Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 23, 1973 Testimony of John Caulfield.
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 23, 1973 Testimony of John Caulfield.
Master 10373 Part 2 Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 23, 1973 Testimony of John Caulfield. Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC [cut to wide shot of committee table-- close shot of Sen. GURNEY] Senator GURNEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Caulfield, your testimony certainly has been very full and very clear. I just want to press home one or two points. Referring to the previous testimony by Mr. McCord, at page 320 of the record, he had this to say about his conversations and meeting with you. "Caulfield stated that he was carrying the message of Executive clemency to me from the very highest levels of the White House. He stated that the President of the United States was in Key Biscayne, Fla., that weekend, referring to the weekend following January 8, the following meetings that we were in then, and that the President had been told of the results of the meeting." Did you ever learn that the President had learned of the results of any of your meetings with Mr. McCord? Mr. CAULFIELD. Absolutely not sir. Senator GURNEY. He also stated this further on in the testimony on the next page. "Mr. McCord. He, meaning you, may have a message to you at our next meeting from the President." Did you ever tell him that? Mr. CAULFIELD. No sir. Senator GURNEY. Did you ever have any communication with the President of the United States with regard to this so-called Executive clemency offer to Mr. McCord? Mr. CAULFIELD. None whatsoever sir. Senator GURNEY. Did you ever hear Mr. Dean, in any of your conversations with Mr. Dean, ever refer to the fact that he had informed the President of any of these meetings? Mr. CAULFIELD. No sir. Senator GURNEY. Did Mr. Dean ever say to you "The President has instructed me to make this offer of Executive clemency to McCord through you," or through anybody else as far as that's concerned? Mr. CAULFIELD. Absolutely not, sir. Senator GURNEY. Did you ever apply any pressure to Mr. McCord in any of these meetings for him to do anything in regard to this upcoming trial? Mr. CAULFIELD. No sir. Senator GURNEY. Did you ever urge him or advise him to plead guilty? Mr. CAULFIELD. Never. Senator GURNEY. This point has been covered but it is important because of Mr. McCord's testimony. My understanding is that your understanding about these calls to the Embassy and the wiretaps on the Embassies that this was his theory of defense, a way that be could get out of it by having the case dismissed if these wiretaps had occurred, is that correct? Mr. CAULFIELD. That is correct, Senator GURNEY. Did Mr. McCord ever discuss with you what other plans he might have if he were found guilty at the trial? Mr. CAULFIELD. No sir.