Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
[01.30.45-DASH interrogates DEAN about efforts to find MAGRUDER a job to prevent him from talking to the prosecution] Mr. DASH. Now, the subject matter says what "Options for Jeb Magruder." Mr. DEAN. That is correct. Mr. DASH. What was it all about? Why was this memorandum written, and what do they mean by options for Jeb Magruder? Mr. DEAN Well, it was shortly before this time that Mr. Magruder had been making some statements to Mr. O'Brien which I had in turn relayed to Mr. Haldeman. These statements were to the effect that Mr. Haldeman--that he, was aware of Mr. Haldeman's involvement in certain aspects of the pre-April or pre-June 17 aspects of the, Watergate, and he was indicating to Mr. O'Brien that, in fact, it was his understanding that the President might. have had knowledge, of this. When I reported this back to Mr. Haldeman, the interest in finding Mr. Magruder a job increased about tenfold old, and this is the product of that. Mr. DASH. Then it -would fair to characterize this memorandum as a memorandum to show what could be done for Jeb Magruder to help him out in that case? Mr. DEAN. That is right. [01.31.51] Mr. DASH. As a matter of fact, let me read to you the opening part of that memorandum which indicates that perhaps some pressure might have to be brought to get him a job. "Listed below are nine possible options for Jeb. Some will break more, china to secure than others. Where there are problems I have so noted them." What is your interpretation of "some will break more china than others?" Mr. DEAN. I do not know exactly. That could mean one of many things, that, the given head of an agency might have had a various level of tolerance for the White House continuing to place people in their agencies. It could mean that people would want to know about Magruder's awareness which I do not know if Mr. Jones had any awareness that Mr. Magruder had problems, but whether Mr. Higby had related that to them or not, I certainly did -not so it is very hard for me, to interpret exactly what that phrase, means; and I think only Mr. Jones can testify what he meant by that. Mr. DASH. I think it is fair for the record of this committee to clarify here. Is it your testimony that Mr. Jerry Jones, -who had been asked to prepare this memorandum and seek- out these, options, did not himself,. of your knowledge, know what Mr. Magruder's problems were or know anything about, the Watergate coverup? [01.33.14] Mr. DEAN. Not to my knowledge. In fact, when I was talking about this with Higby before, Mr. Jon knowledge prepared this, one of the jobs I had heard of after talking -with Jeb that he might be interested in was the job that ended, up as No. 1, which was the assistant to the Secretary or Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Policy Development. And apparently Mr. Higby relayed that on to Mr. Jones. No. I do not know when I first heard of that at I job but, I did, did, when Magruder came by I mentioned I heard of that job and he expressed Immediate interest in it. [01.33.57] Mr. DASH. Mr. Dean, you testified you were. asked by Mr. MacGregor to tell him the true you facts and that you testified that you checked 'with Mr. Ehrlichman and Ehrlichman said no that you should not tell Mr. MacGregor the true facts. Do you recall what Mr. MacGregor's reaction was when you refused to tell him the true facts, or how did you handle that? Mr. DEAN. Well, what I did was I gave him the most evasive song and dance I could to weave, him through the problems he was going to have down there, and I recall that as soon as Mr. MacGregor would have a press conference that people at the White House who hit the ceiling because he would say something that would created more problems than it would solve, and I felt very sorry for Mr. MacGregor because he did not know what he should say and what he should not say and he had been given a lot of assurances that -were assurances he should not have been given, and I think, I am sure I am not the only one he, asked for assurances, I am sure, he asked others for assurances and was given them, that there, was nothing to be concerned about, [01.35.10] Mr. DASH, You have also testified, Mr. Dean, that after the President's August 29 speech, and that is the speech of the so-called Dean report of no White House involvement, that you discussed with Mr. Moore. and others the Possibility of your becoming----- [01.35.20-TAPE OUT]