Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
[00.07.12-MITCHELL is interrogated about the coverup] Mr. DASH. Did Mr. Haldeman make -any kind of promises to Magruder at that time, in your presence? Mr. MITCHELL. None other than the fact to help him as a friend and,' I think Mr. Haldeman has testified to that. Mr. DASH. IT. NOW, did you over have a meeting with Mr. Magruder" and Mr. Dean after that meeting with Mr. Haldeman? Mr. MITCHELL. Yes sir. Mr. DASH. What was as that meeting about? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, this was held at Magruder's request because he again was concerned about this perjury question that he might have, and the meeting was a quick run-through again of the recollection of the individuals as to what was discussed prior to Mr. Magruder's third appearance before the grand jury back -in September. Mr. DASH. Did you agree, at that time Mr. Mitchell, that you would hold the line, at, least, if you were called, to limit the meeting to a discussion of the election laws? [00.08.08] Mr. MITCHELL. No, that was not the basis, to hold it to the election laws, Mr. Dash, The basis of it was for the recollection of what had happened and how it would have affected Mr. Magruder in perjury. You see. if you go back Magruder had said there only had been one meeting when there actually had been two, and so forth, It wasn't a question of holding the line on anything. It was a question of the recollection of what actually did happen vis-a-vis what Magruder apparently had testified to. [00.08.40] Mr. DASH. He was obviously concerned as to what your position going to be if you were called before the grand jury. Did you make any assurances to Mr. Magruder at that time? Mr. MITCHELL. Any assurances as to what? Mr. DASH. How would you testify before the grand jury if you were called as to the meetings? Mr. MITCHELL. I made no assurances as to how I was going in to testify. Obviously I was going to testify as to what happened. Mr. DASH. Did Mr. Dean make any assurances? [00.09.03] Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Dean had a very hazy recollection of what had happened. Obviously, as I think Mr. Dean testified, he didn't want to discuss the matter. he had already of course, gone to counsel and was looking after Mr. Dean's problems. Mr. DASH. Did you learn during April that Mr. Magruder and Mr. Dean had gone to see the prosecutors? Mr. MITCHELL. I learned about Mr. Magruder. I didn't learn about Mr. Dean. [00.09.34] Mr. DASH. And were you personally aware of Mr. Dean's meetings -with the President in March and that he testified to before this committee? Mr. MITCHELL. On the meeting of March 22 at which, of course, I was present. Mr. DASH. What I am talking about are the meetings of September 15, 1972, the meeting of February 28. Mr. MITCHELL. Now, Mr. Dash. you are talking about 1972. Mr. DASH. The meetings of September 15, 1972, with the President, February 28, 1973, March 13, 1973, and March 21. Are you aware, of those meetings? [00.10.12] Mr. MITCHELL. Let, me put it this way. The only meeting that I was aware of. of Mr. Dean and the President was the one, I attended March 22. Mr. DASH, At that meeting was there any discussion by the President, by you or by Mr. Dean, concerning the, Watergate, either coverup or who may be involved in an indictment or anything like that on the 22d? [00.10.34] Mr. MITCHELL. None whatsoever The total discussion had to do with the, White House's response to this committee,. and I think it was Prompted, or at least that was my understanding at the time. it was prompted by the fact that the President was getting a pretty good knocking 'around in the press on the question of executive privilege. I believe it, arose with respect to the Gray hearings but it certainly was to be applicable to this committee's hearings. [00.11.07] Mr. DASH. Well, just a couple of more questions, Mr. Mitchell: I think you have testified -already, and quite frequently that you did not personally inform the President, of any of these so-called called White House horrors or the efforts to keep the lid-on and the Plumbers activities, is that, correct? Mr. DASH. Are you personally aware of anybody else having any conversation with the President concerning these activities? Mr. MITCHELL. Not in my presence. I am not aware, of anybody ever having reported to me that they have had. [00.11.43] Mr. DASH. Likewise it is your testimony that the President did not discuss these events or the coverup with you or, to your knowledge, with anyone else? Mr. MITCHELL. If I understand your question Mr. DASH. To your knowledge. Mr. MITCHELL [continuing]. He has not discussed them with me; to my knowledge, the answer is that is correct. Mr. DASH. To your knowledge. Therefore then, Mr. Mitchell, I am briefing your testimony at this time before the committee. [00.12.09] Is it not fair to say or is it not true that, according to your testimony, you are -not in a position to state to this committee of your own knowledge whether the President in fact knew or did not know of the break-in or the bugging of the Watergate or the coverup efforts that took place after June 17, 1972? Mr. MITCHELL. The, only thing that I can state to my own knowledge, Mr. Dash, is that so far as I know he does not know of either of those circumstances. [00.12.40]