Watergate Hearings, June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean
Watergate Hearings, June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean. The Atmosphere at the White House prior to June 1972
Watergate Hearings, June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean
Mr. Samuel Dash, Chief Counsel. Mr. Dean, you have a statement you wish to present to the committee. John Dean. That is correct, Mr. Dash. But before I commence reading the rather lengthy statement I would just like to make a couple of comments. First of all, Mr. Chairman, and Mr. Vice Chairman and members of the committee, I sincerely wish I could say it is my pleasure to be here today but I think you can understand why it is not. Mr. Samuel Dash, Chief Counsel. Mr. Dean, could you please take the microphone and put it closer so we can all hear? John Dean. Certainly. It s a very difficult thing for me to testify about other people. It is far more easy for me to explain my own involvement in this matter, the fact that I was involved in obstructing justice, the fact, that I assisted another in perjured testimony, the fact that I made personal use of funds that were in my custody. It is far easier to talk about these, things myself than to talk about what others did. Some of these people I will be referring to are friends. Some are men I greatly admire and respect. And particularly with reference to the President of the United States, I would like to say this. It is my honest belief that while the President was involved, that he did not realize or appreciate at any time the implications of his involvement, and I think that when the facts come out I hope the President is forgiven.
Watergate Hearings, June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean
John Dean. Pursuant to the request, of the committee I will commence with a general description of the atmosphere that existed in the White House prior to June 1972. To one who was in the White House and became somewhat familiar with its workings, the Watergate matter was an inevitable outgrowth of a climate of excessive concern over the political impact of demonstrators, excessive concern over leaks, an insatiable appetite for political intelligence, all coupled with a do-it-yourself White House staff, regardless of the law. However, the fact that many of the elements of this climate culminated with the creation of a covert intelligence operation as a part of the President's reelection committee was not by conscious design, rather an accident of fate. These of course, are my conclusions, but I believe they are well founded in fact. This committee, however, is not interested in my conclusions. Rather it is interested in the facts as I know them. Rather than my characterizing the climate and attitudes, I shall, as requested, present the facts which themselves evidence the precursors of the Watergate incident.