Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
[00.52.58-Problems in convincing Jim McCORD to participate in the COVERUP] Caulfield told me that McCord was very adamant about his plans to gain. his freedom through the, phone calls that he, had made to the foreign embassies. I told Caulfield I really did not understand why McCord thought he could got his case dismissed by reason of the wiretaps taps, but I would gave the matter some thought. Caulfield told me that it was his assessment that McCord would only respond to a direct request from the President. I told Caulfield that he couldn't make such a statement because I had no such request from the President, but suggested he meet again with McCord and keep him happy by telling him we were checking out the matter of his conversations with the Embassies. Later that, afternoon, Caulfield reported again to me that McCord was only interested in his theory about the calls to the Embassies. I told Caulfield to keep in touch with McCord, but I couldn't promise anything about his calling the, Embassies. I told Caulfield to have McCord give him a memo on why he, thought that his calls to the Embassies would result in dismissal of his case. I called O'Brien and told him what had transpired. On Monday morning I reported to Mitchell what Caulfield had reported. It was sometime during this period that a result of my reports of Caulfield meetings with McCord, That O'Brien, Mitchell, and Mr. Alch discussed having F. Lee Bailey, Alch's partner meet with McCord and inform him that he would personally handle his case on appeal, Mitchell was to talk -with Mr. Bailey about this. I do not know what happened regarding- this proposed plan. On January 19 or 20. Mr. Caulfield brought me copies of McCord's memo regarding his intercepted conversations to the embassies. I have submitted these documents to the committee. Mr. I DEAN. I never did anything" with these other than inform Mitchell I had received them and I showed them to Mr. O'Brien in my office. I do not recall ever talking with anyone at the Department of Justice. regarding McCord's proposal. At this time, I concluded McCord was going to do what he thought best for himself. [00.55.14] HANDLING LIDDY'S CALL TO KROGH--JANUARY On January 4. Gordon Liddy called Mr. Krogh. Krogh's secretary received the call and Liddy said that he had received a letter from an investigator for the Senate Commerce Committee about his relationship with Krogh. The letter was part of an investigation conducted by the committee staff in connection with hearings for the Under Secretary of Transportation post. Liddy wished to speak to Krogh, but the call was not put through to Krogh. Krogh came to my office and asked what he should do. He said he wanted to be able to testify at his confirmation hearing that he had not spoken with Liddy since long before the Watergate incident. Krogh that his secretary should return the call. We then worked out a response which Krogh wrote down for his secretary and she returned the call. I have submitted to the committee the document prepared by Mr. Krogh's secretary after the call was returned to Mr. Liddy--and I might note, that, was not, in the exhibits, when I assembled them last night, but, I do know where it is, on the table at, home. Senator BAKER. I take it you Will supply that. document later in your testimony Mr. DEAN. Yes, Senator I will. Senator BAKER. Thank very much. Mr. DEAN. On Friday afternoon. January 5, I received a report from O'Brien that, Liddy had been rather miffed and annoyed that Krogh had been unwilling to speak with him. I reported this to Krogh, who asked if I would personally see what I could do, because, Krogh felt sorry for Liddy but, just couldn't talk with him, I' agreed I would do something and on Saturday January 6. 1 called Liddy from my house at his home. It was a brief call In which I told him the reason Krogh had not called and told him that Krogh had great sympathy for his plight. Liddy -said he understood. The only thing I can recall Liddy saying to Me Was that he hoped that there would be some money forthcoming for his lawyer. I said I would pass that. message along. I also expressed sympathy over his situation and the call ended. I later reported to Krogh that Liddy understood why he did not speak with Him personally and Krogh appreciated it. [00.57.37] RETRIEVING 'CIA MATERIAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Now I am going to turn to the receiving, the retrieving of CIA materials from the Department of Justice in connection with the investigation. As a result of a conversation I had with Ehrlichman. I was asked to attempt to have the CIA retrieve from the Department of Justice information relating to Hunt's dealings with the CIA. To understand Ehrlichman's request. I must provide some background. During the course of the Watergate investigations. the prosecutors had requested materials from the CIA and because of the fact that this material related to the White House, the CIA had informed the White House of the request. The first Incident when this came up was regarding the fact of who had made The initial request to the CIA to assist Hunt. [00.58.30]