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. Is this the first time, Mr. Dean, you have told your story about your involvement and the involvement of others, including the President, under oath? John Dean. That is correct. Samuel Dash, attorney. Including of course, the executive session at which you appeared before this committee? John Dean. That is correct.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, it is obvious to you, is it not, that your principal assertions which constitute accusations against the President of the United States of involvement in the coverup of the Watergate case are based almost solely on your own account of either private meetings with the President on meetings with Mr. Haldeman and Ehrlichman where they were present? John Dean. That s correct. I would add the fact that I was aware of and the fact that often when I was in a meeting with Mr. Haldeman and Mr. Ehrlichman that Mr. Haldeman was taking notes and often those notes, immediately following the meeting those notes were taken with Mr. Haldeman directly into the President's office. But of course, I was not present at the time of some of those discussions. Samuel Dash, attorney. Do you have any copies of those notes? John Dean. No, sir. I do not.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. Are you aware of any other records of the content of these meetings which are the focus of your statement? John Dean. One of the meetings I had in March, early March, of this year I did prepare notes and some of the notes were taken because I had a number of instructions from the President and based on those I did make notes. I am also aware, not aware but I was told by the Government prosecutors that the President had taped a conversation between himself and me. And that as a result of that there apparently may be a tape in existence and I believe that would be the April 15 meeting that would record that conversation. Samuel Dash, attorney. The notes you referred to, have they been submitted to this committee? John Dean. I don't believe they have but they are available. They are in my testimony, of course, the substance of the notes but they certainly are available for the committee. Samuel Dash, attorney. Would you submit them as an exhibit to this committee? John Dean. Yes, I would be happy to.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. Are written or reported records of such conversations with the President, regularly made at such meetings? John Dean. Not to my knowledge. Samuel Dash, attorney. Officially or regularly? John Dean. No. I would say this, that often after a Presidential meeting when there is a staff member present, not necessarily staff meetings but when outsiders come in and there is a staff member present, a summary is made of the meeting. But of course these aren t, they were not the types of meetings where summaries would be made.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. Dean, you have made serious charges before the committee. Do you have any special motive in making these charges such as a hope for immunity before the prosecutors? You have already received immunity before this committee which is only use immunity and does not prevent your being prosecuted for any crimes that the prosecutors have evidence against you. Do you have any motive in making these charges against the President based on the fact that this may lead to giving you immunity from the prosecutors? John Dean. Mr. Dash, I have been asked to give testimony. That testimony happens to involve the President of the United States. I don't plan to use, I have no motive in giving that testimony to try to obtain immunity from the prosecutors. No, sir.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Samuel Dash, attorney. I guess you are fully aware, Mr. Dean, of the gravity of the charges you have made under oath against the highest official of our land, the President of the United States. John Dean. Yes. I am. Samuel Dash, attorney. And being so aware, do you still stand on your statement? John Dean. Yes, I do. Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions. John Dean. I might add this, Mr. Dash. I realize it s almost an impossible task, if it is one man against the other that I am up against. And it s not a very pleasant situation, but I can only speak what I know to be the facts and that is what I am providing this committee.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Robert MacNeil in studio states that Dash also raised questions addressing Dean's motives and credibility, portending more in the future.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
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