Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Delbert Latta (R - Ohio).
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Delbert Latta (R - Ohio).
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Delbert Latta (R - Ohio).
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Delbert Latta (R - Ohio).
Delbert Latta (R Ohio). utmost caution, that we weaken, that we weaken that office that we hold so dear. 02.10 And let me direct my attention in the few moments that we have to another area that concerns me because we ve touched upon it so lightly. In fact, I heard somebody say, and I am sure he said it in jest, something about it is a bugaboo. And I have reference to national security. National security. What are we talking about? We re talking about protecting the lives and the security of 220 million Americans. That is what we are talking about. So let s not talk about it lightly. I happen to be one who since I have been in the Congress of the United States who has supported a strong national defense, a strong national defense. We can t be second. We have got to be strong. And we are talking about national defense as a bugaboo issue? I think not.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Delbert Latta (R - Ohio).
Delbert Latta (R Ohio). The President of the United States was concerned about leaks right after he took office. Now, let s take a look at what he was talking about. Where were these leaks coming from? Were they coming from somebody's bridge club or out of some nonsensitive agency of the Government? We know better than that. They were coming from no other place than the National Security Council. Now who sits on the National Security Council? Staff members? The President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, along with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General by designation of the President. Now they don t talk about rules for a handball game. They discuss and make the policy for the defense of this country, your defense, my defense, our children's defense. That is what they do. And these leaks that concerned the President of the United States were coming directly out of that National Security Council.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Delbert Latta (R - Ohio).
Delbert Latta (R Ohio). Now what were they? Many of our colleagues here today have alluded to them. And I don t want to duplicate what they ve said. But let me point out that about every time the National Security Council would make a decision, a couple of days later, and I hate to mention newspapers but I must, the New York Times would publish it or the Evening Star. Wouldn t this concern you? It concerned me. It concerned the President.
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Delbert Latta (R - Ohio).
Delbert Latta (R Ohio). Let me give you just one. On April 6th, the New York Times prints a front page article indicating US consideration of unilateral withdrawal. June 1969, shortly after a decision had been reached to begin initial withdrawal of troops, the New York Times and the Evening Star reported this decision indicating that it would be made public following the meeting, following the meeting with the South Vietnamese President Thieu. Leaks damaging Dr. Kissinger's diplomatic efforts to end the war. For the South Vietnamese Government to hear publicly of our apparent willingness to consider unilateral withdrawal without first discussing the matter with President Thieu. What does this do to our credibility?
Watergate Impeachment Hearings House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974. Delbert Latta (R - Ohio).
Delbert Latta (R Ohio). Damaging leaks had been occurring with regard to the SALT negotiation have been discussed, and also the internal uses by our Government of the strategic force posture. A study was made to determine what programs should be adopted relative to our country's, get this, deterrent conventional and nuclear capability. The study included five possible strategic options from an emphasis on offensive capability to heavy reliance on anti-ballistic missile systems. Costs even were discussed. Notwithstanding the obvious need for secrecy of this study, the May 1st, 1969, edition of the New York Times reported the five strategic options under study and even gave the cost estimates. The United States Intelligence Board, having been engaged in an analysis of the Soviet Union's testing of missiles, and issued a report in June 1969 setting forth their estimate of the Soviet Union's strategic strength and possible first-strike capability. Peter Rodino (D - New Jersey). The gentleman has consumed 10 minutes. Delbert Latta (R Ohio). I wish I had 10 more, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.