Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
[00.18.00-plans to deal with the ERVIN COMMITTEE] Haldeman and Ehrlichman were disappointed that the efforts to influence the Senate resolution creating the. Select Committee had failed. as well as the White House efforts to recommend members to the Select Committee. Thus, the focus of the discussion was how to deal with the committee henceforth. It was during the, morning meeting In Ehrlichman's office at San Clemente that there was a discussion of the members of this committee. Ehrlichman said that the, White House could not look for any help from the, Democrats. I recall that, when we were discussing the Democratic members of this committee and I read from the. Congressional Directory the data on Senator Inouye, Ehrlichman said that his name, is pronounced "Ain't-no-way" and then said. indeed, there ain't-no-way he's going to give us anything but problems, [Laughter.] [Sen. INOUYE chuckles] The Republican members of this 'committee -were also discussed in that morning meeting. It was Ehrlichman -who was doing most of the assessing, but occasionally Haldeman would add a comment [00.09.10] Senator Weicker was an independent, -who could give the White House problems. Senator Gurney 'Would help the White House and would not have to be, told to do so. [GURNEY sitting placidly, appears not to be affected by the fact that the White House considered him a complete stooge.] I recall that Ehrlichman said that Senator Gurney needs the White House because former Congressman Cramer may take him on in his next primary. Senator Gurney was considered a Sure friend and protector of the' President's interest. Senator Baker was an unknown, and neither Haldeman nor Ehrlichman knew which way he might go. [00.19.34-BAKER gets a chuckle out of this] [Laughter.] Senator ERVIN. The audience will please refrain from demonstrating in respect to the testimony. Mr. DEAN. I might add that in a subsequent discussion I had -with the President he also reached a -similar conclusion regarding the, Republicans. He thought that Senator Baker might help, but. he, was not sure. He was confident, however, that Senator Gurney would protect the White House and would do so out of political instinct and not have to be persuaded to do so. The long and short of this morning discussion was that, the White House. had one friend--Senator Gurney--and the possibility of wooing and winning another. [00.20.19] Later, after the meeting had reconvened at La Costa. the discussion turned to a, general approach about how to deal with the Select Committee. Ehrlichman suggested that It should be publicly analogized to the ITT hearings--- that is, the hearings were a waste of time to the, Senate, they were, very partisan, and ultimately repudiated by the Senate. 'when Kleindienst was confirmed. [00.20.45] After a general discussion Ehrlichman and Haldeman concluded that the theory for dealing with this committee, should be as follows: The White House will take a public posture, of full cooperation, but privately will attempt to restrain the investigation and make it as difficult *as possible, to get information and witnesses. A behind-the-scenes media effort would be made to make the Senate inquiry appear very partisan. The ultimate goal would be to discredit the hearings and reduce their impact by attempting to show that the. Democrats have, engaged in the same type of activities. [00.21.18-allegation of entreaties by the White House to influence Sen. BAKER-Sen. BAKER seen listening to DEAN'S statement] During the meeting on Saturday afternoon of February 11, Ehrlichman instructed me to call Wally Johnson and tell Johnson that that at, he was to go visit -with Senator Baker during the congressional recess to find out, how Senator Baker planned to operate--that is, 'was he going to be, friend or foe--and to ask Senator Baker how the White. House could aid him, particularly regarding the selection of the minority counsel. Prior to making the call, I asked Ehrlichman if I should arrange to give Johnson some., kind of briefing before, he went to see Senator Baker, so that he -would know fact from fiction when talking with the. Senator about, the Watergate. Ehrlichman said that was not necessary. I called Mr. Johnson while, the discussions proceeded and passed the message to him. He said he would proceed immediately. At some point in the meeting, Ehrlichman raised the, question of whether or not the Select Committee was going to be able to obtain the, grand jury minutes and other investigative records from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, I said I did not know and then a discussion of possible legal options ensued. No one really knew what the law might be, regarding this matter, but Ehrlichman stated that the Attorney General will have to be told that. the Justice Department should resist turning over such records. and that I should get word back to the attorneys for the defendants that they should fight the release of these investigative records to the Senate on the grounds that it would have an adverse impact on their appeals. [00.22.51-in the days before he was a candidate himself...] When discussing how to handle the press coverage of the, Senate hearings, Haldeman suggested that Pat Buchanan be used as a watchdog of the press. Mr. Buchanan could prepare speeches on the biased press coverage. He could write op-ed articles and actually attend the hearings and be. a White House spokesman to take the pressure off Ziegler's daily briefings It was decided by Haldeman and Ehrlichman Mr. Baroody's White House attack group--a group of media-oriented White House aides who meet virtually every morning to determine how to counter adverse news or push White House, programs-should not be involved. There was also discussion during the La Costa meeting of the role the reelection committee would play during the Senate, hearings. It was decided that that the reelection committee should have a new titular head. Several were suggested and rejected and the matter was left unresolved However, it was decided that the reelection committee should beef up its legal and public relations staffs Paul O'Brien and Ken Parkinson should be given any additional legal staff they wished, as they would be responsible for handling witnesses from the committee who would be called to the Hill to testify. Mr. Van Shumway, who had been handling press relations for the reelection committee, would be asked to remain on and provided with any additional staff he needed. Mr. Moore would have general oversight of Mr. Shumway's operation. [00.24.20]