Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
[00.57.51] Senator INOUYE. What about the coverup decision? Mr. MAGRUDER, That -was a major decision. Senator INOUYE. Who would make such a decision? ? Mr. MAGRUDER. Well, as I have said. I think, that everyoue who was involved without hesitation agreed to that coverup. Senator INOUYE. I would like, to remind you of January 4-5 1973, at which time you participated in a panel of the Harvard faculty club library sponsored by the Niemann fellowship program and the' Kennedy Institute. I will read from the transcript: [quoting] Jeb, you keep you keep saying "we decided." and so forth, I have a fair idea of who were making the decisions in the Muskie campaign or maybe the McGovern campaign, but I am really curious about the "we" in your campaign. How was your decision-making done? How much was the President personally involved', What was Mitchell's role" What was Haldeman's role? What decisions were you yourself making? How was as it all working'! MAGRUDER. I thought we always made it very clear how our decisions were made. There was basically a triad -of senior decision-making decision-makers--the he President, Haldeman, and John Mitchell until July of 1972. They were in constant consultation with each other over major activities. [end quoted section] Senator INOUYE. Would you like, to comment, sir? a Mr. MAGRUDER. I think that is absolutely consistent with what I have said. I said that Mr. Mitchell and other high officials agreed with this coverup and to my knowledge, I never knew and I think I clarified later in that statement at Harvard that I, myself, never had any direct dealings with the President. I did know that on key campaign decisions at times there was input from the President, I have no knowledge of any input from the President on this decision. Senator INOUYE. But you would consider this a key, major policy decision? Mr. MAGRUDER. Well, I think the coverup certainly was a key decision, yes. I think there is an inference there,, Senator, though, that is unfair. to the President. I did not say he had participated in every major decision. I said that Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Haldeman were the key conduits from our standpoint and that certainly, obviously, certain decisions the President was involved in. Senator INOUYE. They were in constant consultation with each other over major activities? Mr. MAGRUDER. That is correct. Senator INOUYE. In the intelligence-gathering decision, was the matter of national security involved? Mr. MAGRUDER. NO, sir, not necessarily although I think it should be. clear that in my response to Senator Baker, we. had correctly, I think, put together parts of what I would call the left-wing part of the Democratic Party with each of the anti-war activities and we were concerned about their response to the President's candidacy. Now, I do not recall that national security, but I do think it does relate to some. of the reasons why we did get into an extensive intelligence operation. [01.01.24] Senator INOUYE. Learned commentators have suggested that we have at the present time in the White House, two competing organizations, one headed by Mr. 'Mitchell and the, other, by Mr. Haldeman. Did you have two competing organizations? Mr. MAGRUDER. No; I would disagree with that completely. To my knowledge, in every meeting I ever attended with Mr. Haldeman and Mr. Mitchell, they were on extremely good terms. I never saw, any difficulty in Mr. Haldeman or Mr. Mitchell agreeing. In fact, I think that is one reason Mr. Mitchell agreed to run the, campaign because he, knew Mr. Haldeman would be his chief day-to-day contact at the White House, I disagree with that statement. That has been bandied about, I know. I do not agree with that. Senator INOUYE. Is there a possibility that one group of people, are trying to make another group the scapegoats for this? Mr. MAGRUDER. I cannot--i do not think so. I do not see any evidence of that specific type of activity. Obviously, everyoue now is basically on his own and consequently, it is difficult to say anything is Of coordinated, concerted effort, at this time. I would think most individuals are operating independently of each other at this time- [01.02.48] Senator INOUYE. Several people have been involved in the Watergate and its aftermath, and in most cases, those, involved or identified have Come forth and spoken, either voluntarily or involuntarily. But one, man stands out. He has remained silent. No one seems to be able to move him. Mr. Liddy. Why is he keeping silent, do you know? Mr. MAGRUDER. I have no idea. He is under appeal. I assume he feels he has a better opportunity under appeal than he does by speaking Out now. Senator INOUYE. In your testimony, you discussed Executive, clemency taking care. of the family, paying expenses. Was Mr. Liddy promised anything? Mr. MAGRUDER. My assumption is that he was promised what all the others -were. Senator INOUYE. What were they promised, sir? Mr. MAGRUDER. I do not, know. I only know what I talked about relating to myself Senator INOUYE. What were you promised. sir?, Mr. MAGRUDER. Well, as I indicated before, I talked about, salary, taking care of the family. legal cost. potential Executive clemency, assistance in getting a job, and so on--that type of thing. Senator INOUYE. We have, received testimony that Mr. Strachan was a very important conduit. that. he -was the. liaison---- [01.04.11--TAPE OUT]