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JFK Assassination Hearings - E. Aschkenasy & Mark Weiss, H.B. McClain
U.S. House Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) recognizes Rep. Floyd Fithian (D-IN). Rep. Fithian confirms with Ernest Achkenasy and Mark Weiss that it would have been easy for a police officer to accidentally turn on his microphone. Achkenasy tells an anecdote from an officer to illustrate how is easy it is to a police officer to accidentally turn on his microphone. Rep. Fithian then asks if there were any changes to Dealey Plaza over the years that would have effected the echo structure. Weiss says no. Rep. Fithian mentions a testimony from Dr. James Barger regarding an overhead sign. Weiss explains that sign did not exist in 1963, but there were weak echoes from the cylindrical columns holding up the sign.
Reagan Press Conference
Anne M. Burford Press: In regard to another one of your nominations, the Senate late this afternoon voted 73 to 19 to request that you withdraw the nomination of Anne Burford to serve on an environmental advisory committee. That includes more than 30 Republicans. Will you take that direction? Reagan: No, I won't. Ms. Burford was called before a House committee when she was head of the EPA, and she obeyed the instructions that we gave her. The House committee was trying to obtain documents, and we exercised executive privilege on the ruling of the Justice Department that those documents were part of investigation reports and that if there was any evidence brought up that would lead to legal action against anyone they could be compromised by opening them up to the Congress. So, she obeyed her instructions, and there was not one single allegation that was proved in any way that stood up under all the shouting and the furor that went on. And therefore, I am standing by the appointment that I have made. And I am pleased that the resolution that was passed was nonbinding. Press: In regard to that, your critics have come out very strongly recently in criticism of your environmental policies. Do you see the Anne Burford appointment as a liability to you during this election year? Reagan: And in that regard, once again, I ask all of you of an investigative nature to take a look at what our record is with regard to environmentalism. There is not one fact substantiating many of the charges that had been made. We have continued doing what we came here to do, clean air and clean water, and both are cleaner than they've been for a long, long time. We have refurbished and reestablished the health and safety factors of the parks and are now going to return to adding territory or land to the park areas. We have vastly increased the wilderness lands. There isn't anything that can be proven that we have not been meeting fully our responsibilities with regard to, in the protecting of the environment.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Robert Groden
"CONTAINS ZAPRUDER FILM CONTENT, REQUIRES PERMISSION* New photographs are introduced, unfortunately the tv camera does not focus on the one that is being explained first until the last minute - it is an image from the Zapruder film of the trees around which Groden believes there is a possible assassin, as he identified in the last two photos, in this image you can see a person's head Groden believes it is the same person and he thinks perhaps he is holding a rifle. Goldsmith asks what effect blowing up a photograph has on the original image - Groden responds it gets fuzzy and the contrast is much exaggerated. Groden explains the second photo just introduced which he says shows the Zapruders taking their film and also the infamous grassy knoll assassin who Groden claims is in a classic military shooting position. Goldsmith asks Groden if any of these photos have been before scientifically enhanced and examined - Groden answers no. Goldsmith asks Groden what the House Committee's scientific panel will be looking for in the photographs of the crowd - Groden responds possible co-conspirators in the assassination, and an alibi for Oswald, as in an image of him in a place other than the suspected sniper's nest.
Nixon Inauguration, 1969
TLSs U.S. President LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON (LBJ, Lyndon Johnson), Vice-President HUBERT H. HUMPHREY, Speaker of the House JOHN MCCORMACK, Sen. EVERETT DIRKSEN (R-IL) descending steps onto Inaugural Platform, shaking hands w/ peers, Hail to the Chief playing in BG. Great MS Lyndon Baines Johnson smiling, shaking hands w/ colleagues on platform, passing cam. TLS/CUs VP-elect SPIRO T. AGNEW (Spiro Agnew) descending steps, passing cam, standing at podium w/ LBJ & HHH. MS/TLSs President-elect RICHARD M. NIXON (Richard Nixon, Richard Milhous Nixon) smiling, gloating, standing atop stairs with Everett Dirksen & Rep. GERALD FORD (R-MI); MS/CUs Richard Nixon descending, passing cam, shaking hands & patting the back of Lyndon Johnson. TLS Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee descending steps.
Reagan Press Conference May 13, 1982
U.S. President Ronald Reagan takes question from Sam Donaldson of ABC News; press corps seated in BG. Donaldson asks Republican leaders in the House saying they will not support that portion of the Senate Budget Committee's proposal calling for $40 billion 3-year savings in social security. "Will you insist on that portion of the Senate plan, or will you agree to another plan that does not contain any savings from social security? And, second, what do you think of [Robert] Michel's idea that social security and other trust funds be separated from the unified budget?" President Reagan addresses the second question first by stating it is an idea to be looked into because "it's funded by its own tax."
Excerpt from Presdent Richard Nixon Address to the Nation About the Watergate Investigations.
President Richard Nixon: "Good evening: I want to talk to you tonight from my heart on a subject of deep concern to every American. In recent months, members of my Administration and officials of the Committee for the Re-Election of the President-including some of my closest friends and most trusted aides--have been charged with involvement in what has come to be known as the Watergate affair. These include charges of illegal activity during and preceding the 1972 Presidential election and charges that responsible officials participated in efforts to cover up that illegal activity. The inevitable result of these charges has been to raise serious questions about the integrity of the White House itself. Tonight I wish to address those questions."
Lawmakers - Inter-American Foundation
House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on Inter-American Foundation. Representative Gerry Studds (D - Massachusetts), Let me ask first, what I guess is an obvious question, why was Mr. Bell fired? Langhorne Motley, Inter-American Foundation, Basically it was a matter of confidence of the members of the board. It was about Mr. Bell s ability to take the foundation in the manner and the direction which the majority of the board wanted to go. Representative Gerry Studds (D - Massachusetts), What did he do wrong? Or what did he not do right? Were they sins of omission or sins of comission? Representative Sam Gejdenson (D - Connecticut) It s my fear that we make significant institutional changes for short term either ideological or other goals.
1982 - LAWMAKERS - El Salvador
U.S. Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) in Committee hearing saying that media reports of atrocities aren't balanced, claims that the rebels also commit slaughters of civilians and provides New York Times anecdotes, using Fidel Castro to prove his point. U.S House Representative Clarence Long (D-MD) chairing hearing. Two adult Caucasian men, sitting, speaking to each other. Rep. Long does not want to be an isolationist, but believes lessons of past foreign involvement must be learned, wonders how far the Reagan administration intends to go. Rep. Long compares El Salvador to a potential Vietnam; Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Enders sitting at witness table between two other adult Caucasian male government officials, one wearing military uniform. Enders discusses the threat in "our backyard".
Capitol Journal - Iran/Contra Secrets
(01:00:00) WETA logo, PBS funding credits (01:00:13) Capital Journal title screen and animation (01:00:32) Substitute Capital Journal host STEVE ROBERTS introduces show and co-host COKIE ROBERTS of National Public Radio, and guest panel members LINDA WORTHEIMER of National Public Radio and JOHN MASKEK (?) of US News and World Report (01:01:21) President RONALD REAGAN in a national address tries to dispel rumors that his administration circumvented the Congress in Iran/Contra dealings, Secretary of State GEORGE SCHULTZ on CBS News "Face the Nation" says his knowledge of White House administration's operations (assumed to be with the Contras) is fragmentary, return to Reagan's national address where he stresses that White House secret operations were federally legal, Senator PATRICK LEAHY on "This Week in Washington" says that President Reagan was very slow in notifying Congress about secret operations, two color photos of animated meetings at the White House at which Reagan, Schultz and Secretary of Defense CASPER WEINBERGER are among some of the people in attendance (01:03:00) Long shot of the Capital Building, Senator RICHARD LUGAR calls in order a meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, quick shots of committee conducted confirmation hearings - George Schultz and Casper Weinberger testify before the committee (01:03:31) CIA Director WILLIAM CASEY (?) arrives at a building in a limosine - he gets out of the limo and walks toward the building followed by a security team - he is asked questions by the press as he enters the building, at a White House press conference Reagan introduces Admiral JOHN POINDEXTER as the new National Security Adviser, color photo of Poindexter meeting with Reagan, Weinberger and others in the White House (01:04:30) On an ABC News show former President JIMMY CARTER says the White House's failure to tell the truth has crippled the National Security Advisor post as it will now be subject to severe Congressional scrutiny, at a White House Press conference Reagan says he was within his rights when he with held Iran/Contra dealings information from Congress - as it was a matter of national security (01:05:35) Senator SAM NUNN criticizes the President for not having notified the Congress sooner of White House Iran/Contra operations (01:05:55) Back in studio the panel discusses what sort of new laws Congress will introduce as a result of their having gone uninformed by the President and his staff about the Iran dealings, how much this hurts Reagan in the public opinion and if it will subject him to attack by Congressional democrats (01:13:33) Shots of planes arriving at Washington D.C. airport where Capital Building visible in the background, Various shots of newly elected Senator BOB GRAHAM, Cokie Roberts interviews Graham walking through a park in Washington D.C. - Graham describes himself and other new Democratic congress people as pragmatic, at a Democrat victory celebration Senator-Elect BARBARA MIKULSKI describes the new democrats and says character was a central campaign issue, Senator-Elect BROCK ADAMS says young people vote Democrat as they are disillusioned by unmet Republican promises, Senator-Elect KURT CONRAD says it "time for a change" (01:16:51) In interview at Democrat victory party Senator Conrad tells Cokie Roberts how he feels the Democrats can avoid the label of the "taxing party", Senator TIMOTHY WIRTH says that the federal deficit and national trade deficit are fundamental problems that have to be addressed, return to Cokie Roberts interviewing Senator Bob Graham in a park across from the Capital Building - Graham stresses the need for the Democrats to act and implement new policy, he also stresses the need of working together to accomplish things as a party - in explaining this he compares Senators to basketball player Larry Bird (01:19:08) Back in studio panel discusses the direction of the new Senate majority Democrats, the effect of the deficit on the introduction of new policy, the growing centrist movement of Congress, and the shadow of the 1988 Presidential election on Congressional activities (01:26:25) Cokie Roberts thanks guests and closes out show, credits roll (01:27:30) PBS funding credits
August 3, 1994 - Part 5
(16:50:32) Senator SASSER. Did you also attend the February 24 hearing before this Committee here? Mr. EGGLESTON. I did. Senator SASSER. Now, Mr. Altman was asked a series of questions at that hearing and that's become a great bone of contention here. Did there come a time in that hearing when you were surprised by Mr. Altman's testimony and felt that he could have answered more forthrightly? Mr, EGGLESTON. During the immediately during the questioning of Senator Gramm, he--I think Mr. Altman testified about the one substantive contact that he had had. He described it as procedural relating to the statute of limitations issue. I was surprised that he had not mentioned the fact that the second subject had been recusal. I had, as I think the Committee heard from Ms. Hanson, I'd actually called Ms. Hanson the day before or within a couple of days before. She testified, it was the day before, to make sure that Mr. Altman was prepared to answer a question about the February 2nd meeting. In light of that, I was surprised that he had not testified about the recusal aspect. Senator SASSER. Well, did you speak to any of the Treasury staff about Mr. Altman's testimony while you were at the hearing, Ms. Hanson or others? Mr. EGGLESTON, I did not. Immediately after the testimony before Mr. Gramm, I went out in the hallway. I had a cellular phone and I called back to the White House to say that I was concerned. I did not speak to any members of the Treasury staff. Senator SASSER, So you were concerned about Mr. Altman's response to the question? Mr. EGGLESTON. I was, and I called back to the White House, Senator SASSER. In fact, who did you call, Mr. Eggleston? Mr. EGGLESTON. I called someone in Mr. Podesta's office. I don't-as I sit here today, remember whether I'd-I called to speak to Mr. Podesta. I may have gotten Mr. Podesta, I may have gotten his deputy. Senator SASSER. As a matter of fact, you were so concerned that You called the White House Counsel, Mr. Bernie Nussbaum, who's on vacation in Mexico; is that correct? Mr. EGGLESTON. I did, Mr. Nussbaum had left Thursday morning, the morning of the hearing, for-it was actually a Federal Bar 106 Council event. He had been the president the year before and I called him, I think on more than one occasion on that weekend to tell him that I was concerned about the testimony. Senator SASSER, Do you have any explanation as to why Mr. Altman did not refer to the recusal here before the Committee, the subject of the recusal? Mr. EGGLESTON. Sir, I do not. When I called Ms. Hanson the day before, she told me the three subjects that lie was going to testify to, or two or three subjects that he was going to testify to about regarding the February 2nd meeting. I specifically asked whether he was prepared to answer questions about that meeting, and she said that he would testify that related to procedures-I said 3 and now I can only remember 2-but about procedures relating to the statute of limitations, and I recall that she specifically mentioned the recusal issue, that he would testify [about that]. Senator SASSER. Did you ever have any conversation with Ms. Hanson thereafter about Mr. Altman's testimony and why he did not address the issue of recusal when he was before the Committee on February the 24th. Mr. EGGLESTON. I did not. By that time, I'd raised it within the White House. There is substantial, I think there's been testimony about it, there were substantial conversations in the White House about this issue, and the White House was deciding sort of what to do and how to respond. I did talk to Ms. Hanson again. I did not talk to her about Mr. Altman's testimony, I want to make sure I'm clear on that. Senator SASSER. You subsequently had conversations with Ms. Hanson, but not about the subject of Mr. Altman's testimony Mr. EGGLESTON. Correct. Senator SASSER [continuing]. Before the Senate Banking Committee? Mr. EGGLESTON. Not about that particular issue. I called her to ask her whether it was true that Jay Stephens had been hired to pursue the civil matter. I called the next day. During the hearing Mr. Altman had testified that Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro was the law firm [that had been hired]. I heard during the course of the day on Thursd ay that Jay Stephens had been hired. I called her the next morning or that day to say I've heard this. I assume since the law firm is public information, the name of the lawyer is public information, is it Jay Stephens? She told me either she didn't know or she didn't know who Jay Stephens was and that was the end of that conversation. Senator SASSER. She did not know who Jay Stephens was? or that Mr. EGGLESTON. She told me either that she didn't know she didn't know who Jay Stephens was. I actually think she told me she didn't know who Jay Stephens was, but I can't-it could have been the former. Senator SASSER. The fact that Jay Stephens was hired was a matter of some chagrin to some members of the White House, was it not? Mr. EGGLESTON. I had spoken about it with some people. Senator SASSER. I'm not unsympathetic with their concern about him being hired myself. 107 Mr. Klein, one quick question, you are turning to Mr. Altman's testimony before the Committee on February 24th, were you surprised by his testimony?
August 2, 1994 - Part 1
(09:30:00) PBS funding credits (09:30:12) Whitwater coverage title screen (09:30:22) In tv studio hearing coverage hosts KEN BODE and NINA TOTENBERG introduce the day's hearing (09:36:18) Hearing begins: HEARINGS RELATING TO MADISON GUARANTY S&L AND THE WHITEWATER DEVEL OPMENT CORPORATION-WASHINGTON, DC PHASE TUESDAY, AUGUST 2,1994 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS, Washington, DC. The Committee met at 9:35 a.m., in room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (Chairman of the Committee) presiding. OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN DONALD W. RIEGLE, JR. The CHAIRMAN. The Committee will come to order. Let me welcome all those in attendance this morning, and invite those present to find seats so, that we can begin the hearing. I have a very brief opening comment that will introduce our panel. Then we will hear from today's witnesses. Some I know have prepared statements and after we have sworn the witnesses, we will have them give those statements, and then we will go to the questions. I want to announce for all the Committee Members that it's my intention to break for the two party caucus luncheons that occur today at about 1:15 p.m. and to reconvene at about 2:15 p.m. That's the plan so that everybody can make arrangements accordingly. Today, we have the third day of our hearings by our Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, operating under the resolution that was passed by the Senate, giving us responsibility to carry out this investigative process in these hearings. In that conjunction, we have two panels that will appear today. The first panel, which is now seated here in the Committee room, will include Mr. Joshua Steiner who is the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Treasury and a former Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; Mr. Dennis Foreman, Deputy General Counsel and Designated Agency Ethics Officer to the U.S. Department of the Treasury; Mr. Jack DeVore, who is a former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs; and our final Person on this morning's panel will be Mr. Benjamin Nye, who is the current Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. Then later in the day, the second panel will consist of Mr. Roger Altman who is the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury and former interim' CEO of the Resolution Trust Corporation. 320 As with our prior hearings, we 're looking forward to hearing from these witnesses so they'll be able to elaborate on events relating to that aspect of our resolution dealing with whether improper conduct took place in regard to communications between officials of the White House and the Department of the Treasury for the Resolution Trust Corporation, relating to the Whitewater Development Corporation and the Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan Association. I might say that we have deposed all these witnesses previously I they've given statements under oath, so they'll be here today to add to that record, and to respond to questions from the Committee. Let me now ask you, if you would, to stand and raise your right hand and take the oath. [Witnesses sworn.] The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, be seated if you would. Mr. Steiner, we're going to start with you this morning. It's my understanding that you have a statement to make, and I gather we all have copies of it. Why don't you begin. STATEMENT OF JOSHUA L. STEINER, CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY; FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, WASHINGTON, DC Mr. STEiNER. Mr. Chairman, Senator DAmato, Members of this Committee, my name is Joshua Steiner, I serve as the Chief of Staff of the Department of the Treasury. Before joining the Treasury Department, I was executive assistant to Timothy Healy, the president of the New York Public Library.
JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
House Select Committee on Assassinations Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey introduces JFK exhibit F-361 into the record at hearing on the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, presents enlarged aerial photo of Dealey Plaza. Pointer stick outlines the President's motorcade route on Elm St., points out the Texas School Book Depository and the Grassy Knoll. Blakey discusses the Warren Commission’s acknowledgement that testimony on the number of shots fired did vary, with the consensus was three shots, but some witnesses heard two, while others heard four. Witnesses also testified in varying degrees to the time span of the shots, the general estimate being 5-6 seconds. FBI tests indicated Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle could not be fired in less than 2.25-2.3 seconds. For the Warren Commission to conclude that only one assassin was involved there had to be a specific time span between shots. The Warren Commission heard testimony that shots came from directions other than the depository building, but were persuaded this testimony should not be credited due to the difficulty of accurate perception and non-supportive physical evidence. U.S. Representative Samuel L. Devine (R-OH) looks over his notes while Blakey speaks.
August 2, 1994 - Part 11
(00:15:39) Let's take the position that you had no knowledge about these last two conversations. Why in the world wouldn't you have taken the opportunity to inform the Committee as fully as possible? And frankly, I have watched the testimony now for hours and you have repeatedly given nonresponsive answers, which you justify with se- 529 mantic gymnastics. I believe you have continued tonight the evasive course which you adopted on February 24 and continue through a series of incomplete and misleading letters written to the Committee. I can't help but conclude that your every statement to this Committee is to evade, not to inform. So I say why in the world wouldn't you take this opportunity to inform the Committee as fully as possible in those four letters'! Mr. ALTMAN. I did so, Senator Mack. As you know, I received that call from Mr. Podesta and what happened? That same day, I sent this Committee a letter indicating that I just learned about those meetings. I thought they had to do with press inquiries. The same day. I didn't hesitate at all to put this information in the hands of the Committee as soon as I had it, the very same day. Senator MACK. Mr. Altman, again, I think you could have gone into a little bit more detail about what those meetings were about. Mr. ALTMAN. When Mr. Podesta told me about the meetings, I think he'll confirm that I said to him I never beard of the meetings which is simply the truth. Now, I wasn't then sure whether it was proper for me to get briefed on the meetings, whether I should get some legal advice as to whether I should then get briefed or not get briefed. I did call in Ms. Hanson and Mr. Steiner immediately or at least speak with them. They confirmed the meetings Senator MACK. But you felt no need to provide information to the Committee about what those meetings were about? I mean., I understand that Mr. Podesta may have tried to get you to provide information not only about the meetings, but about the recusals as well. Again, the feeling we had was when he started to talk to you, you just didn't want to have anything to do with this. Mr. ALTMAN. That's just not true, Senator You quoted Mr. Podesta when he asked me, I guess it was about recusal, I said I believed that my answer was responsive to the question or it was accurate. That's what I believed. You may not like that, but that's just what I believed. Now, I just don't accept the notion that at was evasive. I immediately prepared this letter. I called Senator Riegle on the phone, told him about it. I called Senator Bond, reached him at home, 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., told him about it. That's not the pattern of someone who's trying to withhold information. Senator MACK. Let me go back to a concern that was mentioned in the transcript about you having the conversation. What was that about? Why were you all of a sudden having concern about talking with folks at the White House? Mr. ALTMAN. No, no' I just didn't know at that moment whether it was appropriate to get fully briefed on those meetings, whether I should have that information at that point. Senator MACK. Again, what was wrong with being fully briefed and then passing that information on to the Committee? If the purpose was to fully inform the Committee, why wouldn't you do that? That sounds like a fairly reasonable question. Mr. ALTMAN. I just wasn't sure whether it was appropriate, including legally appropriate, for me to immediately It all this information and my first instinct was to be cautious, but Senator Senator MACK. Cautious about what? Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, the salient point is I immediately communicated to the Committee. 530 Senator MACK. What you communicated to the Committee was that there were two meetings, nothing about the meetings, nothing about recusal. Again, it seems like you were just going to provide us just enough information and that's the point that I'm making. All through this process, the February 24, the follow-up and frankly your testimony here tonight, you just give us enough but not any more and that's the way it comes across. I'm sorry, but that's the conclusion that I've come to. Mr. ALTMAN. I respectfully disagree. I'm prepared to sit here until hell freezes over to answer every question you want to ask. Senator MACK. Why were you so concerned, in this testimony here in this transcript indicated that you weren't even sure whether you should be having conversations with folks at the White House? Mr. ALTMAN. They told me-Mr. Podesta said the meetings had-he asked me what about the meetings. I said I didn't know anything about them. And I think that confirms that my response I to Senator Bond on February 24 was an honest response. Senator MACK. But you subsequently found out about those meetings. You could have taken the opportunity in these letters to, in fact, fully inform. Taking it from the perspective that you didn't know about the meetings, why couldn't you have just said, again not knowing about the meetings, but here's what we've been able to reconstruct as to what happened at those meetings? Mr. ALTMAN. I tried to use my best judgment, Senator.
Capitol Journal - Baltimore Colts Relocation
Interview with Mike Gallagher, a lawyer and chairman of the Mayor s Advisory Committee on Professional Football, believes an NFL team may help the city bring in more tourists. Interview with Dave Maurer, a Chamber of Commerce official and executive member of the Phoenix Metropolitan Sports Foundation, talking about the cohesiveness an NFL team would bring to a community.
Waco Hearings
WACO HEARINGS: 12:55 - 1:09PM - Master Number 11009 - INTRODUCTION: The following footage of the Waco Hearings consists of the questioning of panelist Attorney General, Janet Reno. Questions, and or statements are presented to the panelist from the following Representatives: Slaughter and Mica. 12:55:05 Old footage from Master Number 11008 shows Congresswoman Slaughter asking Attorney General Reno about the National Rifle Association. 12:57:42 Fresh footage shows Congresswoman Slaughter asking Attorney General Reno if it is in her jurisdiction to investigate whether or not the National Rifle Association influenced the hearings. She replies that such an investigation is the responsibility of Congress, and then states that the last Davidians to come out did so on March 21st, therefore, those who remained were not going to surrender voluntarily. 12:58:34 Congressman Mica begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if she separates herself from the White House when making law enforcement decisions. She replies yes, and is then asked if Mr. Foster discussed Waco with the President relative to an April 14th meeting. She replies by stating she isn't sure who was at the meeting. Congressman Mica then asks Attorney General Reno if she knew that the Davidian children did not have access to gas masks. She replies by stating Interjecting, Congressman Mica asks had it been known that the Davidian children would suffer because of the lack of gas masks, would the decision to proceed with the gas insertion plan been made. Attorney General Reno replies by asserting, "This [Waco] is a tragedy that will be with me for the rest of my life." Continuing on, she states that on April 12th she received the Briefing Report that is in question, and upon reading it, developed more questions that lead her to further discuss the issue of safety with additional experts. Attorney General Reno then states that it is important not to misconstrue fact with opinion. 13:07:21 Chairman McCollum recesses the Sub-Committee Chamber for lunch. 13:07:42 The Sub-Committee Chamber is shown in recess. 13:09:48 TIME OUT.
Watergate Hearings - John Dean
(06:11:18) Opens to split screen image of Committee Chairman SAMUEL ERVIN questioning JOHN DEAN III, Ervin confirms the fact that the burglary as reported was directly traceable to the Committee to Re-Elect the President, that GORDON LIDDY, JAMES McCORD, E. HOWARD HUNT were pinned with the full blame in grand jury investigations and that JED STUART MAGRUDER committed perjury at grand jury hearings to cover up for himself and other higher up in the chain of authority - Dean concedes this was the plan agreed upon in White House meetings (06:14:05) Dean summarizes a meeting that took place at the White House with H.R. HALDEMAN in which they talked about laying out the facts for the case and the possibility for many of them to be indicted (06:15:00) Ervin confirms with Dean that he received files from the FBI, that he also had them destroy files and that further he tried to get the CIA to help in assisting and supporting the Watergate break-in crew, and finally that the White House employed the services of the IRS to audit enemies (06:18:15) Dean talks about how he met with President NIXON and others to discuss how they might be able to get a Congressional Investigation Committee that would be in their favor and how he was given the assigment of wooing the Attorney General back into the White House "family" (06:21:15) Ervin mentions that the President had a press conference in March 1973 where he sighted the statute that members of the presidential staff do not normally testify before Congressional committees as this is a mix between executive and legislative branches and that informal contacts was to be the method of their correspondence - Ervin cracks a joke about this maneauver (06:22:46) Ervin sites at length a report from the above press conference which gives Nixon's response to the question what would he do if Senator Ervin took the issue to court to force the White House staff to testify, Nixon's response that he is going to stick to his guns and that if it goes to the Supreme Court they would support the constitutional separation of powers within government - Dean confirms that Nixon did not want him or other staff to testify (06:25:28) Ervin sites Nixon's expressed desire in 1973 to see the facts revealed and then asks jokingly if Dean knows how facts can be revealed without the people who know them revealing them (06:26:44) Ervin quotes from the Constitution that it is the President's duty to see that the laws are faithfully executed, he asks if Dean knows of anything that would suggest that Nixon was not faithfully executing the laws with respect to the Watergate affair - Dean excuses himself from drawing his conclusion on this (06:27:50) Ervin confirms with Dean that a test of witness' credibility can only be conducted by interrogating that witness under oath (06:28:58) Skip in footage - Dean sites some financial figure (06:29:18) Skip in footage (06:29:34) Skip in footage - Vice Chairman HOWARD BAKER pays his repects to Dean as a great witness and gives a long winded introduction to his line of questioning, he is cut off by the tape's end as he explains his intent
Iran-Contra Hearings - Senators discuss headlines and TV interviews
Chairman Senator Daniel Inouye (D - Hawaii). Senator Rudman. Senator Warren Rudman (R - New Hampshire). Mr. Chairman I don t want to prolong this. Very briefly, none of us are totally accountable for how things are written or what headlines are written. I think the Congressman from Wyoming and the Senator from Idaho make valid points. I sat next to the Chairman during that entire interview and if anyone wants to read the transcript at the end of the interview, I turn to the Chairman of the House and said Of course the point is what did Admiral Poindexter brief the President about? The record will show the Chairman agreed with that. The headline was unfortunate because the document does not disclose that. The Chairman s statement I think is accurate. I think some implications were drawn that were not. I thought my comment was important for the very concerns raised here. Chairman agreed with those. And I would hope that everyone would understand no member of this committee especially the Chairman, who I have appeared with on countless programs, has ever intentionally mischaracterized anything that came before this committee. Chairman Senator Daniel Inouye (D - Hawaii). Alright thank you very much. We will stand in recess until 2pm.
Lawmakers April 21 1983
Cokie Roberts. But the President s request for aid, for more military aid for El Salvador seems to be running into several stumbling blocks in Congress. This week we had the House Foreign Affairs Committee say that they didn t want to approve more military aid. We ve had recommendations from your Committee that it is cut in half or the reprograming aid going from one country to another be cut in half. Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). For military sales. Cokie Roberts. For military sales. And he does seem to be to be in trouble on this issue and next week he s taking this unusual step of going before Congress and talking about Central America. Do you think that s wise in view of what you re saying about the rhetoric or will he appear to be militaristic, especially to women? Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). Well I think that s one of the problems as far as the President s perception with a number of women - is a heightened sense of militarism and a fear of that and what it might lead to. Again, I think it is very important as far as how the President does frame his concerns regarding Central America.
July 25, 1995 - Part 1
(09:29:41)Opens to shots of the Senate hearing room where media, Senators, Witnesses and audience gather and mingle (09:39:40) Hearing begins: INVESTIGATION OF WHITEWATER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND RELATED MATTERS TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1995 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS, SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE WHITEWATER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND RELATED MATTERS, Washington, DC. The Committee met at 9:30 a.m., in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building, Senator Alfonse M. DAmato (Chairman of the Committee) presiding. OPENING COMMENTS OF CHAIRMAN ALFONSE M. DAMATO The CHAIRMAN. The Committee will come to order. I want to thank our panel and apologize for the inconvenience of having you come back and, Mr. Watkins, you in particular, for having to fly back from California. At this point, before we start, I'm going to ask that you stand for the purposes of being sworn in. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony that you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God? OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR PAUL S. SARBANES Senator SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, before the panel begins, I'd like to clarify one thing on the schedule. On Thursday, at the time when you wanted to swear in this panel and proceed with the questioning, I indicated that the Members had all relied on the representation that we would break at 1 p.m. last week. You honored that and we appreciate that. But it's now my understanding, and we so informed our people, that that limitation no longer applies, and that it's our intention to do two of our panels each day this week and maybe even intensify the schedule in the following week in order to move this matter to a completion before the recess. So our people have at least been told that we would do this panel and I think there's another one. We'll go as long today as is necessary in order to complete that and repeat that process on tomorrow and the next day. Am I correct on that? The CHAIRMAN. It is my intent to spend whatever time necessary to move these proceedings along, and if that means additional hours, why, then, there will be additional hours. Hopefully, I won't have to add additional days. But, if need be, if I see that we have to do that, because I really do want to complete that aspect that 234 has been assigned to us and that has really been out there for close to a year, I will. We just have not been able, due to circumstances beyond our control, to undertake this, but now that we have, I am insistent that we complete this before we go home. There is a question, would we go beyond the schedule. It is not my intent to keep us here. I think we can do this. I also would say if we have some cooperation, because sometimes we think we have to replow the same areas over and over to make our points, if we can attempt, all of us, to withhold that question that may not be necessary, we can save time. We want all the facts. We want to be thorough and comprehensive, but I think we have to be mindful that this is a very ambitious schedule. It's a very thorough one, a very thoughtful one. So it will be my intent to get as much work done as we possibly can during this period of time. With that, Mr. Chertoff-oh, excuse me. The witnesses have opening statements? Mr. WATKINS. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Gearan, do you have an opening statement? Mr. GEARAN. Mr. Chairman, in deference to your time, I would just request that it be submitted for the record. The CHAIRMAN. Let me say this: If there's anything important, I don't want time to be a situation where we preclude any of the people who appear before us. You're going to have an opportunity to say anything that you think is important, so I'll take your statement as if read into the record in its entirety, but if there's any point you wish to make, please do so. SWORN TESTIMONY OF MARK D. GEARAN ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Mr. GEARAN. I appreciate that, Mr, Chairman. I will just summarize. To introduce myself, I'm Mark Gearan, I'm Assistant to the President and since June 1993, I've served as Director of Communications at the White House. During the period that you're looking at for these hearings, I answered questions to members of the press. It's my intent today to continue, to the best of my ability, to provide information to you and to Members of the Committee. Thank you very much. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Mr. Gearan. Ms. Mathews. SWORN TESTIMONY OF SYLVIA M. MATHEWS FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC POLICY Ms. MATHEWS. Very briefly, Mr, Chairman and Members of the Committee, my name is Sylvia Mathews. When Vincent Foster died on July 20, 1993, 1 was working at the White House as the Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. I am here at the Committee's request and would be pleased to answer any questions the Committee has about my limited involvement in the matters that evening. Thank you. 235 The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Ms. Mathews. Mr. Watkins. SWORN TESTIMONY OF W. DAVID WATKINS FORMER ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Mr. WATKINS. Chairman DAmato, Senator Sarbanes and Members of the Special Senate Committee, my name is David Watkins. From January 1993 until June 1994, 1 served the Administration as Assistant to the President for Management and Administration. Subsequently, I returned to private life and currently live and work in Southern California. Despite obligations associated with my work, I have devoted several days over the past 3 weeks to assisting the Committee by voluntarily traveling to DC from California on three occasions to appear, first for a deposition, and today as a witness at this hearing into certain issues
Treasurer of the U.S. Katherine D. Ortega
U.S. President Ronald Reagan speaking from White House Rose Garden on appointment of Katherine Davalos Ortega as U.S. Treasurer; Reagan praises Ortega’s past record in the administration as a member of the Copyright Royalty Tribunal and the Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business Ownership. Reagan says he and Ortega’s family are very proud of her. Reagan says Ortega has proved the American Dream is alive and well, talks about her family heritage as pioneers in New Mexico. Reagan remarks on Ortega becoming the first female bank president in California history. Reagan praises Ortega’s lifelong commitment to Republican principles, joking that he himself is only a Republican convert. As Treasurer of the United States, Ortega will oversee a budget of 340 million dollars and supervise 5,000 employees. Reagan says he has faith in Ortega, is pleased she is part of the team. Reagan talks about the “immortality” of the U.S. Treasurer, as Ortega’s signature will be printed on all new paper currency. Reagan can’t think of a better name to have on our money than "Katherine Ortega."
JFK Assassination Hearings - E. Aschkenasy & Mark Weiss, H.B. McClain
Chief Counsel, Professor Robert Blakey states that they first began with oral testimony, eyewitness testimony that heard rifles shots. Then they consulted with Dr. James Barger to determine whether gunfire could be heard on tape. Then, the concern shifted to the direction of the shots. U.S. House Representative Christopher Dodd (D-CT), off screen: "We made an assumption that it was a shot?" Blakely denies that and states that the odds were 50-50. The determination to make was whether it was a pistol or rifle that was fired from the grassy knoll. Both were fired and the "correspondence" was to the rifle. Gary T. Cornwell, Deputy Chief Counsel notes that the marksmen for the Dallas Police Department were excellent shots, but the distances involved were not lengthy. "Roughly speaking, the ability to hit a target at those distances would be somewhat comparable whether you used a pistol or a rifle."
Confirmation Hearing for Alexander Haig
Middle-aged adult Caucasian men and adult Caucasian woman seated, taking notes. U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) speaking: "...Mr. Chairman, I said at the outset of these hearings that General Haig was a man of considerable abilities, and that view has been strengthened by our five days of hearings. My concerns have centered primarily upon sensitivity to the use of power under our constitutional system and the judgments General Haig would make in this regard. He was a major figure in the White House, including fifteen months as chief of staff, during the years when serious abuses of power occurred that it resulted in the resignation of President Nixon in the face of a certain impeachment. As Secretary of State, General Haig will be in the leading policy making position in the Cabinet, making policy as well as executing it. It has therefore been pertinent to try to ascertain the kinds of value judgments he would bring to his responsibilities and the limits on constitutional power which he would draw. While that effort has brought some reassurance, my concerns on this fundamental question remain too strong for me to be able, in good conscience to support this nomination. I sincerely hope that General Haig's performance in office will prove these continuing concerns to be unwarranted. As a member of this committee, which has constant contact with the Secretary of State, I anticipate working closely with the new Secretary of State to strengthen our nation's foreign policy, and to insure the vitality of our democracy. Thank you Mr. Chairman." Sen. Charles Percy (R-IL) responds: "Thank you very much indeed. I would like to say, on behalf of the committee, I think, several of you took on a role, which I anticipated and advised in my opening statement, a role that General Haig would have to perform if this committee was to perform its duty. It was not a pleasant task. It was undertaken with tremendous grace, and an historic occasion, I think, when the power of the reason that was used caused General Haig to think through and re-express his sense of moral values. And we're deeply grateful indeed for the minority taking on this responsibility, which we fully backed the right, and duty, and obligation of the Senate of the United States, no matter how difficult that role was. And you performed extraordinarily well." Adult Caucasian male aides coming and going in BG; Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) seated next to Sen. Percy.
August 4, 1994 - Part 7
(16:05:49) As I have said publicly in the past, I did blow off steam in that conversation, based on my belief that Mr. Stephens had and has a conflict of interest, that he could not be an impartial investigator. Mr. Steiner informed me that the decision had been made by an independent board. That ended the conversation. I took no further action. I believe later that day I had a conversation with Harold Ickes and Roger Altman during which the subject of his recusal was discussed, specifically, as I recall, that he had informed a New York Times editor that he had decided to recuse himself. I was concerned that because of the manner in which he had chosen to announce his decision, the Administration would, for a time, be maintaining inconsistent public positions on this issue. I suggested that, as a courtesy to the President, Mr. Altman write a personal note explaining his decision. I took no further action concerning this issue. Thank you very much. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Podesta, why don't you give us your statement now. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you. Mr. Stephanopoulos. JOHN D. PODESTA, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND WHITE HOUSE STAFF SECRETARY, WASHINGTON, DC Mr. PODESTA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, my name is John Podesta. I am an Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary, a position I have held since inauguration day, January 20, 1993. My principal duties involve managing the paper flow going to and from the President. Earlier in my career, I spent more than 9 years on the staff of two Senate Committees-as Counsel to the Judiciary Committee and for more than a year as Chief Counsel to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. As a result of my Capitol Hill experience, I have from time to time been asked at the White 361 House to work on legislative and congressional matters. It is in this context that my connection to the matter before this Committee took place. On or perhaps just before February 14, 1994, 1 was asked by Mack McLarty and Pat Griffin, the Director of White House Legislative Affairs, to work on upcoming hearings involving RTC matters. Mr. Griffin bad recently joined the White House staff and was concentrating his time and attention on passage of the President's legislative program, principally Health Care reform. In anticipation of upcoming RTC Oversight Board hearings, we expected questions on Madison Guaranty to be raised. My task, as I saw it, was to analyze what was likely to take place at the hearings and to recommend ways to ensure that the hearings were fair and balanced. This assignment was in addition to my regular duties, and did not consume the majority of my time. As best as I can recall, this is a summary of what occurred over the following days. On February 15, 1 met with Mike Levy, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and discussed the expected RTC Oversight Board hearing in the Senate Banking Committee. Mr. Levy briefed me on the composition and functions of the RTC Oversight Board. During the remainder of that week, Mr. Levy and I had several telephone conversations concerning the hearing. We never discussed the underlying investigation of Madison, nor did I discuss that subject with anyone else at Treasury or the RTC. Mr. Levy and I did briefly discuss the fact that Roger Altman would need to be prepared to answer questions about recusal in light of the fact that Ricki Tigert, our nominee to chair the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, had been pressured on recusal during her confirmation hearings. I did not, try in any way to influence the substance of Mr. Altman's answer on the subject of recusal. My discussion with Mr. Levy only went to the fact that Mr. Altman needed to be prepared to respond to questions on this subject. In the several days before the hearing, I also spoke by telephone on two or three occasions to Josh Steiner, Secretary Bentsen's Chief of Staff. At this time it is difficult for me to separate these conversations or to remember them with precision. I believe I initiated the first call to ask Mr. Steiner to encourage Secretary Bentsen to take a prominent role at the hearing. Again, this was to ensure that the hearing was broadly focused on our Administration's overall handling of the S&L cleanup and to contrast that record with the record of previous Administrations. About this time I became aware that Mr. Altman had met on February 2 with White House staff. I believe I raised with Mr. Steiner the fact that Mr. Altman probably would be asked a question about whether he had consulted with the White House on the Madison matter, and that he needed to be able to discuss the February 2 meeting in response to such a question. I did not try to influence the substance of Mr. Altman's response. Before the hearing, Mr. Steiner also told me that Mr. Altman planned to put in his opening statement the fact that he intended to leave the RTC when Vacancy Act term expired at the end of March.
LAWMAKERS
20.17.59-DUKE-WHITE HOUSE unhappy with REPUBLICANS who are refusing to go along with REAGAN'S wishes for HUGE INCREASES IN DEFENSE SPENDING. 20.18.14-C/S CASPAR WEINBERGER (Defense Secretary) in Senate committee hearing, says that DEFENSE cannot be cut any further without undermining "national security". C/S Sen. JOHN WARNER (R-VA) tells WEINBERGER there's no chance in hell that REAGAN is going to get all the money he wants for DEFENSE. C/S DAVID STOCKMAN (REAGAN'S BUDGET chief) in Senate committee hearing, C/S Sen. PETE DOMENICI telling Stockman that economic hard times dictate that DEFENSE share some of the belt-tightening. 20.19.24-M/S REAGAN taking podium in White House Press room, flanked by bright colored charts on easels. REAGAN says that America's defense has to be "rebuilt" in a long, hard process. Blames DEMOCRATS for subverting national security. Says that the RUSSKIES will love this development [yeah, because they won't have to worry about the U.S. stocking up to clobber them!]. 20.20.05-C/S Rep. PAT WILLIAMS (D-MT) says the DEMOCRATS' budget for DEFENSE is a realignment of national priorities, is no comfort to the KREMLIN. 20.20.30-DUKE-discussion with Ornstein of the ongoing DEFENSE battle. It will get tougher when Congress has to keep or cut specific appropriations for DEFENSE. Discussion with ROBERTS of increased power of DEMOCRATS in Congress making the going tougher for REAGAN in 1983. PARTISANSHIP looks to be the rule of the coming BUDGET debate. Duke intro commentary. 20.23.38-Commentary by Charles McDowell on annual GRIDIRON CLUB ROAST of political leaders. Notes the extraordinary good humor of all of the figures while being lampooned. It's not often that the President, Congress, and the Soviet Ambassador laugh at the same lame jokes. 20.25.38-DUKE-signs off. Closing credits/transcript order information/WETA credit/sponsor credits/PBS ID. 20.27.51--OUT