Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 29, 1973 (2/2)
[01.09.05] Senator BAKER. I might depart from the letter to say that the chairman and I have indicated to Mr. Brown that we would be happy to have this letter as Part Of the record, his statement as part of the record. If he still wished to testify, of course, we would provide him that opportunity. [01.09.21] Mr. DEAN. Mr. Vice Chairman, I -wonder if I might comment on something? I think that in my testimony, I have explained that often, What was happening at the White House was one motive. The person On the, other end wasn't always aware of that motive. and I don't mean to impute to other people the fact that one person had one desire, the motive to the other person who was doing a normal, what they was as helpful thing to the White House in a general election year and not understanding the implications of all the facts and circumstances. Senator BAKER. Thank you, Mr. Dean. I am. aware of that situation, and what I would really like to do is read this letter now so that before you conclude your testimony and make your closing statement, if you choose to do that you would have an opportunity to comment on that as well. To continue with the letter, the second paragraph: Before I had an opportunity to get the letter off to you, I was pleased to be contacted by a member of your committee's majority staff who indicated an interest in talking with me relative to the allegations set forth and involving me in Dean's statement. I met with your Mr. Dorsen and Mr. Parr and believe that this conference was mutually beneficial. I thank you for providing me with this opportunity to at least apprise your committee staff of my position relative to Dean's charges. Although I think I have satisfied your Committee staff members that Dean had no factual justification to link the House. Banking and Currency Committee action with what he has testified were White House coverup activities, his irresponsible or false statements with respect thereto have caused me and other members of the Banking and Currency Committee grave harm. Without equivocation , I can state it was not known to me, nor to any other member of the Committee to my knowledge, that our opposition to the granting of subpoena power to Chairman Patman was in any way, nor could be claimed to be, in any way, a part of the coverup about which Mr. Dean is testifying. I, personally, vehemently deny the truth of Mr. Dean's statement that my letter of September 8, 1972 to the Attorney General was in fact, drafted by Parkinson for Congressman Brown.' This is an untrue statement, the letter having been dictated by me and having contained my work product. [01.11.43] Although I am preparing a chronological statement of my whole participation in the successful effort to deny Chairman Patman subpoena power in October of last year, the mere filing of such a statement with your Committee and even the giving of the same to the media will not counteract and repudiate the publicity given to Mr. Dean's testimony, I, therefore, respectfully request and insist that I be given an opportunity to appear before your Committee and respond to the allegations made by Mr. Dean. The granting of this request, Mr. Chairman, is the least your Committee should do, It seems to me, to attempt to correct The unwarranted and unjustified damage that has been done. Your prompt and favorable response to this request will be greatly appreciated. Signed GARRY BROWN. Congress. [01.12.32] Senator BAKER. Mr. Chairman, I reiterate this letter has been accepted for the record and is being read now for the, -record at the request of Congressman Brown. Mr. DEAN-. Yes and I might just say--- Senator BAKER. Mr. Dean, I wanted to read it now in an abundance of fairness both to Congressman Brown 'and to you, so you can make any further comment, Now, on the question, on the request., that Mr. Brown makes, as stated earlier, the chairman and I have discussed this matter and clearly if Mr. Brown wants to testify as a Member of Congress he, is entitled to do that but by the same, token, we Understand that he is submitting a sworn statement as an addendum to this letter and I would propose, Mr. Chairman, that we take under advisement the matter of whether any further testimony should be, received or not. [01.13.21] Mr. DEAN-. I might just, add on, -with regard to Mr. Brown, Congressman Brown's letter, this is in the area of hearsay, of course, that I had heard that the letter by Mr. Parkinson was, Mr. Parkinson assisted Mr. Brown in Preparing the letter for the Attorney General, [01.13.41]