Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
As I mentioned earlier in my statement, I met with the Attorney General, Richard Kleindienst, on either Monday the 19th or Tuesday the 20th. I recall that before this meeting I had been asked by Ehrlichman to talk with Kleindienst about the scope of the investigation and I had already had my meetings with Liddy and Strachan. When I went to Kleindienst's office I found him totally dismayed and angered that such a stupid thing could occur. He then told me that over the previous weekend, while at the Burning Tree Country Club, Liddy accompanied by Mr. Powell Moore had sought him out. He said he was incredulous when Liddy stated that John Mitchell had instructed him (Liddy) to tell Kleindienst to get the men who had been arrested out of jail. He told me that Liddy was rattled and upset and wanted to talk about the entire matter, but Kleindienst told me that he cut Liddy off and told him he would not talk with him.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
I told Mr. Kleindienst that I did not have all the facts but I was very concerned that this matter could lead directly to the President. I told him that I did not know if the President was involved, but I was concerned. I remember Kleindienst saying to me that he certainly hoped that the President was not involved or that I was not involved in this. And I responded that I certainly had not involved in any criminal activity. I told him that I had no idea that there was going to be a break in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and I agreed with his continued assertion of its stupidity. I told Kleindienst without giving him specifics that I did not know what would happen if the investigation led into the White House but that I suspected that the chances of reelecting the President would be severely damaged. Kleindienst called Henry Petersen and asked Petersen to come to his office. While we were waiting for Petersen, Kleindienst told me that my superiors at the White House never understood that once an investigation begins, it runs its full course. He said that he was always being asked to take care of this matter or that matter, as if by magic he could make something unpleasant go away. I said I was well aware of that attitude and that I had never been able to get through to anyone at the White House that things just didn t happen that way.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
When Petersen arrived at Kleindienst's office he gave a status report of the investigation. Kleindienst then related my concern to Petersen. Petersen was troubled by the case and the implications of it. Kleindienst had another meeting so Petersen and I believe the other meeting was in his office. So Petersen and I went into Mr. Kleindienst's back office and talked further. To the best of my recollection we did not discuss specifics, rather it was a general discussion. I told him I had no idea where this thing might end, but I told him I didn t think the White House could withstand a wide-open investigation the sum and substance of our conversation was that I had no idea how far this matter might go. But I had reason, without being specific, to suspect the worst. The meeting ended on that note that I hoped I was wrong.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 25, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
I do not recall ever reporting this meeting to Ehrlichman because he had a somewhat strained relationship with Kleindienst and I thought he would raise havoc that I did not have an assurance from Kleindienst that he would take care of everything. I did report, however, that I felt that Petersen would handle the matter fairly and not pursue a wide-open inquiry into everything the White House had been doing for 4 years. I made this statement not because of anything Petersen specifically said as much as the impression he gave me that he realized the problems of a wide-open investigation of the White House in an election year.