Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (1/2
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (1/2
[00.28.56-Sen. GURNEY thinks he has DEAN trapped in a lie about his meeting with KALMBACH] Now, as I recall, you have testified three times very positively that you met with Mr. Kalmbach in the coffee shop of the Mayflower hotel. Mr. DEAN. Absolutely. That is correct. Senator GURNEY. And then retired to his room in the Mayflower. How, do you account for or these records here? Mr. DE AN. The Only thing I can suggest is that Mr. Kalmbach may have been registered under another, Let me elaborate on that. Mr. Kalmbach often discussed matters in a code name. For example, after our discussion, he began referring to Mr. Hunt as "the writer." He began referring to Mr. Haldeman is "the brush." He began reefering to Mr. Mitchell as "the pipe." These would be, the nature of our discussions and this might explain the fact that he decided not to use his own name in registering in the hotel. [00.29.56-DEAN stands on his story in spite of Sen. GURNEY'S questioning] I think the person that could answer that best is Mr. Kalmbach, because I have a very clear recollection of walking into the coffee shop, meeting in the coffee shop, going to his room. It was a small room. He had not really had a chance to get a good night's sleep because he had been flying all night. To maintain further privacy, I recall him also turning on the television next to the adjoining door and we sat on the other side of the room and had the conversation in which I relayed to him everything I knew at that point in time. So I think Mr. Kalmbach will have to answer that question as to why his name does not appear an the register. [00.30.33-Sen. GURNEY REALLY thinks he's got DEAN now!] Senator GURNEY. Well, it also occurred to me that that could be the case, that he, was using an assumed name, but then when we ran into this other record at the Statler-Hilton Hotel, it just does not make sense, If he was coming into the, city under an assumed name so that no one would know he was here and no later record could be found, why in the world would he register under his own name at a nearby hotel, the Washington Hilton, and then engage another room over in the Mayflower to meet with you? It just does not add up. [00.31.04-DEAN appears a bit flustered, and has to admit he's not sure of the location of the meeting] Mr. DEAN. I see what you are saying. I have testified the Mayflower and I am never sure, which is the Mayflower and which is the Statler-Hilton. The hotel I recall, Is the one that is on 16th Street up from the White House, I know I walked up from the office to his room. Senator GURNEY. How long have, you lived in Washington? Mr. DEAN. I have been hereabout 10 years, Senator GURNEY. And you don't know the difference between the Washington-Hilton and the Mayflower Hotel? Mr. DEAN. I continually get them confused, I must confess. [00.31.50-GURNEY takes a potshot at DEAN. GURNEY is very smug saying this] Senator GURNEY. Well, I must say I am reminded of your colloquy with the, chairman yesterday. 'Mr. Dean, when you said what an excellent memory you had right from schooldays, right on down; that is why you were able to Reconstruct--- Mr. DEAN. That, is right, my memory is good, but I confuse some names often. I don't pretend to have a perfect memory. I think I have a good memory, Senator. Senator GURNEY. But you can't remember really now, after testifying three times very positively, whether it -was the Statler-Hilton or the Mayflower? [00.32.27-DEAN calmly points out that GURNEY is splitting hairs and missing the big picture] Mr. DEAN. Well, Senator, the point in substance here is the fact that the, meeting did occur. We met in the coffee shop. We, went from the coffee shop to his room. We had an extended discussion of the matter, and that is very clear in my recollection the substance of the event. Senator GURNEY. And one of the reasons I am curious about this, really, it, is less ,in attempt to try to confuse you than it is an attempt to try to pin you down. You haven't tried to conceal the meeting, and Mr. Kalmbach, of course, knows all about it, too, Mr. DEAN. That is correct. Senator GURNEY. And he is going to testify before this committee, there is no question about that. But, I cant understand the confusion in where, it took place, because it is an extremely important meeting, obviously This is where the coverup, as far as the financial part of it, first started. Are you sure the meeting didn't, occur somewhere else? Mr. DEAN. I can recall very clearly meeting Mr. Kalmbach in the coffee shop. The coffee shop was crowded, it was busy. We could not find a booth that was quiet. We went from the coffee shop to his room and as I say, I recall very clearly him turning the, television on, because there was a door, an adjoining door next to the room. Then we proceeded to have our conversation. It was a rather lengthy conversation. [00.33.52]