Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
[00.22.47-DASH continues to interrogate MITCHELL about the events at the time of the Watergate break-in] Mr. DASH. At that time, out in California, did it ever cross your when you read about this that perhaps the Liddy plan had been put in operation? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, that had crossed my mind but the players were different and, of course, there was a lot of discussion about CIA and because of the Cuban Americans who were involved in it. It vomit until actually later on that it struck home to me that this could have been the same operation that had a genesis back in the earlier Conversation. Mr. DASH. Well then, after you returned from California, and I understand that was on June 19, 1972. Mr. MITCHELL. Yes, Sir. it was. Mr. DASH. When. and how were you briefed as to what actually happened in this matter? [00.23.39] Mr. MITCHELL. Well. how was I briefed as to what actually happened? Mr. DASH. Yes. Mr. MITCHELL. Well, that is such a broad statement that. I could tell you for the next 6 months I was being briefed on it. Mr. DASH. I mean, let's take the--- Mr. MITCHELL. Excuse me. Mr. Dash. YOU are asking the, questions" Mr. DASH. That is all right, I think you were about ready to give me a shorter than a longer answer. Mr. MITCHELL. Well, I was giving you a shorter answer to the fact that the first so-called briefing on What had happened, and you used the word "actually" which I will have to omit from that for the time being because I have never quite got to the bottom of it, was after Mr. Mardian and Mr. LaRue had met with Mr. Liddy and Mr. Liddy provided them with quite an extensive story on Mr. Liddy's activities. [00.24.38-DISCUSSION OF LIDDY'S activities with PLUMBERS] Mr. DASH. Will you tell us briefly what that extensive story included? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, it included the, fact, that he was involved with other individuals in the Watergate activity, that he, had also made surveillance of McGovern headquarters, I believe it was, and that he had previously, as part of what has since, become known as the Plumbers group, acted extensively in certain -areas while he was at the White House in connection with the Ellsberg matter, in the Dita Beard matter and a few of the other little gems. Mr. DASH. When you say the Ellsberg matter what specifically are you referring to? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, I am referring to, well, it certainly wasn't, the prosecution. Mr. DASH. NO. Mr. MITCHELL. Obviously it had to do with the surreptitious entry of the doctor's office in California. Mr. DASH. And when you refer to the Dita Beard matter what specifically did you learn through Mr. LaRue and Mr. Mardian? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, if my recollection is correct he was assisting in spiriting her out of wherever they spirited her out of, either New York or Washington. [00.25.59-This MEETING was, as DEAN stated, a major point in the developing COVERUP. MITCHELL denies that it was so significant] Mr. DASH. Was there a meeting in your apartment on the evening that you arrived in Washington on June 19, attended by Mr. LaRue, Mr. Mardian, Mr. Dean. Mr. Magruder--- Mr. MITCHELL. Magruder and myself, that is correct. Mr. DASH. DO you recall the purpose of that meeting, the discussion on that took place there? Mr. MITCHELL. I recall that, we, had been traveling all day and, of course, we had very little information about what the current status was of the entry of the Democratic National Committee, and -we met at the apartment to discuss it. They were, of course, clamoring for a response from the committee because of Mr. McCord's involvement, et cetera, and we had quite a general discussion of the subject matter. [00.26.52] Mr. DASH. Do you recall any discussion of the -so-called either Gemstone files or wiretapping files that you had in your possession? Mr. MITCHELL. -No, I had not heard of the Gemstone file., as of that meeting and, as of that date, I had not heard that anybody there at that particular meeting knew of the wiretapping aspects of that or that had any connection with it. Mr. DASH. Did either you or anybody in your presence at That meeting discuss Mr. Liddy having a good fire at his house? Mr. MITCHELL. Not in my recollection was there any discussion of destruction of documents at that meeting. [00.27.27] Mr. DASH. You are aware of the testimony of Mr. Magruder that he did get the idea to destroy the documents and he did in fact burn the Gemstone documents? Mr. MITCHELL. I am aware of his testimony and think his testimony was one of these general things "It was decided that" or something to that effect, but, to my recollection, there was no such discussion of it. [00.27.51]