Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
[00.52.35] Senator BAKER. And you went back and on June, 19, you had a series of meetings with who--with Mr. Mitchell? Mr. MAGRUDER. Well, On June 19, On the Monday, I met, with Gordon Strachan, John Dean, Gordon Liddy, and Hugh Sloan, primarily. Senator BAKER. Did everyoue of those, people know what had occurred, how it occurred? Mr. MAGRUDER. Mr. Strachan did, Mr. Dean did. I do not know whether Mr. -Sloan did or not. He has indicated he. did not. I accept that at face value. Mr. Liddy, of course, did. Senator BAKER. When did you first begin planning the coverup? Mr. MAGRUDER. I think there was no question that the coverup began that, Saturday when we, realized there was a, break-in. I do not think there, was ever any discussion that there would not be, a coverup. At least,, I did not participate in any discussion that indicated anything else except at one point where we possibly thought that, I might volunteer to become the key figure in the case. Senator BAKER. An historic decision to go forward with this plan was followed with another historic decision to cover it up without any great debate or discussion of the matter. Mr. MAGRUDER. That is correct, sir. Now, I think to be, fair, Senator I think at that, point in time, -you have to realize that; One, I -felt, and I can't speak for the, others, that, the President had no knowledge of this plan and consequently, if he had been, if it had gotten out that people like Mr. Mitchell and others had been involved at that point in time, I honestly thought that his reelection would be probably negated. Now, at, that time--- Senator BAKER. Did it ever occur to you--- Mr. MAGRUDER. I knew it was wrong, but I thought it was the best decision to make. Senator BAUER. Did it ever occur to you at that time., and I am not saying this to impugn your character or testimony, but I really want to know, did it ever occur to you that there might be, other alternatives, that one of them might be to report this directly to the President or to the FBI and make a, clean breast of it. at that, moment, that that might have less effect on the election, rather than more effect--- [00.54.47] Mr. MAGRUDER. As I said, we did indicate at one point that we might possibly do that. up to a certain point. I think it was felt that it ever reached Mr. Mitchell before the election, the President would lose, the, election. Since he was not, involved to my knowledge, I thought that was the best decision, I did not think it was a right decision, but I thought it was the best, decision. [00.55.08--THIS IS A VERY TELLING MOMENT, MAGRUDER ANTICIPATES THE TONE OF THE QUESTION AND HINTS AT SOMETHING LARGER] Senator BAKER. Did You think that was a decision for the President to make? Mr. MAGRUDER. Sir, I can't comment as to whether he, did or did not or was involved in I had no dealings directly with the President. Senator BAKER. I am not asking you whether he did or not. that question had been and I am sure will be asked again and again of You and other witnesses. What I am asking you IS whether or not it occurred to you that a decision of that matter ought to be a Presidential decision. Mr. MAGRUDER. I assumed that the higher authorities in the campaign and at the White House would handle it in a way which they thought, was best for the President and I accepted that position Senator BAKER. Is it your testimony, Mr. Magruder---- Mr. MAGRUDER. Since it was also mine, Senator BAKER. Yes, IS it your testimony that, after June 17, in a series of meetings with Mr. Mardian, Mr. testimony Mitchell, and Mr. Dean, there, was never any doubt about your course of action, you were going to go into a coverup operation? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, Sir. Senator BAKER. Was there ever any consideration of presenting this material to the President for his information and knowledge and for his determination? Mr. MAGRUDER. Again. Senator, I -would not have been in a position to do that. It would have been people at the Other level, I do not know what occurred between 'Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Haldeman, Mr. Ehrlichman, and the President, There is no way I would have known that question, an answer to that question, sir. Senator BAKER. Thank you. Mr. Chairman. Senator ERVIN. Senator Inouye. Senator INOUYE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Magruder, in a political campaign, numerous decisions are made in a day's time, hundreds. Some are very Important, some unimportant Some involve major policy decisions, Would you consider intelligence gathering in the major policy category? Mr. MAGRUDER. At that time, I did not. I was personally more involved in what I call the technical operations of the committee, Again. Of the $50 million Mr. Stans has indicated we spent that campaign. most of my time was spent on what I would call the substance of the campaign --the direct mail. the advertising. The intelligence gathering was what it was called, I think Mr. Reisner used the term "throw-away." [00.57.51]