Reel

Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 27, 1973 (1/2)

Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 27, 1973 (1/2)
Clip: 488952_1_1
Year Shot: 1973 (Actual Year)
Audio: Yes
Video: Color
Tape Master: 10424
Original Film: 114005
HD: N/A
Location: .Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building
Timecode: -

[00.02.00-DEAN identifying documents related to the ENEMIES LIST] Mr. DEAN.----prepared by a member of Mr. Colson's staff and forwarded to my office as a part of this general list, Senator ERVIN. That would be June 24, what year? Mr. DEAN. That is 1971. Senator ERVIN. Thank you. Mr. DASH. Could I have the documents back, Mr. Dean ? [00.02.16-ERVIN HUMOR!!!] Senator ERVIN. I can't forbear observing when I consider the list of opponents why the Democratic vote was so light in the general election. Senator BAKER. Mr. Chairman. Senator ERVIN. Yes, Sir. Senator BAKER. I really even in my wildest dreams 'would not think of trying to improve or embellish on your story but you told it better the first time -when -you leaned over to' me and you said "I think I am going to demand a recount," when you said "There are more enemies than we got votes." [Laughter.] Senator ERVIN. Senator Inouye. [00.03.07-INOUYE is going to confront DEAN with a memo prepared by the White House, which puts forth a strategy of "BLAME IT ALL ON DEAN"] Senator INOUYE. Mr. Chairman, the charges contained in Mr. Dean's testimony are extremely serious with potentially grave consequences. The President of the United States has been implicated, and because of the. gravity of these charges, I believe that the witness, Mr. John Dean, should be subjected by this committee to the most intense interrogation to test his credibility. It -would appear to me, that a most appropriate credibility test would be one prepared by the White House and as you, Mr. Chairman know, the White House has prepared a memorandum and a set of questions for use by this committee. These questions should serve as a substitute, admittedly not the very best, but a substitute for cross-examination of Mr. Dean by the President of the United States. Accordingly, I believe that it -would be most appropriate to use these questions and to use the memorandum, and I am certain that all of us here -will agree that, the President is entitled to his day in court. So with that in mind I wish to proceed, sir. [00.04.28] I have here a letter dated June 27, 1973, from the White House, Washington. It reads as follows: Dear Senator Inouye: We have noted your public expression of your willingness to use questions and a memorandum, previously furnished to the committee staff, in questioning Mr. Dean. We have today forwarded more up-to-date questioning to both the majority counsel and minority counsel for the committee. However, in view of your interest in this material, we thought it would be appropriate -to -send these questions directly to you. There is also enclosed herewith a slightly revised draft and updated version of the memorandum previously furnished to the committee staff. Sincerely, J. Fred Buzhardt, Special Counsel to the President, Mr. Chairman, I ask that this letter be made part of the record, sir. Senator ERVIN. Without objection, it is so ordered. The letter will be marked with the, appropriate exhibit number. Senator INOUYE. Mr. Chairman, I also request that the memo and the questions previously furnished to staff be, made part of the record at this point, sir. Senator ERVIN. I would suggest that, the memo, which is sort, of an expanded version of the White House logs, should be followed by this is a memorandum of counsel explaining the position of counsel in substance,. Senator INOUYE. Yes. Senator ERVIN. If there is no objection, it will be marked as an exhibit. [00.06.04-INOUYE proceeds with the memo-it is harsh toward DEAN, painting him as the major culprit of PLANNING as well as COVERUP of WATERGATE] Senator INOUYE. Mr. Chairman, I will now proceed with the memo which was received this morning from the White House. It goes as follows: [READING WHITE HOUSE MEMORANDUM-the "BLAME IT ALL ON DEAN" DEFENSE] It is a matter of record that John Dean knew of and participated in the planning that went into the break-in at Watergate, though the extent of his knowledge of that specific operation or of his approval of the, plan ultimately adopted have, not yet been established There, is no reason to doubt, however, that John Dean was the principal actor in the Watergate cover-up, and that while other motivations may have played a part, he had a great interest in covering up for himself. pre-June 17: Dean came to the White House from Justice from a background of working on problems of demonstrations and intelligence. Among those working under him at the White House were Tom Huston and Caulfield. Dean was involved in discussions in 1971 about the Sandwedge plan Caulfield proposed. Ehrlichman was told that the original authors of the $1 million plan were Dean and Liddy. [END OF QUOTED SECTION FROM W.H. MEMORANDUM] [00.07.12]