not, do it and, of course, obviously do it under the existing statutes. Now, what developed out of that with respect to Mr. Dean's concept of it or what he heard about whether he heard that story or what I do not know but that is the first point in time at which the subject matter was ever discussed. [00.51.24] Mr. THOMPSON. The points that concerned you -were, the fact, that early on the discussions about, the money were taking place, or the need for money, and also Mr. Magruder's testimony I believe he testified, I think first, in June, and then again maybe August and then again in September before, the grand jury, and the point was that, during this Period of time you were having to make your decision as to how you were going to play this thing'. I understand that your testimony is that you were making your decision on the basis of what you had understood Liddy to say plus some points of corroboration from Mr. Dean. Mr. MITCHELL. That was the basis for the White House activities, that is absolutely correct. [00.52.12] Mr. THOMPSON. Without getting into a great deal more detail, Mr. Mitchell, besides the Diem cables can you answer any further point of verification that Mr. Dean gave you concerning these matters we mentioned, the Ellsberg psychiatrist, the Dita Beard situation, any of those matters? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, of course, there was the purported fire bombing of the Brookings Institution which had been discussed and so forth, I have already--- Mr. THOMPSON. Did Dean tell you that was seriously proposed at one time? Mr. MITCHELL. Yes I believe that I took it as a very serious proposal because of the fact that he flew across the, country in order to get it turned off. Mr. THOMPSON. For that particular reason as you understood it? Mr. MITCHELL. Pardon? Mr. THOMPSON. He made this Is trip for that particular reason? [00.53. Mr. MITCHELL. MITCHELL That is the way he so testified and I believe advised it at, that particular time because as you recall, it was tied into the Mardian trip to the west coast also, And also. it seems to me, that I have a pretty clear recollection there was general discussion of, as I say, the extracurricular wiretapping activities, [00.53.31] Mr. THOMPSON. Did you consider these matters national Security matters; at the time you were considering them? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, since I didn't really know about, them I could not make an assessment about them. Mr. THOMPSON. In your mind as you were seeking to Justify your position, if you were when these things were realized by you. did you consider them to be matters of national security no one had any right to know. that they should be covered up in effect, or were these just political decisions? [00.54.04]