Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
[01.22.13-INOUYE confronts DEAN'S claim to have been a "restraining influence" on spying and punishing political ENEMIES in the WHITE HOUSE] Senator INOUYE. Mr. Dean, I would like now to refer to a memo dated August 16, 1971, and you have testified that this -was prepared for Mr. Haldeman, Mr. Ehrlichman, and others at the White House. It is dated August 16, 1971. It is classified "Confidential." Subject: "Dealing With Our Political Enemies." I would like to read part of this: [01.22.43-DEAN was an architect of WHITE HOUSE plans to "screw our political enemies"] [QUOTING] This memorandum addresses the matter of how we can maximize the fact of our incumbency in dealing with Persons known to be active in their opposition to our Administration. Stated a bit more bluntly--how we can use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies. After reviewing this matter with a number of persons possessed of expertise in the field, I have concluded that we do not need an elaborate mechanism or game plan, rather we need a good project coordinator and full support for the Project. In brief, the system would work as follows, [01.23.19-INOUYE reads from a memo written by DEAN outlining a White House plan to "screw our political enemies".] Key members of the staff (e.g., Colson, Dent, Flanigan, Buchanan) should be requested to inform us as to who they feel we should be giving a hard time. The. project coordinator should then determine what sorts of dealings these individuals have with the federal government and how we can best screw them (e.g., grants availability, federal contracts, litigation, prosecution etc.). The project coordinator then should have access to and the full support of the top officials of the agency or department in proceeding to deal with the individual. [01.24.00] Senator INOUYE. This is a very important memorandum. Is this your idea, of restraining influence? [01.24.10-DEAN explains that he prepared the memorandum on "how to screw our political enemies" in collaboration with others and only under intense pressure to do so, consistent with earlier testimony] Mr. DEAN. As I said, Senator, in the memorandum, first of all, as I answered that question yesterday, it took a good bit of push before I would prepare even a document like that, I had request after request after request to prepare this. I didn't know a thing about how to handle something like this, so I went, and talked to other people about it. I think that is indicated in the memorandum itself. I also made it very clear in the he memorandum that. this is something that I personally was not going to get involved in. Whoever that project coordinator was going to be, it was not going to be John Dean because, I just didn't want to get involved in doing the sort of things they -wanted. [01.24.52-DEAN states that suggestions for ENEMIES LIST activities were constantly sent to his office, and he ignored them as much as possible] As I say, when the thing didn't float, they kept sending their political enemies suggestions back to me. I never did a thing to get a project coordinator. There was some rather loose talk about individuals who might handle this; I can't even recall their names now. I made no effort to find somebody to head this up and while there was a conception on behalf of some who kept sending these things in for my political enemies project, there. was no political enemies project operating out of my office. [01.25.23-DEAN states that he wrote the memo as a minimum possible step to satisfy his superiors] So I thought that while the memo had gone out and you know, satisfied my superiors that something was being done, in fact, it was not, being done, So I felt there was a restraint. [01.25.36] Senator INOUYE. It is your testimony, then, that this memo described an activity which in the minds of your supporters, was considered important? Mr. DEAN. That is correct. Senator INOUYE. It was not a wild or crazy scheme? Mr. DEAN. To me it was a wild and crazy scheme, because I felt I just didn't operate that way. [01.26.02] Senator INOUYE. Was it considered wild or crazy scheme for Mr. Haldeman or Mr. Ehrlichman? Mr. DEAN. No. sir. Senator INOUYE. In your testimony, you have submitted several exhibits With of names--politicos Members of Congress, members of the media. and members of the entertainment field, et cetera, Mr. DEAN. I might add also, Senator, before we go forward, I didn't believe that list is complete in and of itself, it just happens to be a part that I received and had access to before my files were shut down. There may well be additional names and additional information available on that. Senator INOUYE. Mr. Dean. I believe one list would have been enough. Mr. DEAN. Indeed it would. [01.26.57] Senator INOUYE. And on one of your exhibits, you had a copy of a memo which suggested that certain things be done, such as calling the Internal Revenue Service. Now, in addition to that, you testified that in one of your meetings with President Nixon, you quoted The President as saying, "We will take care Of them after the election." when the President referred to enemy newsmen. Is that correct, sir? Mr. DEAN. That is correct. [01.27.32]