Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 25, 1973
[00.40.35-EFFORT to find a job for MAGRUDER to keep him from testifying that STRACHAN, speaking for HALDEMAN, and allegedly the PRESIDENT, told him to authorize money for the LIDDY plan] Haldeman assigned Mr. Higby to the, task. Higby called me to discuss the general type of job that I thought would satisfy Magruder and then Higby instructed Mr. Terry Jones, the head of the White House personnel operation, to find an available, high level, nonconfirmable position for Magruder. During the time when 'Mr. Jones was reviewing all the potential jobs for Magruder, I recall that Magruder dropped by my office and told me. he had discussed his potential problems in full with both Higby and Haldeman. He asked me for my assistance and support in finding him a job. I assured 'Magruder I would help. He also indicated that 'Mitchell was trying to help get the job matter resolved. On February 28, Mr. Jones submitted a memorandum to Higby and myself, a copy of which I have submitted to the committee. Mr. DEAN. After Haldeman reviewed the memorandum. A meeting was scheduled for Magruder to meet, with Haldeman and I was asked to attend. This meeting occurred during the first week of March, and Magruder explained to Haldeman at the meeting that he, did not -want to leave Washington. Haldeman told Magruder that his working at the Bicentennial was not realistic, but to consider the position at the Department of Commerce as an Assistant to the Secretary for Policy Development. Magruder said he was interested but wanted some assurance from Haldeman that if he made it through the Senate hearings as he had the grand jury and trial, that he could have a better job later. Haldeman Said that he could not -make a firm promise, but that he would do all he personally could do to assist. This was good enough for Magruder. Haldeman said that Mr. Jones would 'be told to proceed with Secretary Dent 'to get the position at, the Commerce Department finalized. On March 5, 1 received a call from Secretary Dent regarding his hiring Magruder. I did not want to tell Secretary Dent that Magruder was totally free from future problems so I was evasive with him. I hinted that Magruder might have some problems. Because I regretted misleading him, I prepared a memorandum for my files--something I seldom do because I felt Magruder was, In fact, going to have problems. In fact, I thought everyone was going to have problems. I have submitted a copy of this memorandum reflecting this conviction with Secretary Dent to the committee. [00.43.20] Mr. DEAN. I would now like to turn to the meetings. I had with the President in February and March of this year. I have described to the committee several matter,, that followed the La Costa meeting which directly involved Presidential decisionmaking and Presidential involvement I would now like to turn to my direct dealings with the President which began in late February of 1973 with regard to the Watergate and related matters. I feel I can best set forth what transpired at these meetings by discussing what occurred at each meeting MEETING. OF FEBRUARY 27 This was the first meeting I had had with the President since my September 15, 1972. meeting which related to the Watergate It was at this meeting that the President directed that I report directly to him regarding all Watergate matters. He told me that this matter was taking too much time from Haldeman's and Ehrlichman's normal duties and he also told me that they were principals in the matter and, therefore I could be more Objective than they. The President then. told me of his meetings with Senator Baker and the Attorney General He told me that Senator Baker had requested that the Attorney General be his contact point and that I should keep in contact with the Attorney General to make sure that the Attorney General and Senator Baker were working together. He asked me to follow Up immediately to determine if the Attorney General and Baker had met. I informed him that I had earlier or discussed this with the Attorney General and the Attorney General was planning to meet -with Senator Baker and Senator Ervin to discuss turning over FBI data regarding the Watergate investigation. A brief discussion followed in which the President recounted. what had already been reported 'to me by Haldeman. that he had told Senator Baker that he would not permit White House staff to appear before the Select Committee, rather he would only permit the taking Of written interrogatories. He asked me if I agreed with this and I said that written interrogatories were something that could be handled whereas appearances might create serious problems. [00.45.25-NIXON's resolve to continue coverup] He told me he, would never let Haldeman and Ehrlichman go to the Hill. He also told me that Senator Gurney would be very friendly to the White, House and that it would not be necessary to contact him because the President said Senator Gurney would know what to do on his own. [00.45.40-NIXON compliments DEAN on the execution of the coverup, encourages him to continue it.] On the 'way out of his office he told me I had done an excellent job of dealing with this matter during the campaign; that it had been the only issue that McGovern had had and the Democrats had tried to make something out of it but to no avail. I told him as we were walking together out, of the office. that I had only managed to contain the, matter during the campaign, but I was not sure it could be contained indefinitely. He then told me that we would have had to fight back and he -was confident that, I could do the job.