Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (1/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (1/2)
[00.53.20-THOMPSON continues to examine DEAN, trying to insinuate that DEAN planned to skip town with CRP funds in October, 1972 to avoid being called to account for the COVERUP, with a honeymoon as a cover story] Mr. THOMPSON. There is a document here, Mr. Dean, that I would like to present to you for your examination I ion. It is entitled "Request for Transportation.--- If I might read it, as it is being presented to you. Dated October 11, ".Contact, Jane. Traveler, Mr. and Mrs. John Dean. Extension 241, from D.C. to Miami, two seats. Carrier, Eastern Airlines, Flight 185. Date, October 14." You went down I assume you returned. "National Airlines, Flight 102, October 18. Payment, American Express. Fare, $336." The word "tickets" is stamped across it. First of all, is this a form that is used by the travel office? Mr. DEAN. I have no Idea. I have never seen the form before, and I have no idea if in fact that was paid for by American Express. I think that is something that will have to be checked as the auditors go back through my records. Mr. THOMPSON. I agree with you. If there is any question about it, obviously, the person in charge of these documents, the person in custody of these documents will be brought down here and placed under oath to explain these documents in full. It is my understanding that since your testimony was begun pursuant to committee request, this request, this document has been furnished by the travel office, It does indicate to me that the request was made on October 11. 1972, by someone named Jane for a flight leaving on the 14th to return on the 18th, a trip of 4 days. Do you have any further comment on it. -Mr. Dean? Mr. DEAN. Well. as, I said, it was my intention to go down there and spend 2 weeks. Mr. THOMPSON. THOMPSON. Two weeks or several weeks Mr. DEAN. Several weeks. I very frequently, and you can check my other travel records, when I went, places, I took the immediate turnaround ticket for the hold purpose and often stayed beyond that date. A bird in the hand, in traveling back and forth through main routes, is something I always felt was wise to do. I think if you -will check my records, in the travel office, you will find I did that on other occasions. [00.56.14-THOMPSON questions DEAN about his use of campaign funds and his travel plans at that time] Mr. THOMPSON. So you are stating that this document could be correct and you could have. requested your secretary to make accommodations for you to return on the 18th after 4 days. Mr. DEAN. It is nay recollection I did not pay for that by American Express, as a matter my Of fact, Often, when my secretary would go down and set, something like this, up, a subsequent phone call would change an arrangement, something like that. I think you can check that also. Mr. THOMPSON. I thought you just testified you did not know whether or not your secretary had made a request for this particular honeymoon trip not. Mr. DEAN. I am saying that the name "Jane" here would indicate to me that, she had. Mr. THOMPSON. YOU just said that you did not recall whether or not this was paid for by American Express. Mr. DEAN. That is the reason I say that. I recall that there was not time to pay for it by American Express and I had to go to the airport and pick the tickets up at the "will call." so I had the tickets In hand. The White House could not process the tickets fast enough, I think if you will check the records, you will find out that is what happened. Mr. THOMPSON. The White House could not process the tickets fast enough? Mr. DEAN. That is correct. Mr. THOMPSON. Would that indicate, that you did make a request through the travel office of the White House? Mr. DEAN. As I say, I generally made all the requests through the travel office--through my secretary, I mean. I asked her to arrange them. There were occasions when she went directly to outside lines and made my travel requests as well. Mr. THOMPSON. Did you subsequently get to Miami to spend a few more days on your honeymoon? Mr. DEAN. As I recall, we made several trips to Miami to try to have a honeymoon and were called back. Mr. THOMPSON. Did you leave for Miami on October 20, if you recall? Mr. DEAN. That is very possible. As I told -you when we started this line of questioning, I have not sat down and tried to reconstruct this. I am perfectly willing to reconstruct it for the committee and turn it all over to the committee for the committee's use. I just have not entered this area of reconstruction and I am sure---- Mr. THOMPSON. You will not test your memory on these particular points, is that what you are saying? Mr. DEAN. I think I would like to have the opportunity to check my own calendar, particularly my wife, who does keep a calendar of these types of events. It would be very helpful in reconstructing this for the committee. [00.58.39]