Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
Tape Part 1 Watergate Hearings - Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
National Public Affairs Center for Television logo. Voiceover description and image of Senate Resolution #60 : To Establish a select committee of the Senate to conduct an investigation and study of the extent, if any, to which illegal, improper, or unethical activities were engaged in by any persons, acting individually or in combination with others, in the presidential election of 1972, or any campaign canvas, or other activity related to it.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
NPACT introduction of proceddings in still shot Capitol dome
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
DO NOT USE Correspondent Robert MacNeil introduction of questions regarding scandal. "Good Evening from Washington. In a few moments we're going to bring you the entire preceedings in the first day of the Senate Watergate Hearings. Hearings to bear the truth about the wide range of illegal, unethical or improper activities, established or still merely alleged surrounding the re-election of President Nixon last year. As the Hearings progess, we shall see cross examination of men who were once among the most powerful in the land. As the Select Committee tries to answer the ultimate question, How high do the scandals reach? And was President Nixon himself involved? Senator Sam Ervin, the chairman has promised startling revelations. But the hearings open today in an atmosphere of calm deliberation, to lay the ground work for the big witnesses to come. There was some humor, but a tention in the packed hearing room that reflected a general awareness of the gravity of the political and constitutional issues involved."
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
DO NOT USE Jim Lehrer
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
Chairman Senator Ervin (D-NC) discusses the role of committee in restoring public faith in government. Senator Ervin speaking "I hope thats one of the bi-products of the investigation, that in addition to, determine whether theres a need for new laws in this feild. I hope that the committe will act in such a way that uh, in conducting this investigation, doing it so fair and so fully that people will have some faith in at least one of the branches of government restored."
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
DO NOT USE Robert MacNeil-- discussion of bipartisanship.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
Vice Chairman Sen. Howard Baker (R-TN)--need for Republicans to clean own house for political credibility, pledges thoroughness.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
DO NOT USE Jim Lehrer at a desk, projection of Capitol Dome at right shoulder- introduces other committee members Herman Talmadge (D-GA), Edward Gurney (R-FL), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Lowell Weicker (R-CT), Joseph Montoya (D-NM), (headshots of respective Senators) introduction of others: Samuel Dash, Chief Counsel Fred Thompson, minority Counsel
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
DO NOT USE MacNeil announces matters of significance in the day's scheduled proceedings: Relationship of White House and Committee to Re-elect the President Shredding of documents Removal of Committee to Re-Elect Documents after Watergate break-in.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
DO NOT USE NARRATION OF JIM LEHRER Summary of opening statements graphic-- Hour #1: Senators' Viewpoints, Odle C.R.P. summary of Robert Odle's testimony (Committee to Re-Elect) Summary of Bruce Kehrli's testimony (White House staff) Summary of Paul Leeper (Washington, D.C. Police, arrestor of Watergate burglars) Shot of committee table, pan to wide view of caucus room, photographers, reporters, low noise from crowd.