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
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, did there come a time when Mr. Liddy did present his plan to the Attorney General, Mr. Mitchell? Jeb Magruder. Yes. In February I set up an appointment with Mr. Mitchell and John Dean on February 27 at 4 in the afternoon. Samuel Dash, attorney. On February Jeb Magruder. The first meeting was February 27. Samuel Dash, attorney. May I refresh your recollection, Mr. Magruder. Do you mean February 27 or January 27? Jeb Magruder. I am sorry. January 27, 1971. And we had a meeting in Mr. Mitchell's office at 4:00 in the afternoon as I recall it. Samuel Dash, attorney. Who attended that meeting in Mr. Mitchell's office on January 27? Jeb Magruder. Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Dean, Mr. Liddy, and myself. Samuel Dash, attorney. Prior to the meeting on January 27, did you know any of the details of the plan that Liddy was going to present on that day? Jeb Magruder. No, I did not.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Could you describe in detail what occurred on January 27 in Mr. Mitchell's office? Jeb Magruder. Mr. Liddy brought with him a series of charts. They were professionally done charts and had color, some color, on each of the charts. As I recall there were approximately six charts. Each chart contained a subject matter and was headed by a code word. I cannot recall many of the code words. The one I do recall is Gemstone. I think one was called Target, but I cannot specifically recall the other code words. Each chart had a listing of certain in types of activities with a budget. And as I recall there was one I me chart that totaled up the activities and the budget totaled to the $1 million figure that he had mentioned previously. Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. Liddy was presenting this in the form of a show and tell operation? Jeb Magruder. Yes, that is correct. Samuel Dash, attorney. What were the size of these charts? Jeb Magruder. As I recall, they were approximately probably the size of the chart that is on the display stand. Samuel Dash, attorney. Were they on an easel or display stand in the Attorney General's office? Jeb Magruder. Yes. Samuel Dash, attorney. Do you have any idea where these charts were prepared or who prepared them? Jeb Magruder. No, I do not.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. You say the charts dealt with projects and they had code names on them. Could you give us to your best recollection what some of these projects were? Jeb Magruder. This was, of course, the projects including wiretapping, electronic surveillance, and photography. There were projects relating to the abduction of individuals particularly members of radical groups. We were concerned about on the convention at San Diego. Mr. Liddy had a plan where the leaders would be abducted and detained in a place like Mexico and that they would then be returned to this country at the end of the convention. He had another plan which would have used women as agents to work with members of the Democratic National Committee at their convention and here in Washington and hopefully through their efforts they would obtain information from them. Samuel Dash, attorney. With regard to these women Senator Same Ervin (D North Carolina). I am going to ask the audience to please refrain from laughter or any kind of demonstration.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. With regard to the use of these women as agents, did this involve the use of a yacht at Miami? Jeb Magruder. He envisioned renting a yacht in Miami and having it set up for sound and photographs. Samuel Dash, attorney. And what would the women be doing at that time? Jeb Magruder. I really could only estimate, but Samuel Dash, attorney. Based on his project as your recollection, what did he indicate? Jeb Magruder. Well, they would have been, I think you could consider them call girls. Samuel Dash, attorney. Do you recall any project dealing with a mugging project involving demonstrators? Jeb Magruder. I do not specifically recall that. Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, what was the total budget that he presented at this meeting? Jeb Magruder. Approximately $1 million. Samuel Dash, attorney. How long did Mr. Liddy's presentation take? Jeb Magruder. Approximately 30 minutes.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. Magruder, what was Mr. Mitchell's reaction, Mr. Dean's reaction, and your own reaction when you heard this presentation? Jeb Magruder. I think all three of us were appalled. The scope and size of the project was something that at least, in my mind, was not envisioned. I do not think it was in Mr. Mitchell's mind or Mr. Dean's, although I can't comment on their state of mind at that time. Mr. Mitchell, in an understated way, which was his method of dealing with difficult, problems like this, indicated that this was not an acceptable project. Samuel Dash, attorney. And did Mr. Mitchell give Mr. Liddy any instructions at the end of this meeting? Jeb Magruder. He indicated that he would go back to the drawing boards and come up with a more realistic plan. Samuel Dash, attorney. So it would be true that, Liddy, at least, left that time without being discouraged from continuing to plan an intelligence operation. Jeb Magruder. I would say he was discouraged, but he, was given the right to come up with a more reasonable plan. Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you have any discussion with Mr. Liddy after the meeting? Jeb Magruder. Yes, he, left with John Dean and I on our way back to the committee and indicated his being disturbed because he had assumed that everyone would have accepted this project at face value. We indicated that certain of these things were inappropriate and that he would have to redo them and come back at a later date.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you make any report of the meeting to anyone after the meeting? Jeb Magruder. Yes, I made a report to Mr. Strachan at the White House. Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, did you disclose everything concerning that meeting to Mr. Strachan? Jeb Magruder. I don t recall at that meeting whether Mr. Liddy had had these charts put into 8 1/2 x 11 size to hand out. If he had, I would have sent those over to Mr. Strachan. I do remember discussing it. I don t recall in this meeting whether we had working papers and so I can't recall specifically. I think just on the phone I discussed the general nature of his proposal. Samuel Dash, attorney. Was this telephone conversation with Mr. Strachan in which you did report the general nature of the discussion consistent with your general reporting to Mr. Strachan as you did from time to time matters that should get to the White House staff? Jeb Magruder. Yes, everything that I did at the committee, everything that we did was staffed to Mr. Strachan so that he could alert other officials at the White House as to our activities.