Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 28, 1973 (2/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 28, 1973 (2/2)
[01.23.07-INOUYE reads the closing statement from the WHITE HOUSE-prepared interrogatory of DEAN.] Senator INOUYE. "A central credibility question is what prompted Dean's tactics in March and April of 1973. The desire to have the truth or the effort to achieve-" Senator ERVIN. Senator, so the record will be correct, is that a statement which White, House counsel has prepared? Senator INOUYE. This is a statement prepared by Mr. J. Fred Buzhardt. Senator ERVIN. Yes. Senator INOUYE. Special counsel to the President. Senator ERVIN. And it is a, statement of his contentions about evidence and not evidence as such. Mr. DEAN. May I ask a question? Does this represent the White House view or "Mr. Buzhardt's view? Senator INOUYE. This was delivered to me yesterday under cover letter signed by Mr. J. Fred Buzhardt. [QUOTING WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT] [01.23.58] "A central credibility question is: 'What prompted Dean's tactics in March and April 1973-- the desire to have the, truth told or the effort to achieve immunity from prosecution? The following sequence, of events is important:" Dean's admitted -personal connection -with 'the offer of clemency to McCord in January (Dean to Caulfield to McCord via. Ulasewicz) (p. 141). Dean's admitted personal connection with Hunt's demand for more money on March 19 (Hunt to O'Brien to Dean) (p. (p. 197). Dean's meeting with the President on March 21-22. On any version of this meeting it was an effort to get the President to take action on what was becoming a personal problem for Dean. (P. 195). McCord's letter to Judge Sirica on march 23. [01.24.45] Mr. DEAN. May 'I just comment there? Senator INOUYE. Please do, sir. Mr. DEAN. I, in the 21st meeting, had hoped that that would be the truth punctuation point that ended the coverup. It -was after that, that morning meeting when I saw that it was not- going to end that the period had not been placed in the story that my whole thinking began to change and I began to think of how can I now proceed while others are unwilling to proceed, particularly Mr. Haldeman and -Mr. Ehrlichman, and at that, point in time I certainly wanted to try to still get the President out in front of this entire matter. [01.25.30] Senator INOUYE. [reading]: [QUOTING FROM WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT] McCord's letter to Judge Sirica on March 23. This was the crucial break in the cover-up. 'Dean learned via a call from O'Brien (p. 205). On March 25 press comments directly linked Dean with knowledge of the Watergate break-in (p. 203). He called Liddy's attorney, Maroulis on March 27 to get a statement that he did not have prior knowledge of break-in (p. 211). Maroulis called back on March 29 with word that he couldn't give him a statement (p. 1212). This statement might have been taped. On March 28 and March 29 he solicited names of Criminal counsel (p. 220). On March 30, he decided to retain Mr. Shaffer (p. 220). Time had run out; the coverup had come apart; Dean was centrally involved. he sent his lawyers to the U.S. Attorney on Monday, April 2, and commenced his negotiations for immunity. [01.26.32] Senator INOUYE. Mr. Chairman, this ends the statement. Senator ERVIN. Thank you. Senator INOUYE. Mr. Chairman., I have questions of my own but these questions have taken up an hour and 15 minutes so, if I may, I would like to have the opportunity at some later time, to interrogate. Senator ERVIN. Yes, all the members of the committee will be accorded a second opportunity. Senator INOUYE. I thank- you very much. Thank you, Mr. Dean. Senator ERVIN. Do you want to respond to the statement which has just been read to you ? [01.27.00] Mr. DEAN. I believe I have commented through -the, questions and through answers to most of those matters. The fact, I would just make, this point. I would recall the fact that the question of clemency for Mr. McCord was a result of the fact that the issue, of clemency had come up directly with the President. That was not something that I initiated. It was something that came in. Mr. Colson went to Mr. Ehrlichman, Mr. Ehrlichman, in turn went to the President, Mr. Colson also went to the President, I received word that the fact that clemency had been offered to one, similar assurances should be given or could be given to all, so that is 'clearly in the record on the clemency matter. [01.27.48-DEAN explains again the March 21 meeting with NIXON] The, 21st meeting I have explained repeatedly what my hope in accomplishing with that meeting was, and my disappointment when I had thought I did have access to the President. I thought what I call my cancer on the Presidency speech did not result In immediate surgery but rather continued coverup. [01.28.15]