Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
[00.20.03] Senator WEICKER. Official sources being what Mr. MAGRUDER. Being the Justice Department. Senator WEICKER. Did you know of any influence exerted by the White House over U.S. attorneys and/or the grand jury? Mr. MAGRUDER. No: I do not. AS a matter of fact, at least in relation to the U.S. attorneys 1 got the opposite impression. Senator WEICKER. You got the opposite impression from whom? Mr. MAGRUDER. Pardon? Senator WIECKER You got the opposite impression from whom? Mr. MAGRUDER. From Mr. Dean, primarily Senator WEICKER. Well, if he gave. you the opposite impression so far as the U.S. attorneys were concerned, who was he talking about when he indicated that you would not be indicted? Mr. MAGRUDER. You were indicating whether there was any influence, My indication from Mr. Dean was that they had no influence over the U.S. attorney. But when evidently the U.S. attorneys had decided not to indict me after the August 16 grand jury appearance, and they transmitted that to the appropriate officials, Mr. Dean evidently -was notified of that fact. Senator WEICKER. Did you ever learn that. Mr. McCord Was receiving information from the Internal Security Division of the Justice Department ? Mr. MAGRUDER. I do not think I knew that before I read it in the papers. But I could not, be--I would not, be sure about. that as a singular fact. He did receive information that he passed on to us at times which I think now, in recollecting probably came from that Division. Senator WEICKER. Now, what did Mr. Strachan do before he went to work for Mr. Haldeman? Mr. MAGRUDER. He worked for me at, the, White House. Senator WEICKER. Now, in the, earliest, part of your testimony this morning, and this will be, a matter- of the. transcript which I have not had an opportunity to review. but, relying on my recollection, in setting the, stage of personnel at the. top level you indicated Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Strachan, liaison to Mr. Haldeman and I thought you said Mr. Haldeman as liaison. Mr., MAGRUDER. Mr. Haldeman was the official, the. senior White House official who dealt, directly and was responsible for--in direct dealings with our committee. Mr. Strachan was his aide in doing the, day-to-day leg work in relation to this. Senator WEICKER. And you indicated during the course of your testimony that you reported matters to Mr. Strachan which you cared to have come to the attention of Mr. Haldeman is that correct? Mr. MAGRUDER. I think what I stated- Senator WEICKER. I am trying to establish the chain. Mr. MAGRUDER. What I think I stated this morning was that all documents and all activity that we engaged in by prior agreement with Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Haldeman went, directly to Mr. Strachan for Mr. Haldeman's perusal or for whatever action he, may deem appropriate. Senator WEICKER. And Mr. Haldeman's function then would be to liaison with the President. is that not, correct? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. [00.23.36--the hypothetical link to President NIXON] Senator WEICKER. All right Now, we are going to try to walk through the particular series of event's all of which were, referred to in your testimony this morning. And they all relate to the conversations that you had with Mr. Strachan. Is it true, Oat the first, conversation that you had with Mr. Strachan about the Liddy project was after the January 22 meeting? Mr. MAGRUDER. To my recollection would have been after. because I cannot recall discussing in any detail the Liddy project with Liddy until he presented it, to Mr. Mitchell. Senator WEICKER. Or any---- Mr. MAGRUDER. There probably were discussions -with Mr. Strachan about the fact that Mr. Liddy was going to do intelligence work for us before that date, but not as to the specifies of his proposal since I saw it for the first time at that meeting. Senator WEICKER. Did you discuss then, I just want to establish this without going into it in great depth unless you care to go into it, are you indicating to me that there might have been discussions with Mr. Strachan about the type of' it project -which was specifically presented to you. at the January 27 meeting prior to January 27? Mr. MAGRUDER. 'No. I simply--I am sure we discussed Mr. Liddy's intelligence-gathering role but since I did not know the specifics of his project, it must have been in general terms. Senator WEICKER. All right. SO we can start then definitely after the January 27 meeting You did report details of that meeting? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. [00.25.30]