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 2 Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle. Senate Caucus Room, Washington DC
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
Fred Thompson. Do you know the reason for his transfer from the committee to re-elect to the finance committee? Robert Odle. I think there were two reasons principally; the first one is that the finance committee found itself a great deal busier in March and April because of this new federal campaign legislation. The record keeping and the work that had to be done in a administrative nature became very great. And Mr. Stans felt that a full time council was needed at that point in the finance committee. Mr. Liddy had found an office on the second floor and was down there working and it was just a kind of a natural thing for him to become this new council. In addition to that I don't think that he and Mr. Magruder were exactly on the best of terms at that point. Fred Thompson. Was the finance committee physically separated from the Committee to Re-Elect? Robert Odle. Initially everyone occupied one suite. Later on the finance committee remained in that suite and everybody else moved to different floors, and so at that, point, in time the finance committee did occupy a separate suite. Fred Thompson. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
Senator Sam Ervin. Can you tell me, I think it was stated but I did not quite get it all. How many men came from the White House staff to the Committee to Re-Elect the President? Robert Odle. Initially, sir? Senator Sam Ervin. Yes. Robert Odle. Initially, in May of 1971 there would have been Mr. Magruder, Mr. Flemming, Mr. Sloan, Mr. Porter, myself and two secretaries.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17,1973
Senator Sam Ervin. Who subsequently came from the White House staff to the Committee to Re-Elect the President? Robert Odle. Well, sir, a number of the people we see on those charts did. I could point, them out, for you if..... Senator Sam Ervin. Suppose you go to the chart, and identify the ones who subsequently came from the White House staff to the Committee to Re-Elect the President. [pan Odle walks to chart] Robert Odle. I probably should use this chart, because it's the larger one. Mr. MacGregor had been council. Mr. Sam Dash. Identify that, chart, for us. [closeups of charts] Robert Odle. I am sorry, this is the July 1 chart. Is that, the chart you would like me to review Senator, the second chart? Senator Sam Ervin. Yes, Robert Odle. Mr. MacGregor was counsel to the, President for Congressional Relations, Mr. Flemming, I mentioned before, Mr. LaRue had been a consultant. I had been at the White House. Mr. Faust had been at the scheduling office at the White House. Mr. Timmons was still there, he never was a member of the staff but just exercised sort of supervisory responsibility for the convention. Mr. Shumway had come from the White House. And as we said earlier, Mr. Porter had come from the White House. Mr. Malek had come from the White House. Mr. Chotiner had come from the White House. Senator Sam Ervin. Where does his name appear on the chart? Robert Odle. Pardon? Senator Sam Ervin. The last person. Robert Odle. Mr. Chotiner, he was director of ballot security.