Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
[00.25.50] Mr. DASH. What was your discussion with Mr., Mitchell in New York? Mr. MAGRUDER. Well, I went through all of the problems I thought could occur because of the problems that, renewed interest in this case -would bring from your committee and from the grand jury and indicated what, should I do, and he indicated that I should hold, that, he would take care of things, that, everything would be taken care of. Now, at that time I realized that he, was no longer directly involved at the White House, as he had been. and so I asked to see Mr. Haldeman with him the next day he was going to Washington. Mr. DASH. But, at that meeting, Mr. Magruder, what did you ask Mr. Mitchell, to assure you of ? Mr. MAGRUDER. Again I asked for the same assurances of salary and being taken care of if I had to go a away for any period of time. Mr. DASH. Did you mention Executive clemency? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes. I did. Mr. DASH. Then you said you asked for a meeting With Mr. Haldeman? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes. I feel that it would be appropriate since this was something now that he was more directly involved on a day-to-day basis. Mr. DASH. Did you have, that meeting with Mr. Haldeman? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, I did. Mr. DASH. When? Mr. MAGRUDER. On the following day, Wednesday, Mr. DASH. Who was present,? Mr. MAGRUDER. Mr. Haldeman, Mr. Mitchell, and myself. Mr. DASH. What, was discussed? Mr. MAGRUDER; Well, we. discussed the same things that we had discussed with Mr. Mitchell, that, I discussed with Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Haldeman, was very careful to indicate to me that he would help me in any way as a friend but could make no commitments for the President indicated that the real problems were differences of opinion over meetings. particularly the January and February meetings, Where, Of course, my view was that since the, three, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Dean, and I, had' agreed to my testimony that they, therefore, should stay with that, agreement. Mr. Mitchell indicated, of course, he was willing to do this but -Mr. Dean indicated that he had some question about it, Mr. DASH. But Mr. Magruder, at this time everybody knew. Mr. MAGRUDER. Mr. Haldeman--- Mr. DASH. Everybody knew that, that agreement was an agreement based on a false story. was that not true? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, that is correct, Mr. DASH. And Mr. Haldeman knew that, then, did he not? Mr. MAGRUDER. I cannot recall in my meeting with him in January whether--yes, I am sure I did discuss those meetings, yes. Mr. DASH. So the attempt to get together and agree on that meeting was an attempt to get together and agree on at least from Your point of view, would be the full story? Mr. MAGRUDER. That is correct, Mr. Haldeman recommended that Mr. Dean and Mr. Mitchell and I meet, which we. did that afternoon. Mr. DASH. What was the result of that meeting? Mr. MAGRUDER. I realize that Mr. r. Dean had different opinions then as to what he, would do probably, and so then my--I thought that probably it was more, appropriate that even on that, Monday that I get separate counsel so that I could get, advice independent of the individuals who had participated with me in these activities. Mr. DASH, In other words, you really could not agree at the meeting with Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Dean. Mr. MAGRUDER. Well, it was cooperative. Mr. DASH. What was Mr. Dean's position? Mr. MAGRUDER. He would not indicate a position. Mr. DASH. All right. Did there come a time. when you did get independent counsel? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, Mr. Parkinson, who was counsel of the committee, recommended Mr. Bierbower and on that Saturday I went to meet him, he was out of the country, and I met him and we agreed, he agreed to be my counsel that Saturday evening. Mr. DASH. Did there come, a time when you decided that you should go to the U.S. attorney's office? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, that is correct. Mr. DASH. When did you go to the U.S. attorney's office? Mr. MAGRUDER. We agreed, they discussed the things with the U.S. attorney, I think on April 12 and I saw them informally on April 13 and saw them formally on April 14 on Saturday, April 14. Mr. DASH. At that time did you tell everything to the assistant attorneys? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, I cooperated. Mr. DASH. Who did you meet with? Mr. MAGRUDER. Mr. Silbert, Mr. Glanzer, and -Mr. Campbell. Mr. DASH. Did you tell them everything you are, now telling this committee? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes. Mr. DASH. Did you have a meeting afterward with Mr. Ehrlichman? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, Mr. Ehrlichman called while I was with the' U.S. attorneys and asked me would I come, over and talk to him about the case. We talked to the U.S. attorneys and they agreed as a courtesy that we should and Mr. Bierbower and the other attorney with Mr. Bierbower and I went to see Mr. Ehrlichman that, afternoon. Mr. DASH. Then, according to that meeting that you had with Ehrlichman what happened? Mr. MAGRUDER. We told him in rather capsule form basically what I told you this morning. Mr. DASH. All right. Now, I have just, two final questions. I want to go back to the, time when you came back from California to Washington, putting you back to around June -24. Do you recall having a meeting with Mr. Stans and with Mr. Mitchell? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, Sir. [00.30.45]