Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
[00.58.13] Senator MONTOYA. Then, you had an April meeting from which you emerged and went down to the CRP and told. I think Mr. Porter that the secrecy was out and now you could divulge everything? Mr. MAGRUDER. That is correct Senator MONTOYA. You told Mr. Porter that Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes. sir. Senator MONTOYA. Now, who participated at. this White House meeting in April when this decision was made or communicated to you? Mr. MAGRUDER. Let, me move back. On the, Wednesday before I think it was a Wednesday., I called Mr. Haldeman's office,. I think this conversation is taped and I talked to Hibgy, who was; his assistant, and I said , "Larry, I have, as you know, specific problems and it is very difficult for me to continue my on this matter. Could you ask Bob if there are any instructions that I should have that would be beneficial to me? I was now asking for guidance from Mr. Haldeman. Mr. Higby came back to me and said, "Yes. Bob can't talk to you but he wants You to know that the President wants you to tell the truth," and --or he wants you to tell the truth," I am not sure whether it was the President or he, "and that you Should take the advice of your lawyers." Then, on Thursday and Friday my lawyers dealt 'with the U.S. attorney's office. On Saturday I met with the U.S. attorneys in the Morning and through the afternoon. Mr. Ehrlichman called my attorney's office and asked me if I would come to his office. The U.S. attorneys and my attorneys agreed that that would be appropriate as a courtesy. We went, my two attorneys and myself went to Mr. Ehrlichman's office and, in effect, gave him a capsule version of what I have discussed today. My understanding is that he taped that conversation also. Senator MONTOYA. Who called You at the U.S. attorney's office, Mr. Haldeman or Mr. Ehrlichman? Mr. MAGRUDER. No, it, was Mr. Higby, -who was Mr. Ehrlichman's assistant, called, as I recall, for ;Mr. Ehrlichman I correct, that It might have been Mr. Hall, who was Mr. Ehrlichman's assistant. It might have been one of their assistants, asking that I talk to Mr. Ehrlichman. Senator MONTOYA. Did you talk to Mr. Ehrlichman then? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. Senator MONTOYA. From the U.S. attorney's office, or did you go from there, to the White House? Mr. MAGRUDER. We were in my attorney's office with the U.S. attorney. We went, from there to the White House and met in Mr. Ehrlichman office, my two attorneys and myself. Senator MONTOYA. What was that -meeting about? Mr. MAGRUDER. We told them what we had told the U.S. attorney basically, and Mr. Ehrlichman said, "The, President wants you to tell the, truth as you have already done and wishes you well," something of that kind. Senator MONTOYA. NOW, Mr. Magruder, -Mr. Porter testified before this committee and also gave, a statement that you had told him that you had committed perjury 12 times. Is that true? Mr. MAGRUDER. I think the 12 was figure of speech. I have learned I have become fairly expert in matters of this kind--that since perjury is committed each time you tell a story, not the same story. In other words, you can tell the same story 10 times; that is 10 counts of perjury I think I told an incorrect story quite, a number of times, so consequently, I indicated to him that I had committed perjury 12 times, not meaning 12 specifically, but meaning quite a few times Senator MONTOYA. Quite a few times about, the same thing? Is that what you mean? Mr. . MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. In other words, you know, once in front of the grand jury, then again in front of the same grand jury, and so on. Senator MONTOYA. Now, going back to the coverup sequences there were, quite, a few variations and quite a few changes made in the coverup, were there not, as the exigencies would arise? Mr. MAGRUDER. Well, we had to move. very quickly before the FBI got to Mr. Porter and myself on the basic. framework Once the FBI got to us, we. had to pretty well stay with that at, general story. We, made some changes, but, basically, the coverup story we used was developed before, our interviews with the FBI. Senator MONTOYA. Well, you used a coverup story before the grand jury and during the trial, is that correct? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir; that is correct. Senator MONTOYA. Was the matter of executive privilege discussed as part, of this coverup during your meetings with Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Haldeman, Mr. Dean, or Mr. Ehrlichman? Mr. MAGRUDER. NO, I never--no one brought up that, Subject to me. I had indicated that, I would not, ever invoke executive privilege because as I understand it, I certainly was not qualified. Senator MONTOYA. No, but. did they discuss it as a shelter for themselves? Mr. MAGRUDER. Not with me, sir, no. Senator MONTOYA. NOW, Mr.--- Mr. MAGRUDER. Excuse me. Senator, -Mr. Dean may have mentioned a couple of times that that might be an approach he might take, yes, but that would be the only one that I call remember. Senator MONTOYA. Now, what specific part did Mr. Dean have in the, Coverup? Mr. MAGRUDER. Well Senator, he was one of the people, that dealt with this situation and dealt with me directly and dealt -with Mr. Mitchell, dealt with Mr. LaRue. as to all of the, coverup. The story 'was obviously only one and probably the easiest, part Of the coverup, taking care of, handling of the defendants was what was most difficult. My understanding from him and from others was that he, was involved in all aspects of this coverup.; And as I gathered--as you gathered from the newspapers, there were other activities that I was not aware of involving the FBI and. the CIA and so on. that Mr. Dean involved in. I was not aware of any of those activities. Senator MONTOYA. When did you quit working for the CRP or the Inaugural Committee? [01.04.21--TAPE OUT]