Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
[00.24.20-The P.R. strategy to counter the ERVIN COMMITTEE] At one point, Haldeman suggested that the reelection committee hire private investigators to dig out information about the Democratic campaigns. I raised the wisdom of this because I thought it was more political surveillance. The matter was left unresolved. There was lengthy discussion of the importance, of the minority Counsel. Mr. Moore related back to some episodes during the McCarthy hearings. Both Ehrlichman and Haldeman felt very strongly about having a minority counsel, who would work with the White House. A- number of suggestions were Made and discussed Ehrlichman thought that Mr. Fred Buzhardt would be an excellent choice. I Was asked to come up with some names for consideration as soon as possible and report back. [00.25.05-THE CRUX OF THE MATTER] It was toward the end of the meeting on Sunday afternoon, February 11, that Ehrlichman raised the bottom line question : would the seven Watergate defendants remain silent through the Senate hearings? I say this, was a bottom line question because the entire strategy was based on this continued silence. I reported that I could not answer the question because I did not know. I said that I understood that they were still demanding more, money, but as we had discussed previously, there -was no more money available. I told both Haldeman and Ehrlichman that I had carried their messages to Mitchell, that this is Something that they would have to take care of--I think the transcript is confused, this is something he should take care of, he, Mitchell, but that they were aware of Mitchell's feelings that this was something that the While House should be concerned about. I said as far as I was concerned, that they would have to take this up with Mitchell themselves in that Mitchell felt it was a matter for the White House. [00.26.13] At this point, Ehrlichman told Mr. Moore-who was hearing all this for the first time-that he, Moore, should go to Mitchell and simply lay it out that it was Mitchell's responsibility to raise the necessary funds for these men. It had been decided at the outset of the first day of the meetings that Moore would go to New York and report to Mitchell on what had been resolved regarding dealing with the Senate hearings, and now Ehrlichman was telling Moore that an important element of his visit with Mitchell would be for him to get Mitchell to raise the necessary future funds for the seven Watergate defendants. The meeting concluded on this item and Moore and I departed to. together. I told him as we walked back to our rooms that I was very distressed that this had come up in his presence, but that he now had a very real idea of the dimensions of the situation. I told him I did not think that be should get involved in carrying Such a, message to Mitchell. Mr. Moore was concerned, but felt that he had an obligation to do what Ehrlichman and Haldeman expected of him, but he did not understand why they thought that he could change Mitchell's mind. Shortly after Moore and I departed, I went to Los Angeles to join my wife at her mother's home and we left for Florida the next morning, February 12,1973. FOLLOWING UP on THE LA COSTA MEETINGS. While in Florida, I received calls from Higby, Moore, Johnson, and others following up on the matters that had been set in motion at the La -Costa meeting. [00.27.45] On February 11, 1 received a call from Johnson, who informed me that he had talked with Senator Baker by telephone. [shot of Sen. BAKER] He told me that he had informed Senator Baker that he would serve as the White House liaison to the Select Committee. Johnson reported that Senator Baker had told him that a personal visit was not necessary, that they could talk when be returned to Washington from Tennessee, Johnson said that, he had discussed the minority counsel position -with Senator Baker, and the Senator said he did not want any official input -from the White House and had already given some thought to the qualifications be was seeking in his minority counsel. [00.28.19-shot of THOMPSON smoking pipe, listening to this account of the colossal arrogance of the White House] Johnson reported that the Senator had 50 names already under consideration and planned to make his selection in the next few days. Johnson told me that he didn't think Senator Baker had ruled out the White House's making some suggestions, but -we would have to move quickly. Mr. Johnson also reported that Senator Baker had told him that the White House should be concerned about the President's posture, vis-a-vis the Senate inquiry. Finally, he reported that Senator Baker had indicated that he and the chairman would be getting together after the recess and would discuss staffing and procedural matters at that time. I Passed this report to Haldeman via, Mr. Higby. On 'February 14, Paul 'O'Brien came to visit me in Florida, He arrived in the evening and we went out, to dinner. Nothing of substance was discussed that evening other than some hand wringing over the general situation. O'Brien came to Florida to get a report from me on what had occurred- at the La Costa meeting. He told Me that Mitchell wanted him, O'Brien. to get my version of the meetings, as well as the report he was getting from Mr. Moore. [00.29.28]