Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
[00.02.00--NPACT letters on black screen--image of page bearing Senate Resolution 60, Robert MacNEILL v.o. reads text of resolution--title screen "SENATE HEARINGS ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES"] ****SEE RESTRICTIONS FIELD OF RIGHTS SECTION***** [00.02.48--MacNEILL in studio] MacNEILL states that the days hearings will be one of the most incredible events in memory, as the No. 2 man in the Nixon campaign, Jeb MAGRUDER, makes "an almost complete confession" to planning and covering up the Watergate affair, and implicating John MITCHELL in the planning and the coverup, among others. States that after months of allegations and rumor, tonight, a central figure lays out the evidence in such a way that it will take "extraordinary agility" for the principals named to "wriggle out of his accusations" [00.03.43--Jim LEHRER] LEHRER states that MAGRUDER decided to talk for two reasons, first that the COVERUP story was losing credibility, and second, he was offered immunity by the prosecution, in a deal that leaves him vulverable only to one charge. Introduces guest commentators, John Kramer of Georgetown University Law school KRAMER states that wherever white collar crime is concerned, immunity deals for the testimony of a conspirator are about the only way to make a case. However, it's a funny kind of deal in that it's not binding, and you could even say that the deal can't even be mentioned in court when MAGRUDER cops a plea to the lesser charge. States that MAGRUDER's testimony can ever be used against himself in court, even if his plea deal falls through, under the terms of a "use-immunity" deal. [00.05.22--LEHRER] LEHRER states that KRAMER will return at the end of the day to comment more. States that the Committee was curious about motivation as well as about the ins and outs of the coverup MAGRUDER'S testimony indicated a "climate" in the White House of fear of demonstrators, and a feeling that if NIXON Administration foes routinely broke the law (by draft dodging, civil disobedience, etc), it was justified for NIXON's aides to break it as well. [00.06.02--MAGRUDER testifying] MAGRUDER discusses how the "lawlessness" of the Anti-Nixon forces seemed to justify the activities of the Pro-Nixon side. Concedes that it is true that "two wrongs don't make a right", and that he has had to deal with the consequences of his decisions, but at the time, in that climate, such actions seemed appropriate. [00.07.00--MacNEILL in studio]