Watergate Hearings - Richard Helms, Howard Hunt & John Mitchell
Watergate Hearings - Richard Helms, Howard Hunt & John Mitchell
(11:33:12) Opens to Counsel DAVID DORSEN questioning former CIA Director RICHARD HELMS about Presidential Counsel, JOHN DEAN's communication with Deputy Director of the CIA VERNON WALTERS - Helms says that Walters reported back after meeting with Dean that Dean's mission was obviously one of feeling out whether or not the White House could get CIA support with Watergate, Helms says he told Walters to stand absolutely firm and grant the White House nothing, as Helms tells the committee this he beats his hand on the table he sits at, Helms says that did not want the CIA name besmirched by affiliation with Watergate (11:36:22) Skip in footage (11:36:31) Skip in footage - Minority Committee Counsel FRED THOMPSON questions E. HOWARD HUNT, after trying to get at it several different ways Thompson finally asks when Hunt knew that Mr. COLSON (?) knew about the Gemstone plan - Thompson then reads a transcipt from an earlier interview with Hunt which contradicts this testimony (11:44:08) Skip in footage, skip in time code - Majority Cousel SAM DASH questions JOHN MITCHELL about a statement he made earlier that he would go to extremes assure the re-election of the president, Dash asks if these extremes would include perjury - Mitchell responds he would have to think long and hard on the subject (11:45:25) Dash confirms that Mitchell did communicate with ROBERT MARDIAN about his meeting with GORDON LIDDY in which Mardian and Liddy discussed operations such as the Whitewater break-in, Dash then reads the transcript of a deposition statement of Mitchell's from a civil case that was brought by the Democratic National Committee in which Mitchell says he never spoke to Mardian about his meeting with Liddy - Mitchell tries to claim that his earlier answer was not with regard to the same communication with Mardian (11:48:40) Dash asks Mitchell if he didn't answer no (commit perjury) in order "to keep the lid on" - Mitchell keeps insisting on his painfully weak argument that his deposition statement referred to another communication with Mardian, he will not concede that he has under oath given contradictory testimony (11:51:50) Dash and Mitchell discuss Mitchell's involvement in the hiring of Liddy (11:54:13) Skip in footage - Senator DANIEL INOUYE questions Mitchell about Dean's reponsibilities with the Committee to Re-elect the President