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
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
Photographers around Jeb Magruder. Senators and staff taking seats, MacNeil v.o. continues summary. Senator Sam Ervin entering chamber, carrying his gavel to seat.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). I would like to state for the purposes of the record that Mr. Magruder has appeared in person and by counsel in an executive session before the Chairman of the committee and the committee staff. And at that session he was required to testify notwithstanding his Constitutional privilege under an order of immunity entered by Judge Sirica. For that reason I d like to reveal all the testimony which Mr. Magruder has heretofore given to the Chairman and the committee staff and all of the testimony which he will give to the Select Committee on this occasion is given by him pursuant to an order of immunity entered by Judge Sirica pursuant to sections 6002 and 6005 of Title 18 of the United States Code. Jeb Magruder, will you stand up? Do you swear that the evidence you shall give the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing the truth. So help you God? Jeb Magruder. I do.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. Magruder, will you state your full name and address? Jeb Magruder. Jeb Stuart Magruder, 4814 Fort Sumner Drive, Bethesda, Maryland. Samuel Dash, attorney. You are accompanied by counsel at this proceeding? Jeb Magruder. Yes, sir. Samuel Dash, attorney. Will counsel please identify himself for the record? James Bierbower, attorney. James Bierbower, Washington DC. Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. Magruder, what is your present position? Jeb Magruder. I am a consultant. Samuel Dash, attorney. And are you a private consultant? Do you have a firm name? Jeb Magruder. Yes, Metropolitan Research Services and I am a private consultant.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Prior to that position did you hold a position at the Committee To Re-Elect the President? Jeb Magruder. Yes, I was deputy campaign director. Samuel Dash, attorney. And prior to that time, did you hold a position at the White House? Jeb Magruder. Yes. I was special assistant to the President and deputy director for communications in the Executive branch. Samuel Dash, attorney. When did you have that position at the White House? Over what period of time? Jeb Magruder. From October 1969 until May 1971.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Was it at that time that you went over to the campaign activities for the reelection of the President? Jeb Magruder. Yes, that is correct. Samuel Dash, attorney. Can you tell us the circumstances which led you to take on the responsibilities of the campaign? Jeb Magruder. We had begun discussing the 1972 campaign in early 1971. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Haldeman particularly were concerned and responsible for the campaign at that early stage. And it was decided that certain White House staff members and other individuals would begin the preparatory work for the campaign. It was agreed that it would not be done at the White House but would be done outside and consequently, in May of 1971 myself and a number of others began the activities for the Committee To Re-Elect the President. Samuel Dash, attorney. Who particularly made a decision that you were to go over to be active in the campaign? Jeb Magruder. I would consider it a joint decision between Mr. Haldeman and Mr. Mitchell. Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, what was your first position in the campaign activities? Jeb Magruder. Basically, I was responsible for planning and the general administrative activities relating to what I might consider the inside activities of the campaign, advertisements direct mail, telephone, press and public relations, surrogate program, and the inside activities.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. There came a time, did there not, when there was an organized Committee To Re-Elect the President and you held a particular position. Would you tell us about that? Jeb Magruder. Yes, that is correct. Approximately in March 1972 when Mr. Mitchell became campaign director I was named chief of staff. And in July 1972 when Mr. MacGregor became campaign director, I became deputy campaign director. Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, briefly Mr. Magruder, from the time you went over for the campaign could you tell us what Mr. Mitchell's role was and what Mr. Haldeman's role was? Jeb Magruder. Well, from the beginning Mr. Mitchell was responsible for the campaign and I reported Samuel Dash, attorney. When you say "beginning", what date would you put that on? Jeb Magruder. That would have been May of 1971. He was responsible for the campaign. I reported directly to him. Mr. Haldeman was basically our liaison. And his liaison activities were primarily related to him through Mr. Gordon Strachan at the White House.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Under whose directions did you operate in your role on the committee? Jeb Magruder. Mr. Mitchell's. Samuel Dash, attorney. What position did Mr. Gordon Strachan have from January 1972 to June 17, 1972? Jeb Magruder. He was staff assistant at the White House. He was Mr. Haldeman's aide and liaison to our committee. Samuel Dash, attorney. And how did he play that liaison role between the Committee To Re-Elect the President and the White House staff, particularly Mr. Haldeman? Jeb Magruder. He played a very direct role with all of the members of the staff, particularly myself and other senior members. He consolidated our work for Mr. Haldeman for whatever needs Mr. Haldeman or the President needed, the information from the campaign committee. He received copies of all our documents and worked very closely with us. Samuel Dash, attorney. Would it be true, Mr. Magruder, that aside from any direct contacts that Mr. Haldeman would have with you or the committee who that any communications the committee would have with the White House would be through Strachan? Jeb Magruder. Yes, that s correct.