Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
[00.30.27-DEAN continues to discuss the PAYMENT of the WATERGATE BURGLARS in exchange for their silence, the roles of HALDEMAN, EHRLICHMAN, and MITCHELL in the payments] When we came out of this private meeting, Ehrlichman told Mr. Minnick, who had been waiting to meet with him, that we had been talking about reorganization matters. This position was taken because Minnick was at Camp David for that purpose and it, would seem to be a very logical thing that I might be discussing with Haldeman and Ehrlichman In fact, in our private meeting there was no discussion of the reorganization at all. After a brief discussion about reorganization matters, I departed Camp David and returned to Washington and then flew to New York with Mr. Stans. Stans had told me some days earlier that he was going to meet with Mr. Mitchell to discuss a number of matters about winding down the reelection committee and asked me to join him. Senator ERVIN. There is a vote. I will stay here and proceed with the committee -and ask them to hold the vote until I can get over and somebody can come back and take, over so I can got over and vote. Mr. DEAN. Thank you. Stans had arranged for the meeting with -Mitchell to take place at the Metropolitan Club in 'New York City, because Stans was anxious to return to Washington as soon as the meeting Was over and did not, want to go down to Wall Street and get tied up in traffic. After the part of the meeting where Stans and Mitchell discussed their problems, Stans departed and I played the tape for Mitchell. I recall that he had only one reaction to the tape and it was to the effect that it was certainly a self-serving tape for Colson and he -wondered what the hell Hunt was talking about with regard to Mitchell's having, perjured himself. [00.32.09] I informed Mitchell that Ehrlichman and Haldeman had heard the tape and requested that He do what he could to solve, the problem I received no instruction or really any indication at all at that time from Mitchell regarding the. matters that Hunt had raised in his conversation -with Colson. To the best of my recollection, it was the first -week of December that, Mitchell called me and said that we would have to use some of the $350,000 fund to take care of the demands that were being made by Hunt and the others for money. He indicated that the money that was taken out would be returned in order that the fund could made whole, again. He asked me. to get Haldeman's approval. Prior to Mitchell's call, I had been informed by Colson's secretary that Mrs., Hunt had called her at home on a number of occasions to discuss this problem with her in order that she might pass it on to Colson and get something done about the problem. Colson had sent his secretary, Miss Joan Hall, to me with these messages indicating that he did not want to talk to her about it but that she should pass the, message on to me. I told Miss Hall not to talk to -Mrs. Hunt, and if necessary, get an unlisted phone number. [00.33.23] After the phone call from Mitchell, I called Haldeman and described the situation in full to him and that I had told Mitchell that I was very reluctant to see White House money used but that He indicated that it, would be returned as soon as they could raise some additional money, I told Haldeman that I did not think this- was a good idea to further involve the, White House in raising money for these men but I frankly had no answer. Haldeman said he did not like it either. but, since we had the assurance that the money would be returned, I should inform Strachan that he could make the delivery of the money to the committee Following my conversation with delivery Haldeman I called Strachan and told him he should speak with LaRue and make a delivery to LaRue pursuant to LaRue's instruction. I also informed Strachan that he should anticipate The fact that we would get this money back in The near future. I do not recall how much money was delivered by Strachan but I believe it. was either $40,000 or $70,000. This delivery did not satisfy the demands and they continued to be relayed by Mr. Bittman to Mr. O'Brien, who, in turn, would relay them to Mr. Mitchell. Mr. LaRue, and myself, in turn, would tell Haldeman and Ehrlichman of the demands. I call recall LaRue. and O'Brien coming to my office to discuss these and I told them that there could be no further use of the White House money and. in fact, to the contrary, Haldeman was expecting that that money which had been provided earlier was to be returned in full. [00.34.53] To the best of my recollection, it was some time shortly before the trial when the. demands reached the crescendo point once again. O'Brien and LaRue came to my office and told me of the seriousness of the, problem. Subsequently, Mitchell called me. and told me that once again I should ask Haldeman to make available the necessary funds I called Haldeman -and told him of Mitchell's request and the situation and told him that I thought it was time to get the entire money out of the. White House rather than continue as we were with every few weeks, further bites being taken out of the apple. After we discussed the matter Haldeman said, send the entire damn bundle to them but make sure that we get a receipt for $350,000. After receiving my Instructions from Haldeman I called Strachan and told him that he was to deliver the remainder of the money to LaRue but that he was to make. certain that he got a receipt, for $350,000. Strachan later told me that LaRue. had refused to give him a receipt. With each of these deliveries I am only aware of the fact that money was delivered to LaRue by Strachan. I have no knowledge of how LaRue in turn delivered it to those who were making demands upon the committee, nor do I know how much, in fact, was paid. [00.36.00]