August 9, 1995 - Part 7
August 9, 1995 - Part 7
(17:25:25) It's something I had to do. It's something I'm sorry about, but it doesn't support the conclusion, it doesn't support the picture that you paint from that testimony of paranoia of, of terrible things going on in our office. I didn't grill Deborah Gorham. I like Deborah Gorham, she's a gentle, sensitive lady. She was in a state of shock during this period, understandably so. Her boss had just killed himself, in effect. I tried to be as gentle as I could with her, but I think she, remembering back to that terrible period, if I asked her a question two or three times sort of to shake her out of her, she was like she was in shock during that period, for a lot of that period-to sort 1303 of shake her out' of that shock a little bit. She finds that conduct of me talking to her grilling. I didn't grill her, I tried to treat her very gently. But looking back, I can understand her testimony here today. But it doesn't support the picture that you're painting. Nor, sir, when you refer to the Park Police and the Secret Service and all these law enforcement agencies, nor is that a valid summation, Senator Bennett. The fact is our relationship with the Park Police, our relationship with the Secret Service, our relationship with the Department of Justice, our relationship with the FBI was perfectly fine during this period. It changed a little-we had a dispute over how the office search would be conducted, but it was perfectly fine. What happened, sir, and I alluded to this before, is once the note was found on July 26 and turned over on July 27, people were embarrassed, in effect. Law enforcement became embarrassed because they were present at a search which I conducted, not they conducted. They were present at a search at which a note wasn't found. Because of that, Senator, then certain of them at least started feeling aggrieved about prior conduct. So I don't think even their testimony paints a picture of any improper conduct on the part of the White House. Forgive me, Senator, for that very, very long answer. Senator BENNETT. My time is gone. I would like at some point to follow up on some of these issues. The CHAIRMAN. Well, Senator, we'll be back tomorrow morning, and I will recognize you first so that we can again follow up on these issues. Senator BOXER. May I ask a question? The CHAIRMAN. Yes. OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR BARBARA BOXER Senator BOXER. I think that I am not going to get a chance to question today, mostly for my fault. I could only stay for 3 hours. Why are we going back to Senator Bennett--on your time? The CHAIRMAN. When it comes to our side, of course. Senator BOXER. Great. The CHAIRMAN. Of course, we have rotated continually. We will continue to do that. But I'm delighted that you are watching so carefully. Senator BOXER. I am. The CHAIRMAN. Well, I understand that. Senator BOXER. Every move. The CHAIRMAN. We will obviously start with this side. I want to thank Mr. Nussbaum and I hope that we can finish tomorrow, but if we can't, then unfortunately we'll go Friday. But I think if we all work together we will be able to finish tomorrow. All right. Mr. NUSSBAUM. I want to assure you I have no opening statement tomorrow. The CHAIRMAN. You did an excellent job and I want you to know that this Senator has no problem with your opening statement whatsoever. I think you owe it to yourself and you owe it to all of us to put into the record, in a thorough, comprehensive manner, what you did, and I think some points were very important factually to get out. 1304 So I want to commend you for that. I certainly don't mean to sug- gest that you shouldn't tell the Committee what you think is im this portant, but I think if we all work together we can conclude part of our review tomorrow. So we stand in recess until tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. (17:29:34) [Whereupon, at 5:30 p.m., the hearing was adjourned, to recon- vene at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, August 10, 1995.1 (17:29:35) Various shots of the Senate Hearing room where Senators, support staff, media, witness, and audience mingle and leave (17:31:37)(tape #10141 ends)