Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 28, 1973. Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 28, 1973. Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 28, 1973 - Testimony of John Dean.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 28, 1973. Testimony of John Dean.
Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Did anything occur that we would put in category 3? That is hearsay information or documentary evidence not firsthand that would shed any further light on the state of the President's knowledge during the period June 17 to September 15, 1972? John Dean. Yes. I have submitted a document to the committee in which the President was very anxious to have counteractions against the suits that were becoming a problem, the lawsuits filed by the Democrats. There was a very active investigation being pursued through discovery procedures. These were the only headlines that were being made because as the investigation by the Department of Justice and the FBI was winding down, this was the new phase. This prompted me to receive direct requests, Presidential requests, through Mr. Haldeman and Mr. Colson, which resulted in the memorandum I sent back in to the President. Ultimately it went to the President and I was told to follow up on that memorandum. That is one of the exhibits that has been submitted.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 28, 1973. Testimony of John Dean.
Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Can you recall offhand or can your counsel help you tell us what that exhibit number is or what that exhibits may be? John Dean. I can find it very quickly for you here. That is exhibit No. 17. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Do you have that exhibit before you, Mr. Dean? John Dean. Yes, I do. The first part of the exhibit is a preliminary memorandum that was prepared by Mr. Parkinson at my request. I asked him to send it when I had the request made of me. Following conversations I had had with Mr. Parkinson, I modified his memorandum and sent the memorandum of September 12th in to the President or in to Mr. Haldeman. You will note a "P" up in the right-hand corner, which was checked, which indicates, it is my understanding of the White House procedures, that it was sent either directly to the President or reviewed directly by Mr. Haldeman with the President. They went over it. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). To make sure we have the same exhibit before us, I have exhibit No. 17, the first page of which is entitled "Counter Actions," dated September 11, 1972. John Dean. That is correct. You will have to go to the back part of that. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Consisting of four pages signed by Kenneth Wells Parkinson. And then a letter on White House stationery dated September 12, 1972, the first line, of which reads, Administratively confidential for Haldeman from Dean, consisting sting of four pages. Are we reading from the same script? John Dean. That is correct. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). All right.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 28, 1973. Testimony of John Dean.
Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Now, this is additional information bearing on the President's knowledge of the coverup from June 17 to September 15, 1972. John Dean. That is correct. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). All right, sir. It consists of some 8 or 10 pages. We can read it if you like. It would be much easier, I believe, if you would simply point out those sections relative to the President's knowledge. John Dean. Well, as a result of this memorandum going in to the President, I received instructions back that all of the actions in here were something that should be followed up on and that was done. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). So you are referring now to the second half of the exhibit, which is the White House memorandum? John Dean. That is correct. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). And the allegations made, fall under the headings in the memo of "Complaint for malicious abuse of process." What is that? John Dean. This is one of several counteractions. This was an action to be filed by the Committee for the Re-Election of the President and the finance committee against Mr. O'Brien. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Alleging that they were violating the rights and privileges of discovery in civil suits for an ulterior purpose. John Dean. That their basic action was unfounded in its Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Was as that suit ever filed, Mr. Dean? John Dean. Yes it was. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). What was the disposition of it? John Dean. It is still in litigation.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 28, 1973. Testimony of John Dean.
Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). And the second heading? Incidentally, I don't mean to cut, you off. John Dean. As a part of that, you will note, there is a, note on page 2, Depositions are presently being taken of members of the DNC by defense counsel in the O'Brien suit. These are wide ranging and will cover everything from Larry O'Brien's sources of income while Chairman of the DNC to certain sexual activities of employees of the DNC. They should cause considerable problems for those being deposed. I would I like to add something that, shortly Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Did you file that suit? John Dean. No, sir, I did not file that suit. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Who did? John Dean. The Re-Election Committee. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Were those allegations made? John Dean. No, they were not. That was a part of the deposition. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Of the discovery John Dean. The discovery area. Senator Howard Baker (R Tennessee). Were those areas covered in discovery after the fighting of the suit? John Dean. I have no knowledge of whether they were or not.