Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 28, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 28, 1973
[00.24.24-WEICKER asks DEAN about DEAN informing WEICKER that there was an effort by the White House afoot to embarrass WEICKER.] Now, Mr. Dean, I came to our meeting of May 3 when I, along with members of my staff and your counsel, met with you. Would you describe to the committee that incident which took place, during the interview at which point in time you asked to leave the room with me? Mr. DEAN. The meeting was arranged by counsel and counsel thought since it was becoming imminent I -was going to appear up here and you wanted very much to talk with me that I should indeed cooperate and talk with you. I told them at, that time, that I didn't Want to get into any depth of testimonial areas but I was happy to discuss sort of the outer parameters of some of my areas of knowledge because of your membership on the committee. [00.25.29] Before we commenced that discussion at some, point in time I thought I Ought to inform you of the fact that I had just raised a minute ago, that I was aware of the fact that there was an effort to embarrass you, and I didn't want to get into that discussion in front of your staff or anyone else, I thought it had come to me, I didn't know the substance of it and I thought as one. person to another I ought to just tell you what I knew about that and bring it to your attention. Senator WEICKER. What -was my response to you? Mr. DEAN. That they -were barking up the wrong tree. Senator WEICKER. Would you say that 30 seconds, a minute would be--- Mr. DEAN. I would say at the most. We turned around and went right back into the room.' Senator WEICKER. All right. [00.26.16] We next move, to an incident that occurred within the last, several days whereby a reporter in Washington, D.C., was informed by Mr. Charles Colson that he was involved in the giving of moneys to my campaign and that he had reason to believe, that the money -was not properly handled, and quite frankly I was being a disloyal Republican and the time had come to swing around. When pinned to substantiate this request, there was absolutely no substantiation by Mr. Colson. But that was enough to finally go ahead and get me a little mad, and so a couple of days ago I indicated over NBC television prior to these hearings that efforts were still being made to pressure this committee, and indeed yesterday I received a call from the White House from Mr. Len Garment, and he was most concerned about my statement, wanted to know what the facts were.. [00.27.54-WEICKER continues to speak rather indignantly about attempts by the White House to embarrass and discredit WEICKER or other committee members] I indicated to him the Colson story which I have just read here. I did not indicate to him our meeting, I did not indicate to him the attempt of the White House to communicate with another individual who, for the time being, I shall leave nameless. I then told Mr. Garment that Mr. Colson was his problem, he wasn't my problem. And the time had come either to step forward and make charges or to go ahead and disavow these attempts to smear a member of the committee. But I don't think that is enough, and so this morning I communicated with -Mr. Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor. I think I have had sufficient, personal experience both in reading the taped telephone conversation and with this nebulous threat as to campaign funds so that, in my opinion, there is the possible violation of yet another law. And after all the violation of laws is the business of the prosecutor and not this committee and, therefore, I have communicated all the facts that I have discussed here with you With the prosecutor, and I have asked him to look into the possible violation of section 1505 which is the obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees, and the last part of the section says, "Whoever corruptly or by threat of force or by any threatening letter, communication, influences obstructs or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which such proceeding is being had before such department or agency of the United States or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which such inquiry or investigations is being had by either House or any committee of either House or any Joint Committee of the Congress shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years or both." [00.30.29]