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. United States Senate Caucus Room, Washington, DC
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle
Senator INOUYE. Mr. Alfred Baldwin has stated that he delivered copies of bugged conversations to the committee offices. Were you ever the recipient of reports of bugged conversations? Mr. ODLE. Absolutely not, and if you look back at that what happened was that Mr. Baldwin testified that he at one point had seen memorandums from Mr. McCord the security director to me about office security, and that's quite true. And I have turned all those over to the grand jury and to the Democratic national committee and to common cause and just about anybody that asks for them. He also testified that he turned over convention memos, that Mr. Baldwin saw convention memos. But, somehow that got garbled, and when it came out it came out in the press that for some reason Mr. Baldwin had turned over logs to me and two other individuals. That is absolutely untrue, and as Mr. McCord s deposition shows, what really happened was that he wrote Mr. Liddy's name on that log and brought it to the building. Senator INOUYE. Were you in any other way involved in bugging activities? Mr. ODLE. Absolutely not. Senator INOUYE. Is it true that you hired Mr. McCord? Mr. ODLE. Yes it is. Senator INOUYE. Were you aware of his uh activities, on June the 17th? Mr. ODLE. I was not, I was not. I first heard about, I first heard that there was a burglary Saturday afternoon after I finished a meeting about oh I don't know, mid-afternoon. And somebody came by the door and they said have you heard there's been a burglary at the Democratic National Committee? And I said to a some people who were in that meeting, who were not from the committee, I said that could never happen here because I have this guy working for me named Jim McCord. (courtroom laughs, Senators laugh, Senator Inouye smiling, Mr. Odle continues). And he's got this place really tight, and all I can say is that I'm glad McCord works for me. And that, and then of course it became apparent of what had happened. But, no sir I did not. Senator INOUYE. Then you were not aware of his associations with Mr. Liddy? Mr. ODLE. No sir I was not. Senator INOUYE. I know it is also listed is a John Caulfield. John J. Caulfield. Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Senator INOUYE. Do you know Mr. Caulfield? Mr. ODLE. Yes sir, I do. He was the security director of the 1968 campaign. He recommended Mr. McCord. Senator INOUYE. Press reports indicate that Mr. Caulfield tried to pressure Mr. McCord to remain silent on the Watergate break-in. Now my question is, during what period was Mr. Caulfield employed by your committee? Mr. ODLE. Very briefly, perhaps a month, uh and it was in the summer of 1972 I believe, perhaps in May. Senator INOUYE. Did he (Mr. ODLE interrupts him) Mr. ODLE. Perhaps in April it was. Senator INOUYE. Did he to your knowledge try to pressure Mr. McCord in behalf of your committee? Mr. ODLE. Pressure him? Senator INOUYE. Pressure him to remain silent. Mr. ODLE. Well, I just have no knowledge of that. Not to my knowledge at all, I haven't seen Mr. Caulfield since last summer. Senator INOUYE. Could you describe the functions of your quote "Political" end quote Division? Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Um, the function of the political division was to divide the states among the various political coordinators, or as they became known later the Regional Directors and to set up state re-elect committees in each state. Uh, and to monitor the success of those committees. Senator INOUYE. We hear much about quote "dirty tricks" and sabotage, where did it come in your chart or did it come in your chart? (courtroom laughs) Mr. ODLE. Sir, um unfortunately the chart maker when he made those charts wasn't aware of those things. Senator INOUYE. Were you aware of those things? Mr. ODLE. No sir I was not. Senator INOUYE. Mr. Chairman, could I request Mr. Odle to place in evidence, a complete list of all employees of the committee to re-elect the president and the finance committee and the dates of their service and their prior employment. Senator ERVIN. Could you furnish the committee that uh...... Mr. ODLE. Yes sir, Senator I think that the staff may have already requested it, I think it may already been turned over, but if it hasn't I'll be glad to do that. Senator ERVIN. Well the committee would like to have that. Senator INOUYE. I thank you very much. Senator ERVIN. I understand that if you haven't supplied it to the committee, that you will. Mr. ODLE. If we haven't, we will, yes sir. Senator ERVIN. Senator Weicker.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle
Senator Lowell P. WEICKER Jr. (R - Connecticut). Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Odle uh, you refer the fact that you were not in Washington D.C. on June 18th. Mr. ROBERT ODLE. Mmm hmmm. Senator WEICKER. Is that correct? Did you participate in the emptying of Mr. Magruders desk with Robert Reisner on June 17th? Mr. ODLE. Yes sir, Mr. Magruder asked um Mr. Reisner and myself to take certain things home over the week-end, I as at the time, it appeared that he was concerned for the security of them. Um, my best recollection is that I took home a file folder and he took home some other file folders. We brought them back that following Monday or Tuesday. Senator WEICKER. Well maybe, would you be good enough to describe to the committee then as to how you were alerted on June 17th exactly what you did uh in responding to the alert and your activities within the offices themselves and what you did afterwards. Mr. ODLE. Well, my... Senator WEICKER. On June 17th. Mr. ODLE. Yes, my greatest concern at the, first of all, first of all, when we, when we found out you know that the court was involved in this thing, we were, I was extremely concerned. I mean here was our security director, uh in jail because he'd gone into someone s office in the middle of the night. Um, my first thought was that I was suddenly in charge of the guard force, I was suddenly in charge directly and personally in charge of all of the uh office security. And uh, I remember one of the things that I did that day was to call the security supervisor to make certain that we would have a guard come in that night to relieve the day guard. We, I was very concerned about that. Um, I remember thinking about what I, what we would to replace Mr. McCord, we obviously needed somebody in that capacity. Um, you know it was a very, it was a very serious day. I mean when you find a man that you trust and respect and is in jail for doing something and that man worked for you it, it, it, it's, it's a quite a serious thing. Um, is there some other area that you're...... Senator WEICKER. Well now, first of all who, uh who requested that you come over to the committee on June 17th? Who... Mr. ODLE. Oh, I, I, I had been there Senator. I, I was in a meeting that morning, it had started about nine and had ended about mid afternoon. I had been there. Senator WEICKER. Now, who made the suggestion that Mr. Magruders' desk be emptied? Mr. ODLE. Well I don't, first of all I'm not exactly sure of the chronology of events. I don't believe that anybody made the suggestion that his desk be emptied. I believe he expressed concern over the telephone from California ..... Senator WEICKER. Who, who, who is he? Mr. ODLE. He, Magruder. Senator WEICKER. And at what time did he express concern? Mr. ODLE. Uh, it would have been sometime late that afternoon. Senator WEICKER. Mmm hmm. Can you give me, did you talk personally to Mr. Magruder? Mr. ODLE. Yes. Senator WEICKER. Would you please give to the committee your best recollection of that uh..... Mr. ODLE. My best recollection is that he was extremely concerned uh that uh, we might be subjects for similar activities, that there might be retaliation. Uh, that, that he was concerned for the security of the uh, of the office building, uh and the files, the papers and he wanted certain things to be taken home over the week-end. Um, as I remember it, Mr. Reisner um, took home lot of advertising matters I believe .... Senator WEICKER. Well, if we can stop there for a minute, was Mr. Reisner on the phone also ..... Mr. ODLE. For a time he was and for a time I was. (WS full courtroom with Mr. Odle speaking) My best recollection of it, I went out of the room for awhile I think. Senator WEICKER. Well now, did Mr. Magruder said Clean out my whole desk? Mr. ODLE. No sir, I don't believe he did, 'cause I don't believe that was done. Senator WEICKER. Alright now, than he must have specified what it was what was to be cleaned out of the desk? Mr. ODLE. I believe he did. Senator WEICKER. Alright. Mr. ODLE. I don't believe he did that to me. I believe that he may have, I just don't remember the exact chronology of that, all of the things that happened that day. Uh, all I know is the way it ended up, is that I had a file and Mr. Reisner had some files and we brought them back the next week. Senator WEICKER. But uh, did you know what was in the files? Mr. ODLE. No sir, I did not. Senator WEICKER. So in other words, it was a general not a specific order that was given to clean out the whole desk, is that correct? I mean, how would you know that you cleaned out the right thing? Unless you knew what was in it? Mr. ODLE. I didn't take it sir. I believe Mr. Reisner took it, and then he gave it to me. Senator WEICKER. Ah, you did not clean out Magruders desk? Mr. ODLE. No, I did not.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle
Senator WEICKER. Your participation in this matter, was to receive files..... Mr. ODLE. A file. Senator WEICKER. A file from Mr. Reisner... Mr. ODLE. I believe yes. Mmm hmm. Senator WEICKER. And then what did you do with that file? Mr. ODLE. I put it in my briefcase, I took some files from my own desk that I was concerned about their own safety. In fact.... Senator WEICKER. What kind of files are you ? Mr. ODLE. Budget Committee files. Senator WEICKER. I see. Mr. ODLE. Um, the various minutes of these sessions that I've described earlier. Um, I was concerned for their security, and I took them home with me over the weekend. Senator WEICKER. Now, what did you do when you took this file home? Mr. ODLE. Just left it at home. I.... Senator WEICKER. Put it anywhere? Mr. ODLE. I think I may have put it in the closet or something, I'm not exactly certain. Senator WEICKER. And uh... Mr. ODLE. The briefcase I think I put in the closet. Senator WEICKER. I beg your pardon? Mr. ODLE. I think I put the briefcase in the closet. (funny - sounds like he says 'briefclase') Senator WEICKER. The briefcase with the file, in the closet. Mr. ODLE. Yeah. Senator WEICKER. And uh, then what happened to the file? Mr. ODLE. Then on Monday, I returned it. Senator WEICKER. You returned the file? Mr. ODLE. Yeah. Senator WEICKER. To who? Mr. ODLE. To Mr. Magruder. Senator WEICKER. To Mr. Magruder himself? Mr. ODLE. Yes, best recollection yes. Senator WEICKER. Now, Mr. Odle a few more questions. You mentioned the fact that um you came into contact with Mr. Straun from time to time. Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Senator WEICKER. Can you give me an elaboration of what from time to time means? Mr. ODLE. I talked to Mr. Straun probably two or three times a week. Maybe two times a week, It's hard to say sir. Senator WEICKER. Mr. Straun uh, participate rather actively in matters over at the Committee to Re-Elect the President? Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Senator WEICKER. Can you tell me why or what his uh specific mission was? Mr. ODLE. Um, Mr. Haldeman obviously was worried about allot of other things besides the campaign. He was the chief of staff at the white house, he was a very busy man working on government, substantive policies and he was assisting the president. Mr. Straun was there to devote himself more to what was going on politically, so that if Mr. Haldeman wanted to be aware of what was going on politically, he could simply ask Mr. Straun. Mr. Straun was sort of the eyes and ears I suppose you might say. Senator WEICKER. Beg your pardon, Mr.... Mr. ODLE. I suppose you might say he was his eyes and ears at the committee. Senator WEICKER. He was the eyes, Mr. Straun was the eyes and ears of who? Mr. ODLE. Mr. Haldeman. Senator WEICKER. Mr. Haldeman. Mr. ODLE. He was the liaison to the committee. Senator WEICKER. So that any matters that went on in the committee to re-elect the president, uh would it be fair to say that they were reported back to Mr. Haldeman by Mr. Straun? Mr. ODLE. Well, that was Mr. Strauns rule was to try to find out all the things that were going on at the committee and to make Mr. Haldeman aware of them, yes. Senator WEICKER. Did he attend, did Mr. Straun attend the strategy sessions? Mr. ODLE. I think that he may have, yes. I did not attend those meetings, it's hard for me to say exactly who did. Senator WEICKER. Alright. Now, Mr. ODLE did you ever see in the hallways of the committee to re-elect the president, electronic equipment that which would be electronic equipment for either bugging or de-bugging? Mr. ODLE. Um, Mr. McCord leased a machine for awhile which was a defensive measurer as I understand it, that went around and checked for electronic eves dropping in our building. And I believe I have seen that, yes. Senator WEICKER. So you did see this equipment, which you were under the belief that it was de-bugging equipment. Is that correct? Mr. ODLE. I'm, I'm pretty positive of it, yeah. Senator WEICKER. That it was de-bugging equipment? Mr. ODLE. Yeah, no well it wasn't de-bugging, it was checking for, for, for counter measures, yes. Senator WEICKER. And this equipment was quite visible and out there in the halls. Mr. ODLE. I don't believe sir it was in the halls. It was a portable unit that I believe was in his office at one point that I saw. Senator WEICKER. Now the respect to the citizens division, isn't that true that Fred Malek became the head of that division between March and June? Mr. ODLE. He exercised a supervisory control and over the citizens division, it was by no means a full time occupation. Senator WEICKER. When you say full time occupation, do you use as the criteria his appearance on the payroll, is this what causes you to.... Mr. ODLE. No, I would use the criteria of hours spent. Senator WEICKER. And hours spent, he was in a part-time capacity? Mr. ODLE. Very much so. Senator WEICKER. Would you say that he spent part of his time at the committee to re-elect the president and part of his time in the white house? Mr. ODLE. There was a guest office at the committee that he used from time to time when he was at the committee. But I would say he spent up to July first when he resigned from the white house and he came to the committee, most of his time at the white house. Senator WEICKER. Most of his time at the white house, but also time ... Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Senator WEICKER. at the uh ... Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Senator WEICKER. at the committee.