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.
Senator Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Senator Montoya. Senator Joseph Montoya (D New Mexico). Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Dean, you mentioned in yesterday's testimony about the briefings that were being given to Mr. Ziegler, prior to his making public statements with respect to this situation, the break in at the Watergate. Now, will you please give me a little more information as to the intensity or the extent of those briefings? John Dean. I think that the intensity would depend upon the subject matter at a given point in time. The one I have pointed out was the October 10 Situation when the Segretti story began breaking. I was not always present when Mr. Ziegler was being prepared but was often asked questions by him on how to handle a question or the like. When stories started leaking in various areas at that point in time, I was particularly asked what we may expect next. At one point in time, I recall when Mr. Baldwin's testimony was printed in the Los Angeles Times. I read the FBI interview of Mr. Baldwin to see if in fact, everything that he had told the Times had yet been printed. We talked about that. Often Mr. Moore was present when I was with Mr. Ziegler and preparing him for his morning briefing. Often, he would check with Mr. Haldeman if the story related directly to him or particularly with Mr. Ehrlichman. Senator Joseph Montoya (D New Mexico). Mr. Dean, I am referring specifically to the briefings that Mr. Ziegler received with respect to the responses which he made about White House involvement in the Watergate affair. John Dean. Well as I say, I believe I cataloged many of those in my statement. Now, some of those occurred before Mr. Ziegler and I had even talked about the matter. Senator Joseph Montoya (D New Mexico). Who would ordinarily brief him? Would it be Mr. Haldeman or Mr. Ehrlichman or who would approve his statement? John Dean. It would be Mr. Haldeman, Mr. Ehrlichman, or the President.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Senator Joseph Montoya (D New Mexico). I notice that the President also made some statements. Who briefed the President prior to his making these with respect to inquiries about the Watergate and the White House involvement? John Dean. What would happen or what occurs before Presidential press conferences, a briefing book is prepared. And a number of people contribute to that briefing book as to anticipated questions. The people who are familiar with the press and anticipate questions that the press might ask will send around to various members of the staff suggested questions and ask for their suggested answers. Those often go to several people. Oftentimes the Watergate questions would come to me. Oftentimes they would come to Dick Moore as well and each person. In fact, Dick Moore and I would often sit clown and work them out together and then take them to Mr. Buchanan who was compiling this briefing book. Senator Joseph Montoya (D New Mexico). Would you say that you participated in most of the briefings where the President made positive statements about the Watergate affair? John Dean. I would say I either contributed to the briefing book or later when I began meeting with the President in March had direct conversations with him when he asked me about a reaction to a particular question.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Senator Joseph Montoya (D New Mexico). Now, let's go into the statements made by the President. I have copies here. On August 29 1972, the President made this statement, In addition to that within our own staff, under my direction counsel to the President, Mr. Dean, has conducted a complete investigation of all leads which might involve any present members of the White House staff or anybody in the government. I can say categorically that his investigation indicates that no one in the White House staff, no one in this administration presently employed was involved in this very bizarre incident. Now, did you participate in that? John Dean. No sir, not at all. I was totally unaware of it and do not know who did prepare that for the President. Senator Joseph Montoya (D New Mexico). Was the President telling the truth when he made that statement? John Dean. Well, as I said in my statement yesterday, I would have counseled the President against the statement and I cited the reasons why I would have counseled the President against the statement because of the knowledge I had as to the fact that documents had been destroyed that were incriminating to Mr. Haldeman, the fact that I had suspicions about other people's involvement. As I said yesterday also, if that were to be a literal statement as to somebody being involved in the very particular incident which occurred on June 17, which the way it reads does not indicate that, but if it originally was designed to do that, that would have been a true statement. Otherwise, I think it was a little broad. Senator Joseph Montoya (D New Mexico). Now, on October 5, 1972, the President made this statement Are we in recess? I ll come back.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 26, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Do not use voice over. Senators leave hearing for recess.