Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
[01.27.32-Sen. INOUYE continues to question DEAN about the degree of his involvement in spying and ENEMIES LIST projects in the White House-DEAN is a bit defensive] Senator INOUYE. How was this memo implemented? Could you give us examples, concrete examples? Mr. DEAN. The memo itself was never implemented. I never did have a political enemies project, that -was in any way operational. Senator INOUYE. However, we do have evidence, here that, for example a TV commentator with CBS was, in fact, audited by the Internal Revenue Service just for the purpose of harassment, isn't that Correct? Mr. DEAN. Well, I know Mr. Schorr had an FBI investigation. Senator INOUYE. Oh, it was an FBI? Mr. 'DEAN. Yes, it was. I know there were other instances. These did not come from me. Another instance, many times, members of the staff who were operating in the political area would want to see a tax return. My office, was supposed to be the office to have the facility to receive from Internal Revenue tax returns. I never called at any time I can ever remember while I was there to the Director of the Internal Revenue 'Service re requesting he send over a tax return on any individual to my office. Senator INOUYE. Have you ever seen tax returns Mr. DEAN. Have I other than my own? Senator INOUYE. Other than your own. Mr. DEAN. Only in connection with clearing individuals who voluntarily submitted them in relationship to a nomination for a Presidential appointment. Senator INOUYE. In your memo, you speak of granting availability, Federal contracts, et, cetera. I reefer you to exhibit No. 53. It is a memo for you from Gordon Strachan and it relates to Mr. Chet Huntley. It says here "John Whitaker has ordered the Department of Agriculture to quit dragging its heels on Big Sky," Was this a political favor? Mr. DEAN. What is the number of the exhibit,' Senator Senator INOUYE. I believe it is 53, sir. [01.29.47] Mr. DEAN. I recall the exhibit you are referring to, but it is not 53 in my sequence here. I believe that might be in 4, 5, 6, or 7. Well, anyway', I can answer the question. I recall there is a notation on it. [01.30.06-an example of the WHITE HOUSE'S tactics for "screwing our political enemies"] There -was at one point in time an effort, because of a comment--a rather hostile comment that Mr. Huntley had made regarding the President--there was an effort that I initially was unaware of to make it as difficult as possible for him to get his Big Sky project moving. Apparently, he needed assistance from the Department of the Interior. I would receive periodic calls asking me what is happening on that, and the like. I would, in turn, call John Whitaker, who is the person on the Domestic Council staff who had dealings with the Department of Interior. At one point in time, apparently, there was a change in heart on Chet Huntley and there was a turnaround, and Interior was given the signal that they should sign off on whatever it was he needed to get his Big Sky project accomplished. Now, I would have to review the document, that you are reefering to, and that may well answer your question. [01.31.12] Senator INOUYE. I believe this line of questioning IS very important, because your exhibits have listed, I would say, a couple of hundred names of very distinguished Americans most of them, and other exhibits have suggested that extra-legal activities had been carried out in connection with these names Now, there are Members of the Senate and Members of the House whose names have appeared, but, to date, you have been able to tell us of the possibility of a man from CBS, and Chet Huntley. @ [01.31.55]