Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, going back to my next question. I think you have answered the question that you did not know that between the period of January to June 1972 that Magruder according to his own testimony here, was giving reports to Mr. Gordon Strachan of the Liddy plan and in fact the break-in and the fruits of the break-in. Now in fact, after the June 17 break-in and more specifically on June 19, I think your statement indicates that you were told by Mr. Strachan that he destroyed, at the direction of Mr. Haldeman, certainly intelligence reports that came from the CRP. Is that not true? John Dean. That is correct. Samuel Dash, attorney. So at that time you did have some knowledge of Mr. Strachan's knowledge? John Dean. That is correct.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. Could you tell the committee exactly what Mr. Strachan's role in the White House was and his activities and responsibilities? John Dean. Mr. Strachan was placed on Mr. Haldeman's staff to serve as the liaison individual from the White House to the reelection committee. And to deal with other members of the White House staff who were working on problems relating directly to the political phases of the reelection problem. I was aware of the fact that he was having frequent contact with Mr. Magruder regarding the reelection committee that he had received copies of documents that any of us would send regarding election law problems or other people who send to the reelection committee so that he was aware of everything that was going out of the White House as well as coming into the White House from the reelection committee.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. How close was his relationship with Mr. Haldeman? What were his responsibilities to Mr. Haldeman? John Dean. Well, I assume that from the time he went on it was a regular reporting relationship. Mr. Haldeman is an excellent manager of people. I recall that one document I submitted to you yesterday of a meeting that occurred in May of 1971 evidences that when there was a meeting that occurred in Mr. Haldeman's office, Mr. Strachan obviously took rather complete notes of the meeting and sent me a copy of the meeting. I was unaware of the fact that he was even taking notes at the meeting. Samuel Dash, attorney. Well, if Strachan did in fact receive reports from Magruder in the Liddy operation, do you have an opinion as to whether he would have forwarded these reports to Mr. Haldeman? John Dean. I only have an opinion, Mr. Dash. Samuel Dash, attorney. What is that opinion? John Dean. My opinion is that he would report everything he knew in some form to Mr. Haldeman.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. And did you know what Mr. Haldeman's relationships and duties were with the President during the period January to June 1972? John Dean. Well, I think that everybody who worked at the White House was generally aware of the fact that Mr. Haldeman was the virtual link between a number of, a large number of the White House staff and the President as to what would go into the President. And he would take and summarize and boil down and report to the President regularly all information that was pertinent and important that should come to the President's attention. Samuel Dash, attorney. What was the relationship in the matter of time that Haldeman had with the President? Was it a daily relationship or weekly? What was his contact? John Dean. I would say that Mr. Haldeman spent more time with the President than any other member of the White House staff. Samuel Dash, attorney. Therefore do you have an opinion as to whether Mr. Haldeman would have reported the information he received from Strachan about the DNC break-in plan and the break-in itself to the President, an opinion based on your knowledge of his relationship with the President? John Dean. I believe he probably would have reported it.