Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle. Senate Caucus Room, Washington DC Use catalog # 515458 for complete record.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle.
Samuel Dash asks Mr. Odle to state his name and address. Robert Odle. Robert C. Odle, Jr., (address) Samuel Dash. And what is your present occupation? Robert Odle. I am presently a consultant to the committee for the re-election of the President. Samuel Dash. Prior to that time, what position did you hold at the committee for the re-election of the President? Robert Odle. I was director of Administration of the committee from May 1, 1971 until approximately May 1, 1973. Samuel Dash. Could you tell us, when the committee for the re-election for the president was set up? Robert Odle. Yes sir, it was set up and announced I believe on May 1, 1971. Samuel Dash. And can you state briefly, to your knowledge, what purpose the committee for the re-election of the president was set up? Robert Odle. Yes sir. In early 1971, a number of people began to look at the 1972 campaign. There was the thought that people would have to begin to work full time on the President s campaign. They did not want those people to remain on a government payroll or on a White House payroll. They did not want that activity at the Republican National Committee because at that point, it appeared the President might have competition in the primaries from two Congressmen, and it would be technically inappropriate for the RNC to house presidential campaign activities. So therefore, the committee for the re-election of the president was set up in May of 1971.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle.
Samuel Dash. Now Mr. Odle, who where the initial persons who came over and formed the committee for the re-election of the President when it was started? Robert Odle. There was Mr. Jeb Magruder, Mr. Harry S. Flemming, Mr. Hugh W. Sloan, Jr., myself, Dr. Robert Merrick, Mr. Herbert Porter, and a number of secretaries who went there to assist us. Samuel Dash. Of those persons, could you identify which of those had positions in the White House, before they came over to the committee? Robert Odle. Yes sir, Mr. Porter, Mr. Magruder, Mr. Flemming had been at the White House, he left the White House and went into private business and then came to the Committee, but he had been there before. And Mr. Sloan, and myself.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle.
Samuel Dash. Now Mr. Odle, would you please go to the chart. Now Mr. Odle, would you first state what that chart reports to be? Robert Odle. Yes, this is a chart of the Committee for the Re-election of the President, in 1972. Samuel Dash. Up until what time? Robert Odle. Up until July 1, 1972. Samuel Dash. Now, had you seen that chart prior to this hearing? Robert Odle. Yes sir, it was part of the campaign records that the staff had asked for. Samuel Dash. And you helped prepare that chart? Robert Odle. Yes sir, I did. Samuel Dash. And does that chart accurately reflect the structure of the committee? Robert Odle. Yes sir, it does.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle.
Samuel Dash. Now, could you please point out the particular persons on the chart and the roles they played for the committee? Robert Odle. Yes sir, Mr. Dash the other point I was going to make is that this also shows the finance committee to re-elect the President in addition to the committee, and the budget committee which was between the two of them. Samuel Dash. What was the difference between the committee to re-elect the president and finance committee to re-elect the president? Robert Odle. The essential function of the finance committee to re-elect the president was to raise the necessary funds for the campaign. To account for them, to keep records and to disperse the funds. The job of the committee for the re-election of the president was to conduct the national campaign programs, campaign activities. The budget committee, between the two committees was made up of representatives of each, and the function of the budget committee in effect, was to decide how campaign dollars ought to be allocated. In other words, how the pie was sliced.