Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 26, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 26, 1973
[00.34.00] Mr. DEAN Would you like me to read the letter? This is a letter to the man who investigated the matter. It is from Earl Stanley of the firm of Dow. Lohnes & Albertson: DEAR. Mr. TAPITCH: This will confirm and supplement my recent conversations with you concerning events preceding and to some degree 'surrounding the resignation in early February 1966 of 'Mr. John Dean from the law firm of Welch & Morgan, Washington, D.C. As you know, Mr. Boyd Fellows approached me in October of 1965 about the possibility of representing an applicant for a construction permit for a new television station in St. Louis, Mo. At that time. Mr. Fellows was, in essence, considering various law firms in Washington as communications counsel for a group which he was putting together to apply for a St. Louis Television Authorization. I had known _Mr. Fellows for some time before he approached me and as a result of our initial contact, I told him I would he pleased to. represent his group and to assist them in any way that I could in the filing and prosecution of their application at the Federal Communications Commission. At that time, -Mr. Fellows' plans appeared to be very much in the Preliminary stages. No corporation had been organized, specific program plans had not been formulated, and few if any of the other necessary investigations and work preliminary to the preparation of the application had been completed. At our initial conference, Mr. Fellows pointed out that he was then employed as a television management expert at Welch & Morgan and that his name had appeared in other a applications for television authorizations which have been filed by that firm, including one in St. Louis, Mo. It was my understanding that the firm of Welch & Morgan would probably eventually own approximately 30 percent of that, St. Louis television operation consistent with -the pattern followed by the firm in connection with other television authorizations. I told Mr. Fellows that insofar as he was concerned, there was no problem of ethics involved since he was not a practicing attorney. My recollection is that Mr. Fellows had already made known his plans and proposals to one or more partners of Welch & Morgan. I did advise 'Mr. Fellows that when, if and shortly before the application for his group was filed, due to Commission requirements he would have to sever connections with the other St. Louis television group. At our conference, in October, Mr. Fellows also discussed with me the possibility of 'Mr. John Dean becoming a part of the group. 'Mr. Dean was then a recent associate at 'Welch & Morgan, but according to my recollection was contemplating the possibility of a change in positions. I was- told that 'Mr. Dean's participation in the group was to be largely that of an investor, that he did not desire, plan or feel qualified to advise the applicant corporation in any way as to the preparation of its application. and that I would be relied upon for such advice and guidance. I advised Mr. Fellows that, in my opinion, it would not be unethical or improper in any respect for Mr. Dean to become a part of the group recognizing that if and when the application was filed at the Commission, he should plan to resign from Welch & Morgan because of that firm's interest in another St. Louis group. The subject of Mr. Dean's participation in the St. Louis group was also mentioned at a luncheon meeting which I had with 'Mr. Fellows and 'Mr. Dean in November of 1965 at Costin's Restaurant in Washington, D.C. 'My recollection of the details is quite vague but I am certain that I told 'Mr. Dean the same thing that I had earlier told Mr. Fellows,. I might say in conclusion that I have always regarded Mr. John Dean is an extremely honorable, conscientious, careful and able man. His honesty and his integrity, in my opinion, are both beyond question, His care and his conduct in connection with his participation in the application for a television authorization in St- Louis demonstrated these very qualifications. As to what occurred between Mr. Dean and 'Mr. Welch of Welch & Morgan at the time Mr. Dean resigned in February of 1966. 1 have no personal knowledge. I do know that at the time application of 'Mr. Fellows' group, Greater St. Louis Television, Inc., was filed in March, 1906. 'Mr. Dean was no longer an associate with Welch & Morgan. The above is according to my best recollection and knowledge.. If you have any questions or need some further details, please let me know. With kindest regards, Cordially yours. Senator TALMADGE. I believe you testified that you met with the President in March of this year and informed him fully about your participation and the your of others in the participation in the coverup of the Watergate incident and, at that time, as I recall. you told the President that both you, Mr. Ehrlichman, and Mr. Haldeman were indictable is that correct? Mr. DEAN. That was in an ,It afternoon meeting when I met with him -which I believe, was on the afternoon of the 21st. Senator TALMADGE. Was anyone there besides you and the President? Mr. DEAN. Initially Mr. Ziegler was in--at the meeting in the morning it was only the President and I initially. At the end of the conversation he called Mr. Haldeman in to request that Mr. Haldeman get ahold of Mr. Mitchell to get Mr. Mitchell down there for a meeting the next day. In the, afternoon, Mr. Ziegler was in the office for a very short period of time, and then left as the, meeting commenced with Ehrlichman, Haldeman, the President, and myself. So there was no other person than those involved. [00.39.22]