Watergate Hearings - Statement of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Watergate Hearings - Statement of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 22, 1973 - Testimony of John J. Caulfield. He reads his statement to the Committee. Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC
Watergate Hearings - Statement of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
During the next 3 years, first on orders from Mr. Ehrlichman and later in some instances, on orders from Mr. John Dean, Mr. Ulasewicz, under my supervision, performed a variety of investigative functions, reporting the results of his findings to the White House through me. I do not fully recall all of the investigations performed in this fashion, but have available a list of those which I do recall if the committee wishes to examine it. In July of 1970 John Dean became counsel to the President and Mr. Ehrlichman was named to the position of Presidential Assistant for Domestic Affairs. Thereafter I worked directly for Mr. Dean, but on occasion Mr. Ehrlichman continued to call upon me directly for investigative work involving the services of Mr. Ulasewicz.
Watergate Hearings - Statement of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
John Caulfield. In the spring of 1971 I began to notice that for some reason the amount of investigative work handled by Mr. Ulasewicz through me had diminished. Much of the talk around the White House was beginning to censor more and more on the 1972 Presidential Election and I began to examine ways in my mind in which I might become involved. Since I had performed security duties in the 1968 election campaign and realizing some of the security demands of a presidential campaign, I wished to become involved in the security area of the campaign. Toward that end I composed a memorandum suggesting that an outside security capability be formed to handle the demands of the 1972 campaign. Such an organization would have the capability to perform various security functions to ensure the security of the traveling staff, the committee to re-elect the president headquarters, the convention site and would employ various guards and security people. In short, I was suggesting the formation of a capability to cover the security needs of a presidential campaign. The name I gave to this suggested operation was "Sandwedge". I further suggested that I leave the White House staff and set up this security entity if it were approved and suggested a budget of approximately three hundred to four hundred thousand dollars. I gave the memorandum to Mr. Dean. I got the strong impression from him that it went to higher levels, but I have knowledge of who saw it.
Watergate Hearings - Statement of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
John Caulfield. During the summer of 1971 I had high hopes that my proposal would be accepted and had one other direct conversation at lunch about its contents with Mr. Dean and with Mr. Jeb Magruder. Between the end of June and October of 1971, I inquired of Mr. Dean as to the status of my proposal on numerous occasions, but ultimately was told by Mr. Dean that he didn't think that my suggestion was going anywhere. I was disappointed my memorandum had been refused, I next spoke with Mr. Dean concerning obtaining a position as a personal aid to John Mitchell when he became campaign director. Mr. Dean agreed to ask Mr. Mitchell if such a position was available, he did so and on November 24, 1971 he accompanied me to an interview at Mr. Mitchell s office. I explained to Mr. Mitchell that what I wanted was a position similar to that occupied by Dwight Chapan in relation to the President and that in addition to handling the kinds of activities that Chapan handled for the President I could be of value to Mr. Mitchell as a bodyguard. Mr. Mitchell listened to what I had to say, but was non-committal as to what status I would occupy with him. He said however, that we would get that all straightened out when I arrived at the re-election committee. He was unsure as to when he would join the re-election committee, but thought that it would be sometime in January or February of 1972. I left his office and walked back to the White House by myself. Mr. Dean remained and as I was walking through Mr. Mitchell s outer office, I noted Mr. Gordon Liddy sitting with Mr. Dean evidently waiting to see Mr. Mitchell. At that time, I was sure I had a position with Mr. Mitchell, but the nature of my duties was quite unsettled.
Watergate Hearings - Statement of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Ultimately, on the first of March 1972 I went to the re-election committee to commence my duties there. It soon became clear to me that Mr. Mitchell regarded me only as a bodyguard, which was not what I had in mind at all. During March, I took two trips with Mr. Mitchell outside of Washington, one brief trip to New York City and the other to Key Biscayne, Florida. Since Mr. Mitchell regarded me as his personal bodyguard, I carried a revolver in my briefcase. By the time the trip to Florida occurred in late March, I was already in touch with a friend of mine at the Treasury Department about possible employment there. After being in Florida for approximately 2 to 3 days, I received word that my house in Fairfax, Virginia had been burglarized and so I flew home to attend to my wife and family. Mr. Fred LaRue had joined us in Florida after our arrival, and upon my departure he asked that I leave my revolver in his possession since Mrs. Mitchell would feel better if there were a revolver on the premises. I gave my revolver to him and ultimately received it back in May of 1972 after LaRue had given it to Mr. James McCord for safe keeping upon Mr. LaRue's return from Florida. Once I returned from Florida, I performed no more duties of any kind for Mr. Mitchell and had formally decided to seek employment at the Treasury Department, which I ultimately obtained. On April 28 I started working for the Treasury Department and then became a staff assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for enforcement. And on July 1, 1972 I became acting assistant director for enforcement Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Watergate Hearings - Statement of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
In September of 1971 I received a call from Mr. Barry Mountain of the Republican National Committee who informed me that John Reagan was leaving his duties as security officer for the national committee, the republican national committee. He asked me if I knew of anyone who would be interested in the position and I said no but, I would check around. I subsequently asked Mr. Al Wong a deputy assistant director of the Secret Service if he knew of anyone to recommend for such a position. He told me that he could recommend highly a former colleague and retired CIA agent Mr. James McCord (James McCord seen sitting in courtroom next to lawyer listening to open statement) and gave me his telephone number. I then called Mr. McCord and invited him to my office for an interview. Mr. McCord provided me with a resume and as a result of my interview with him, I called Mr. Mountain and arranged for Mr. McCord to see Mr. Mountain. He did so and was thereafter hired by the Republican National Committee.
Watergate Hearings - Statement of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Since before leaving his employment, Mr. Reagan had intended to handle security for the Committee to Re-elect the President offices as well as the National Committee, it was natural that Mr. McCord upon being hired by the National Committee was soon interviewed by Mr. Robert Odle the office manager of the Committee to Re-Elect the President and in late December or early January, Mr. McCord was hired by the Committee to Re-Elect the President also. I had been consulted about him by the Re-election Committee and recommended him for this position also. Between our original meeting in September of 1971 and June 1972 Mr. McCord and I grew to be personal friends. Even though we did not physically see each other frequently with the exception of the month of March 1972 when I saw him on a daily basis at the Committee to Re-elect the President. During this period we casually discussed on some occasions the possibility of going into business together, after the election campaign was over. Mr. McCord felt quite beholden to me, since he felt that I had been responsible for placing him at the National Committee and the Committee to Re-elect the President. In May of 1972 we had lunch together at the Hay Adams hotel in Washington. I had just begun my assignment at the Treasury Department and we discussed my plans and hopes for expanding my duties and he stated at that time I should keep him in mind if I were looking for consultant help in carrying on investigations.