Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 28, 1973 (1/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 28, 1973 (1/2)
[00.27.39-Sen. INOUYE continues to read to DEAN the WHITE HOUSE questions that were forwarded to the Committee-this line of questioning insinuates that DEAN is making false charges against others to trick the prosecutors into giving him IMMUNITY] Senator INOUYE. Did you and your counsel develop a strategy for obtaining immunity from' prosecution? And what were the elements of that strategy? Mr. DEAN. Well, I recall the chairman starting to raise that question yesterday. First, of all, I do not know what is meant by a strategy for immunity. What happened is my counsel went down and began discussing first of all, how the prosecutors could hear my testimony to make their own determination as prosecutors as to what they wanted to do with me--whether I was to be a witness, whether I was to be a defendant, and the like. I went to counsel because I had made my determination that I was going to go to the prosecutors and tell them what I knew about the case. But there is an old saying that all lawyers know that the lawyer who represents himself is a fool. I did not feel that I could be objective about my situation. I sought out a man whose judgment I would respect, in regard to the, criminal law and he said, John, if I am going to represent, you, you have to take my counsel; otherwise, you do not need a lawyer if you just want to walk down there. I said, well, I think I will take counsel. I am a, lawyer myself and I think to follow counsel is a good idea. Senator INOUYE. I wish to follow this question with my own question if I may. [00.29.15-DEAN'S lawyer gives a response to the insinuation of the WHITE HOUSE question] Mr. SHAFFER. Excuse me, Senator. I didn't want to register a timely objection to your last question, since it bears so heavily on the issue of credibility. However, for future proceedings, I would like to note for the record that when we came before you gentlemen, you took away our fifth amendment right by virtue of the use of immunity which was conferred by Judge Sirica at your request. You have not taken away our sixth amendment right, and we have not surrendered it. for future proceedings. Senator INOUYE. This is understood, sir. Mr. SHAFFER. Thank you. Senator INOUYE. I'll return to the White House questions. [00.29.52] Didn't your strategy include deliberate leaks of information to the media of what you had told investigators and what you might be Prepared to testify about in the future? Mr. DEAN. Senator, in any testimonial areas, I dealt directly with the appropriate investigative forum. I conceived of no strategy to leak my testimony or anything of that nature. In fact, any Comments I have, had with the press, I believe, were a matter of public record and I think that most of the press know that, I have refused on countless occasions to give what I Consider testimonial areas. Senator INOUYE. How were these contacts with the media handled? Mr. DEAN Well. I did have a number of inquiries that came, not directly to me, because I made myself as inaccessible to the press as possible. As I believe the Senator is aware. there were a number of My attacks about my character. They have been ongoing and Continuous. MY counsel would call and ask me questions about these and I would give them what my assessment of the given attack -was. Senator INOUYE. Who represented you and -what individual members of the, press, were contacted? Mr. DEAN. I Can't answer that, Senator. because I don't know, As I say, I am aware of the contacts I- had with the press, but there were stacks of calls that came in, apparently, to in my attorney's offices and I don't know--I don't believe there was an understanding of my returning those calls. Senator INOUYE. . Mr. Dean, were any of the stories or quotes attributed to You or sources close to you inaccurate? Mr. DEAN. Yes, they were. Senator INOUYE. If so, what, if any steps did you take to Correct these stories? Mr. DEAN. Well, as I said, I am in a delicate Position. If I Come out into testimonial areas, I can be accused of trying to generate publicity. I already as a result, of Div appearance up were serious legal problems as a result of the Publicity generated by this. I have not read the Press with regularity at, all since, these hearings have commenced. I did see a Newsweek piece, for example, when they said that they attributed to me some story about a Panamanian assassination. Now, I have no more idea what they are talking about, just none at all, [00.32.38-the WHITE HOUSE drafted questions turn to the issue of the campaign funds kept by DEAN.] Senator INOUYE. The next question. Mr. Dean, is rather lengthy. Mr. Dean, one point of distinction you drew in your testimony puzzles me. You have testified that you had received and placed in your safe the Sum of $15,200, which you never turned over to anyone because you didn't want funds you had physically handled to be used for payments to the Watergate defendants. You also testified that you called Mr. Stans and asked him for $22,000 to make the $350,000 fund whole, and that you had your deputy, Mr. Fielding , go to Mr. Stans' office, pick up the money, and later deliver it directly to Mr. Strachan, knowing that $22,000 would probably be used for payments to the Watergate defendants. Now, do you mean to imply that you think there is some moral basis for the distinction, or were you just, being cautious to protect yourself technically from committing the criminal offense of obstructing justice at the expense of implicating your deputy? [00.33.49]